ITunes digital output (toslink)

I'm pretty sure the answer is no (at least, right off the bat) but I thought I'd ask it anyways-I could be wrong, or I could be right....
I know that you can use the Mac Pro's digital Toslink output to connect to a pair of compatible speakers for multichannel sound, eg with VLC and DVD player, and maybe some music making stuff (Garage band, I guess)
but.....can you use iTunes with the Toslink, or is it just analog only. I've tried messing around with Audio MIDI and sound preferences in System Preferences, but it doesn't seem to be happening for now
thanks for any replies
John B

I haven't done it myself but see this MacWorld article.

Similar Messages

ITunes Digital Output using M-Audio Transit USB???

Hi all,
Having recently attached an M-Audio Transit USB external "soundcard" to my Mac Mini (PPC) and hooked up the TOSlink digital output from the Transit to my AV amplifier, I can definitely state that Apple DVD Player and VLC both utilise the Digital Output, giving me full 5.1 AC3 signals from DVDs/DivX movies etc, which I had hoped to be the case.
However, I'm curious as to what the actual output from iTunes is. If I'm playing an Apple Lossles audio file, does iTunes decompress this to the original 44kHz PCM and send this through Core Audio straight to the Digital output of the Transit? In other words, am I getting bit-accurate audio information into the AV amp?
Anyone who can confirm or deny this, please let me know, as this was one reason for me buying the Transit!!!!
Also, any idea how to get DTS audio from a redbook CD out from this setup? Will VLC handle it? Or even iTunes???
Thanks,
JF
15" Powerbook PPC G4 1.5 (1Gb RAM) + MacMini PPC G4 1.5 (512Mb RAM) Mac OS X (10.4.6)

You can get full 5.1 AC3 signals from DVD because that's what the audio on the disk is encoded with. You won't get 5.1 AC3 or DTS signals from iTunes if the files are only encoded in stereo. I don't have a Transit, but I have the Sonica USB which is the previous model of the same device. They have different drivers (and your Intel Mac mini would have different drivers than a PPC Mac mini with the same Transit device), but I would guess we have similar experiences with the devices. You won't get DTS out of any file that's not DTS to begin with. That's one reason the Transit System Preferences pane will give you options to configure non-surround sound audio coming from your Mac mini to your stereo.
-Doug

How to set the AppleTV to output PCM DIGITAL via toslink

how do you set the AppleTV to output PCM DIGITAL via toslink - my amp can only recieve PCM audio via toslink cable

I am having the same problem. I bought an optical-analog convertor from Amazon (SANOXY) and had Onkyo try to help me set it up. No luck. I am going to try a Monoprice version. I was able to output audio through my DirectTV box to the Zone 2 speakers, so that isn't the problem. I was able to hear the music from my iMac through the AppleTV/Onkyo receiver on the 5.1 side but was unable to output it through Zone 2 to the speakers.
Very frustrating!!!!

No Digital Output available in Playback devices (USB audio device)

If one has USB audio device with coax/toslink out, with proper drivers (like ie TurtleBeach Micro Advantage) available & installed then Digital Output is available to select in Playback devices. (and one can play AC3/DTS to external amplifier with ie
VLC or MPC-HT with AC3Filter DS filter)
But some USB devices (ie Phonic Digitrack -
http://www.phonic.com/en/digitrack.html ) do NOT come with drivers (as Windows has default build in). Digitrack uses TI
Burr-Brown USB Audio Codec 2906 -
http://www.ti.com/product/pcm2906
Sadly these Windows drivers do NOT have a clue about what the device actually has as inputs/outputs
So even it had coax digital out & the sound IS send via it, the actual data send is in right way, not recognized/played correctly by Digital Amplifier (AC3/DTS)
Does anybody know of a hack to make Digital Out available?
Seb

Hi,
Generally speaking, An Audio Device do need more driver besides USB driver to make itself work properly. In terms of your situation, USB driver is not enough to make your Audio Device works properly. I think S.Sengupta
is right. Actually it would be better to contact Digitrack support to confirm its product compatibility with Windows 7.
Roger Lu
TechNet Community Support

Digital Output Stopped Working

My new 1.66 Intel Core Duo Mini has been flawlessly passing digital audio to my receiver from VLC and EyeTV for close to a week. But I played a DVD for the first time today with Front Row and ran into a huge problem.
While there was no trouble playing Dolby Digital from Front Row, now I can't get any sound through the digital output outside of Front Row. VLC is silent and EyeTV needs to manually change over to "system sound output" for anything to get through. And then it's in stereo, despite Dolby Digital showing up as the soundtrack in EyeTV.
I combed this forum but couldn't find this specific problem. I saw someone recommended flashing the nvram as a possible solution to problems with the digital output but wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas.
1.66 Intel Core Duo 1GB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.6)

On a somewhat related issue: My Mac Mini 2007 won't output audio, via toslink mini adapter. It shows up in the Midi output as working and I see the red light from the cable. But when I put in a regular mini audio cable, and "move it around" in the headphone slot I get sound if it's just in the right place. Is this some sort of short in the headphone jack inside the Mini? Does this need to be replaced or is there an easier solution? Comments appreciated!

HP Headphone jack with digital output

OK, so HP customer service is officially garbage. Everyone knows that, i just had to get it out of the way before anybody responds "Just ask customer service". I have a HP Pavillion dv6724ca notebook with 2 headphone jacks. I heard that one of them is a digital output jack for 5.1 surround and my sound card specs say that i have digital output capabilites (go DXDIAG.exe - Realtek Digital Output), but I cant get it working. I have a 3.5mm mini TOSLINK to TOSLINK connected, i have enabled my digital output in Realtek HD Audio Manager, i have checked the supported formats in my Realtek Digital Output properties.....but still nothing. Am i missing something?
thanx

I don't think your model HAS the headphone/mini-toslink SPDIF jack, RE: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01443331&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_US... . The HDMI port is SUPPOSE to support BOTH digital Video AND Audio... however I BELIEVE that there was/is some problems with the Audio side on some HP models. BUT to be sure however, use the search facility to search on HDMI. If everything is working according to spec (on the PC AND on your >>>TV<<< ), you should ONLY need a single HDMI cable to do what you want ... but I fear you are going to run into problems. Report back your findings.
Good Luck.

No digital output

All of a sudden the Digital Output on my iMac has stopped working. There is no red light coming out of the toslink cable. In System Preferences/Sound there is no Digital Out in sound output devices anymore. I have checked that the cable is ok.
Previously the system switched over from internal speaksers to digital output automatically when inserting the toslink cable but now nothing is happening except that the sound is vanishing.
Is this a hardware error? The iMac is just 3 months old so I sincerely hope not.
Thanks for all tips&tricks I can get.
Regards

Hi,
Generally speaking, An Audio Device do need more driver besides USB driver to make itself work properly. In terms of your situation, USB driver is not enough to make your Audio Device works properly. I think S.Sengupta
is right. Actually it would be better to contact Digitrack support to confirm its product compatibility with Windows 7.
Roger Lu
TechNet Community Support

What are the iTunes digital audio levels in and out

I am having a lot of trouble with finding out and setting the audio levels in and out of iTunes.
Digital audio has 16bits at '1' with an analog signal level of +12dB, 24bit has all'1's at +18dB. Making the overhead capability for CD 16bit 12dB and that for HD 24bit 18dB.
I would like to record (using SoundStudio) a set of standard audio tones from 20-20kHz with digital levels of "all 1's" 16bit, or +12 dB analog level, "all 1's" 24bit ditto, and the same for levels of analog 0dB (-12dB digital) for 16bit and 0dB(-18dB digital) for 24bit.
What I am finding is that if I get Sound Studio to inert a tone at what it calls 0dB, save it as AIFF, then the output it from iTunes I get a much higher level, around +8dB or so!
Any ideas?

As an addition to my first question. I asked the makers of Sound Studio about levels. They tell me that the Mac standard is to have all '1's in the digital stream defined as 0dB.
Which helps as I can now record a tone at the CD level of -12dB and the HD audio level of -18dB. And if I make recordings I know to keep the input levels well into the green, not yellow and definitely not up to the red.
As you say the output of iTunes is boosted, and from my measurements this boost is in the analog circuitry and is about +8dB.
I woul dnot recommend turing down the iTunes volume control as this brings in the digital volume reduction, which depends on the algorithm they have implemented. This is not so bad for iTunes as the Audio Core software works at 32bit and can handle 16bit volume changes fairly well. But on the iPad it is different as iOS is only 16bit audio so the volume algorithm is poor. So always leave the volume at maximum and turn down your HiFi volume control!
Or use a digital output to an external DAC as the iTunes volume control is then disabled. Set Audio MIDI for 24bit output and you are ready to go with HD Audio.

Question on the optical digital output.

Can anyone with a new iMac give me some clue as to what the optical digital output looks like?
As I understand it, its combined with a headphones port, this is where I am confused.
Does it look like a standard Phono type input (Coaxial) or does it have a little red light shining out?
I need to know before I order as I want to output to dac.
Cheers

The optical Jack is just like the normal mini-jack you use for the headphones.
You have to look for a "mini-toslink" cable or adapter. Since most receiver have Toslink digital input, you should buy a toslink-toslink cable and a mini-toslink adapter.
you put the mini-toslink in the headphone output port and the mac automatically switches to digital output.
If you want to watch to a movie in DVD player, insert the DVD, press play, press stop, go to DVDplayer>preferences>sound output>digital output.
I have to choose it every time I watch to a DVD...

Audigy 2 ZS digital output to tosli

First of all thank you for reading, this question probable has been raised before (done a search but couldnt find an answer to it).
My doubt is, i own a Audigy 2 ZS (neither Platinum or Pro) wanted to know if i can plug this soundboard to my hifi stereo, through a toslink cable. I know the output on the board isnt toslink, so im think of using a cable such as this http://nanosatelite.eu/b2c/index.php?page=pp_producto.php&md=0&codp=250 with a male toslink and a 3,5 jack on the other. will i get a digital output with this cable, can it do the job (its only digital stereo im aiming at). any advices i should know?
wanted to be shure about this, before buying the cable
thank you for your time
Nuno

If the cable has a in-build coaxial to optical conversion circuit then yes, otherwise (I think this is the answer for you) no.
You need a device wich can convert S/PDIF coaxial to optical (TosLINK). Creative des have one but sorry to say ... your card isn't on list you can use it with. So, you need to get something simliar or DIY one (it's not very hard to do).
Get:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Free_UK_Deli'very/Coaxial_to_Optical_Digital_Signal_Convertor_2929/Coaxial_to_Optical_Digital_Signal_Convertor_2929.h tm
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=504&sku=4008
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/CO2.html
There are? couple more (just google).
DIY:
http://www.electricstart.de/
jutapa

No internal speakers | digital output only | red light from audio jack

I plugged in a stereo through analogue mini jack to the headphone socket of my mac book pro. When i unplugged the stereo, the internal speakers failed to work. There is now a red light coming from the jack as if a "digital output" is plugged into the socket. But no digital output has ever been plugged into the socket - and I have no control of mute or volume settings.
When I plug headphones in, they work fine and I have control of mute and volume settings. Once the headphones are removed I am automatically set back to "digital output" with no control over mute or volume, and no audio from m internal speakers.
I have tried changing the settings in system preferences/sound/settings/output ... but there is no option other than "digital output". I suppose I would like to select "internal speakers" but there is no option for this. And like I stated earlier, the jack is lit up red.
I've tried software updates, restarts, disk utilities (permissions and repairs including repairing with the startup disk), plugging and unplugging, but to no avail.
When I try to change the volume on the keyboard's volume controls I get the "no entry" sign under the volume bar and have no control (as if it were stuck on mute).
The only thing I can think of is that I forced a mini jack into the headphone socket too hard so I'm worried that I've damaged the hardware.
Could this have caused the problem? Or is this a software issue? Any help would be appreciated.
In short I have no sound from the internal speakers.

Same here. I don't remember doing anything out of the ordinary. I was working in Parallels on getting a AM station to stream via some web interface. Next time I went to play sound on the internal speakers, no go.
I've tried zapping the PRAM, toggling the headphone jack and the toothpick thing. Nothing seems to work.
I've also noticed that I get sound in my headphones in iTunes but not in Garageband (someone had suggested that starting up Garageband would reset things.
Any other ideas out there?
Is there a file that could get corrupted that I could switch out of my back up?

Audio digital output does not work.

I'm having a hard time with this problem. I have a Toslink cable to plug the iMac with a a/v receiver. I plug the cable but the iMac won't recognize it and in sound preferences it will show that it's headphones and no sound is coming. Same cable and same setup works perfectly with the Macbook. As soon as I plug the cable to it, it shows that it is digital output in the sound preferences.
In short, the problem is that the iMac does not activate the digital output when the toslink cable is connected.
Any ideas about how to solve this problem? I am crossing my fingers for not having a hardware problem.
Thank you in advance.

Have you tried looking for a bit longer miniplug adapter for the Toslink? It is that the digital plug is a little longer that it can activate the switch inside.
If not, it is under warranty. Arrange to have it looked at.

Mac Mini Digital Output

I have a 1.83 Mac Mini, bought the adapter for a Toslink cable and connected it to a system, and discovered that when I went to the sound control panel, I could not see anything but the built in I/O, the internal speaker works, but there is no selection for digital I/O.
This seems to imply one of a couple things, either something is not properly connected internally, which may have happened months ago when RAM was added and at the time, I had no interest in trying to get digital output from the Mini, course now I do.
The other thing I suspect is some sort of hardware failure, but would think that the internal speakers would not work if the digital output was completely dead??
Anyone know whether something could be inadvertently disconnected to prevent the digital output from even being a selection, or does it mean that something has failed requiring some replacement parts/repair?
Any feedback would be appreciated..
Thanks Norm

I would suspect the adapter if it had not worked in my Airport Express.
Are you saying that options to select Digital I/O will not appear in the sound control panel until the adapter is installed and cable connected to an input of a stereo?
I would have to find a means of looking closely to see if I can see any light coming from the jack, if I had to guess, there isn't, because I think that I should be able to select the digital I/O in the sound control panel if there were not some other issue.
So what I think I want to verify is what the Profiler says about audio and confirm that digital I/O is selectable at all times. I am hoping to prevent a repair of some sort, but maybe inevitable if I want it to work.

Realtek Digital Output

I have a Satelitte A505-S4060, Windows 7 (64 bit).
In my sound options I have "speakers" and "realtek digital output".
If I set speakers as default device I have sound. If I set it to "realtek digital output" I have no sound.
When I select test for realtek digital output, I see the bars moving but I don't hear any sound.
What exactly is realtek digital output?
Is it another way for me to play sound?
If so, any suggestion to get it working again?
If it is a matter of deleting and adding drivers, how do I do that and where would I download the driver from?
Thanks so much.

In 'Control Panel - Sound - Playback tab' where you select 'Speakers', underneath the word Speakers but part of that same selection you will probably see 'Realtek High Definition Audio'
The 'Realtek Digital Output' selection is for when you use S/PDIF digital output, which can use the same output jack as your headphones:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/PDIF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK
You would need a set of S/PDIF digital speakers and a TOSLINK adaptor cable to be able to use this option.
Mike

Stanton T92 Turntable Digital Output to iMac connection

Hi,
I have a Stanton T92 Turntable that I would like to connect to my iMac (Mid-2011 Edition) so that I can listen to some records.
My turntable has a coaxle digital output as seen here:
http://cachepe.zzounds.com/media/quality,85/t92_back-f53efc70364b6f0face720a8feb e6d4c.jpg
I am aware that I need an optical mini-plug for the back of my iMac such as this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JFN1A/ref=gno_cart_title_3
but I am confused on which converter I need to connect to my turntable.
I need to buy either a
Coaxial to Optical Digital Audio Converter
http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-40018-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B0002J2MV4/ref=pd_sim _e_4
or
Optical to Coaxial Digital Audio Converter
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002GV876/ref=gno_cart_title_1
Which one is the correct one?
Also, do I plug the toslink mini-plug into the output headphone jack and then configure the sound settings?
Thanks in advance!

The other option: Could I totally by-pass the digital input/output and just connect a Y-cable splitter from turn turntable to the iMac?
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Audio-Cable-Splitter-1-Mini/dp/B00004Z5CP/ref=sr_1_ 1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1355212671&sr=1-1&keywords=rca+to+3.5mm
Thanks!

ITunes digital output (toslink)

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