Optical digital audio out - can I keep the light on?

I have my iMac hooked up to my Sony receiver with a TOSLINK optical cable.
I have noticed that the Mac shuts off the signal light if there has been no audio output for 15 seconds. My Sony receiver then goes into a sort of standby mode. When the iMac again outputs digital audio, it takes about a half second for the receiver to wake up from standby mode. So the first half second of any new audio output is clipped. This means that short things like alert sounds, trash empty sound, etc are not heard at all if there has been no other sound output for the last 15 seconds.
If there is a way to keep the light on all the time, then my receiver will always "hear" and output everything.
Is there anyway to do this? I have thought about making a ten second audio clip of silence, and having QuickTime or some other program continuously loop it. But there has to be a better way to keep the light on.

Answered. My latest Google search was successful.
I found a launch agent that uses the "say" command to "speak" a single space every 10 seconds. That keeps the audio system alive, and keeps the light on.
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/29024/antipop

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HT2844 iMac 27"(late 2009), Audio in/Optical digital audio out port, stopped recognizing my new Bose speaker system, previously working...

Hello,
My iMac 27"(late 2009), Audio in/Optical digital audio out port, stopped recognizing my new Bose speaker system, previously working through that port. I tested the speaker system through my iPhone, and it works fine. I hooked it up to the Headphone out/Optical digital audio in port, and it works through that port also. I did a computer restart, I also checked all wiring and did a system repair on the computer. I also restarted the computer in mode where I could use the system utility, and the computer still did not correct the matter, and it reported everything as being "ok". I wented into "sound", through system preferences, and the computer does not recognize anything I plug into the Audio in/Optical digital audio out port. When I plug the speaker sysytem into the headphone out/optical digital audio out port, it does recognize the Bose speaker system as being "headphones".
Reading through a lot of forums, I hear everything from compatibility, to the port being stuck, and on and on. Since the port was working before, and just quit working one day, I wonder if there is a capacitor or fuse or some type of similar thing is blown, and causing the port to be unfunctionable. Maybe the port went bad, but before this time, I had never used it, and the computer does not move around, and I never plug in and pull wiring out unless needing to, and that being rare.
Here is a link to Costco, where I bought the system, and the exact system I have, if this is any help: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku= A4092931&ST=pla&dgc=ST&cid=262075&lid=4742361&acd=1230980794501410
By the way, I am running OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5). I upgraded to Mavericks about a month ago, and expeirienced a number of issues, and had to take my iMac into Apple. Talking with the tech, I decided to wait for a while more before I upgraded to Mavericks. I try and keep the computer maintained.
If any of you have any ideas regadrding wear and tear, and fix I can do, etc., besides having to take my computer into Apple? Thank you, and potentially all of you, for your time and effort in helping me with this issue. Thank you kindly.
davE

Okay, davE, first, you have posted in the "Mac Pro" forum (not Macbook Pro), so we can't be super helpful
but we help you. First, hold down the Option key while clicking on the speaker icon at the top of your screen. This should show you all the inputs and outputs you have. you could check in "About this Mac" then "More info" to see whatever's recognized. Then, maybe, fire up Audio MIDI. your speaker system should show up there. something might have gotten set incorrectly. You can test it there. I guess you are using the good ol' analog cable for connection, and it works on your iPhone, so the cable isn't bad. You could try this. it 's an adapter which might solve your problem
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HBWYQ6/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
depending on which model of Bose speaker you have, you might try doing a product reset
turn off speakers...unplug power cord from outlet...wait 1 minute..plug cord into outlet..turn on speakers..
\\turning off automatic standby||
press and hold top of control pod for 6 seconds until you hear 2 tones that go from high to low
other than that ,I don't know
John B

Optical digital audio out so good you don't need external audio card?

IS the optical digital audio out of the MBP so good you don't need an external audio card?
I was looking into buying the MAUDIO mobilepre to connect my soon to be received MBP to the speakers, but the Apple rep told me the new optical digital connection is good enough that i can bypass an interface card. Is this true?
For reference I am planning to buy the EDIROL DM20 as monitors to edit audio in FCP 5.
Thnak you for your feedback
optimist2
Imac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)
Imac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

I'm an audiophile as well. I wouldn't use the MBP headphone out to drive a serious audio system, so I don't disagree with your use of a good external DAC. But the poster wants to drive speakers that take digital input. So the question is about the digital output, not the DACs. Given the equipment he proposes to attach, I doubt there's any justification for using an external device to generate the digital out.

Optical digital audio out port

Here is the situation:
The only problem I have with my Mac Pro is that the Audio line-out port does not work reliably in Boot Camp. The audio output cuts out easily and then I have to "jiggle" the speaker cable to get the sound back. And I have determined that it is the audio line-out port that is at fault, not the speakers, nor the cable.
So I want to try to work around this by utilizing the optical digital audio out port.
But I don't understand how it works.
Does this port connect directly to appropriate digital speakers?
If so can someone recommend a decent set of digital speakers that will connect directly.
Or does the optical digital audio port connect to an amplifier or receiver and them to speakers?
Thanks

have you tried other speakers or headphones and what version bootcamp drivers are you using?
Moses Kravitz wrote:
Does this port connect directly to appropriate digital speakers?
If so can someone recommend a decent set of digital speakers that will connect directly.
Or does the optical digital audio port connect to an amplifier or receiver and them to speakers?
With the suggestions i have below the set-up is like this:
Subwoofer - Connects to 2 (Stereo or technically 2.1) or 5 (5.1) speakers
The subwoofer connects to a control pod (which has the optical inputs, coax inputs, and analog inputs - atleast all 3 are on the z5500)
Digital/Optical Audio:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK
Suggested Speakers; I Personally have 2 pairs of the Z-5500 set, true high quality audio and variety of settings for whatever you use them for, i have been so pleased by them and their warranty service is by far the best ever, anything ever happens to them, theyll send you a replacement set, logitech/apple great customer service, i also posted a few other priced ones if youre not looking for a huge set up:
The company site & Speakers: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakersaudio/home_pcspeakers/&cl=us,en
Compares a few models:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/comparison/ref=pdcp_ecmp/104-4843690-8241552?ie=UTF8&ASIN.1=B0002WPSBC&ASIN.2=B0002SQ0AE&ASIN.4=B0002 SQ2P2&ASIN.3=B0002SQ0A4&bf=0
and some others in that same field:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/explorer/B00007AKDP/2/ref=pdcp_esexpl/104-4843690-8241552
And you're going to need a TOSLINK cable to go from the audio port to the back of the control pods; found a nice cheap one
http://amazon.com/s/ref=srkk3/104-4843690-8241552?ie=UTF8&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=toslink%20cable
hope that helps!!
Message was edited by: AppleNewton

Optical digital audio out?

does any one have optical digital audio out to a receiver working? it doesn't work for mp3 through itunes, video purchased on itunes, cds or dvds. works fine with the same setup and a previous generation macbook so i know it's not the receiver or cable.
my fear is that this is a defective design issue related to the displayport hdcp issues. hopefully, my hardware is just malfunctioning.
i was on the phone over an hour with apple troubleshooting, but no one had an answer to the hdcp question.
thanks.

i took my macbook up to the apple store to the "genius bar". after a few minutes, they just decided to replace the entire macbook. fine. after i got home, i immediately tested the digital out port. it works! fantastic. unfortunately, throughout the course of the night i continued setting up the new macbook. i later try the digital audio out and now it's not working.
this morning i'm trying it again and it's working, briefly. i've found that by moving the cable around near the output jack that the sound will come and go. i tried a different cable with the same results. although it seemed to work less frequently. both cables in different devices (including a previous generation macbook) work fine.
i've also noticed some of the comments on this forum and others (i think they were referring to different notebook models) about people having problems with the internal speakers not reactivating after unplugging headphones. my guess now is that the headphone jacks are just poorly designed, manufactured or i'm just unlucky.
i would think it's definitely not an hdcp or other content protection issue.
i guess i could exchange for another macbook, but with 2 having this problem it's seeming less likely another one will work out. i guess i could just be really unlucky and maybe 3rd times a charm. my only other alternatives as i see it are returning it or just living with the digital audio out not working (annoying, but everything should work on a $1500 laptop).

How can the optical digital audio input be enabled on the 2011 Mac mini?

I am trying to record signals output from my audio receiver's digital SPDIF output. I have a TOSLINK optical cable between the receiver's output and my MAC mini's audio input (via the TOSLINK to 3.5mm optical adapter). Does this digital optical input need to be enabled through the OS?

Also, make sure it is showing up in System Preferences->Sound->
Input as optical.
Also, make sure it is plugged ALL the way in. I know on
my 2011 Mini, even with just analog plugs, it is a very
snug fit and often it feels like I have pushed in all the way
when in fact it isn't and needs an addition pretty firm push.

Firewire as audio out - can i send my iTunes out through my firewire port and into a DAC?

I have a 5 year old (retired) MacBook with firewire 400 and 2 USB 2 ports. I want to use it as my music source for a fine stereo system. I want to know if I can use my firewire port to ship my digital music signal out to a DAC before sending it to my pre-amp in analogue format. OR, can I use the optical digital audio out in the heaphone jack to do it? What is the bandwidth of the optical out?

You do not need .Mac in order to send photos by e-mail. It sounds like you use ATT as you internet provider. Have you configured Apple Mail to be able to send e-mail yet? Can you send an e-mail text message OK?
If you haven't yet gotten Mail configured to work with your ATT account a quick call to ATT should give you all the information you need. Setting up Mail is easy.
Post back with further questions.
Regards,
Steve M.

Optical Digital audio - No output control

I'm trying to use the optical audio output on my late 2006 Mac Pro 1,1 (A1186), but no audio signal is received by my Sony audio amplifier even though the "Optical digital audio out" port and my TOSLINK cable show a red glow,
System Preferences says: "The selected device has no output controls." That same message has been displayed for Sound > Digital Out ever since my Mac was new, but this is the first time I've wanted to use that sound output.
Did my Mac Pro come with the needed controls? If "yes," how do I activate them? If "no," where can I obtain them?
Thanks for any help or suggestions!
Don

yep-try looking under system preferences-->sound--or fire up Audio Midi Setup and see if you can get it switched over that way. Dunno about your reciever. You may have to switch it over to digital on that input. I'll turn it over to someone more capable than me at the moment. Gotta go
John B

Question regarding mic plugged into audio in/optical digital audio in port

So I have this external headset... headphone/mic set combo... I plug the headphone jack in the headphone slot and the mic jack in the audio in/optical digital audio in port slot in the back of my IMAC. I go to my system preferences select "sound" and "line in - Audio line in port". But when recording, it's still recording from the internal mic? How do I just record just from the external mic??? What am I doing wrong? I've read all the other questions regarding how to get the external mics to work, but it's still recording from the internal mic? Help?
Mac OS X (10.4.9)

I never expected APPLE wouldn't make a mac that didn't have a proper mic jack?
It has a proper one, a good one, a professional one, not the toy that comes with most PCs. Apple has used line level analog audio input for years.
From Wikipedia;Line level is a term used to denote the strength of an audio signal used to transmit analog sound information between audio components such as CD and DVD players, TVs, audio amplifiers, and mixing consoles.
In contrast to line level, there are weaker audio signals, such as those from microphones and instrument pickups, and stronger signals, such as those used to drive headphones and loudspeakers. The strength of the various signals does not necessarily correlate with the output voltage of a device; it also depends on the source's output impedance, or the amount of current available to drive different loads.

TS5150 Does the optical digital audio port send out a Dolby Digital signal

Does the optical digital audio port send out a Dolby Digital signal

Yes if the media has such an audio track available it can do so.
There is a setting for audio and video allowing DD output to be set for Auto (on/off if connected HDMI device can decode DD), On or Off.
AC

Can I use the optical digital audio cable to connect INSTEAD of the hdmi? My tv only has 2 hdmi ports, and they're both taken

Can I use the optical digital audio cable to connect INSTEAD of the hdmi? My tv only has 2 hdmi ports, and they're both taken

I'm afraid that's very misleading and inaccurate.
Firstly an adapter won't work, it would need to be a converter and then if it's a compliant converter it won't let you watch HDCP protected content such as that from netflix or from the iTunes Store.
Secondly, whilst I'm not going to debate whether component or HDMI is better, component is certainly not better if it's been converted from an HDMI signal. You can't make anything better by simply converting it to another type of signal.

Can I connect the optical digital audio cable to my tuner in order to use my stereo speakers?

can I connect the optical digital audio cable to my tuner in order to use my stereo speakers for apple tv sound?

thats why I do and mute the tv so there is only 1 audio source as they are never 100% in sync when you use both optical and hdmi

HT4806 Mac mini digital audio out through the headphone jack

I'm misled by this sentence for audio out port from the support page: "For digital audio, you can use Apple iPhone headset with microphone".
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5539
It is there for all mac minis starting from 2010 model.
Does it mean electrical digital signal? Any chance to get S/PDIF coaxial signal?

If an optical signal is OK, you just need one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00016W6Y6
To convert the optical signal to a co-ax one will need a more complex/expensive convertor.

Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out

What is the "combined optical digital audio output/headphone out"? This is what the output is called that has the earphone picture beside it on my MacBook. I thought this meant that it could take the mini jack out that splits into a/v - yellow, white, red, and plug it into any tv or monitor that has those inputs. I tried it just now, but a no go.
If the only way to get video is through the mini DVI output what does the "Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out" mean? If I can get video out of it, how can I do it?
Thanks!

Hi Trevor Deck: As you have discovered this does not output as a video signal. That jack is strictly for audio. The "optical" portion of it is used to output using a "Toslink" cable to provide "optical audio" to an external amplifier. The DVI port needs to be used to get a video signal to your TV. But be warned if you use the red, white, & yellow method of hooking up the video signal you will probably be disappointed. If your TV has a HDMI or PC input it would be much better. You would then have to get the proper DVI to whatever type adapter.
Good Luck
Stedman
MBP 1.83, 1.5gB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.9) Quiet, Cool, Re-furbished, iPod mini, iPod shuffle

CD player Toslink optical out to optical digital audio in port. Need help

Hello,
I'm taking the Toslink Optical out of my Sony 707esD CD player into the Audio in/optical digital audio in port of my March 2009 iMac.
In System preferences>Sound>Input>Digital in Optical digital-in port I see a signal occurring on the input level meter but I do not hear audio.
Output is headphones port and is working fine from other sources.
I see a signal input does anyone know how to hear the output.
Thanks.

You need the free LineIn app from Rogue Amoeba.
http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/
Dah•veed

Optical digital audio out - can I keep the light on?

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