Splitting digital/analog audio outs?

I'm wondering if there's a way to split the audio out of an Intel Mac Mini into both analog and digital outputs. I'd like both active at the same time.
I've got a Mini in my home theater rack now, which is great. To keep things easy to use for the rest of the family I have the audio and video going straight to the TV. The TV only has analog in for audio. But I also want to run optical digital audio to the receiver to take advantage of the big speakers when appropriate (not used every day).
Conceptually it might need just a splitter, but I've never seen such a thing.
Thanks!

I'm pretty sure you won't be able to do this in a trivial fashion. The mini will detect what you have plugged into it (analog or digital) and will only output the proper data.
What I have at home to work around this issue to route digital content to my 7.1 receiver yet stereo to my whole house cable channel is to take the digital out from my receiver and pipe it through a device that converts the digital signal to analog.
The only thing I've been able to find to do this for a somewhat reasonable price is the Thrustmaster. Its quite a hack as this is intended to be used with a set of headphones but it works pretty well.
Kevin
G5, G4s, Mac Book Pro, DC mini Mac OS X (10.4.6)

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Any way to split digital/analog audio?

I'm wondering if there's a way to split the audio out of an Airport Express (or an Intel Mac Mini) into both analog and digital outputs. I'd like both active at the same time.
The reason for the Mac Mini is easier to explain. I've got a Mini in my home theater rack now, which is great. To keep things easy to use for the rest of the family I have the audio and video going straight to the TV. The TV only has analog in for audio. But I also want to run optical digital audio to the receiver to take advantage of the big speakers when appropriate (not used every day).
Conceptually it might need just a splitter, but I've never seen such a thing.
Thanks!

I did a Google search and couldn't find any adapters that would allow this. I'm not that familiar with the connector but theoretically it is possible. It might be just a matter of time before someone makes one. You might try again later. In the mean time you could have both cables routed to the Mac Mini and just swap them when you you want to use the other speakers, inconvenient but not to bad if you don't have to do it frequently.

Is analog audio out supported using the new lightning cable adapters ?

Is analog audio out supported using the new lightning cable adapters ?

Yes. Both adapters (the .2m adapter and small adapter with no cable) have built in DACs just for that purpose.
For more information, read this story. It's a little long but it will explain in further detail:
http://www.macworld.com/article/2012137/hands-on-with-apples-lightning-to-30-pin -adapters.html
I personally have a speaker dock thing from iHome. It uses analog audio. I have tried it with both types of adapters and it works perfectly.

Optical digital and analog audio out

I just purchased a Pavilion 500-214 with IDT High Def Audio CODEC / DTS Sound+
Is it possible to get both opitcal digital audio out and analog (speakers/headphones) out at same time? Stereo amp needs access to both for multizone/source function. I can manually pick one or the other before playback - it is clunky in that when switching audio out devices the active will turn off but one switching to does not always turn on. But i really need both simultaneously active for amp to work properly. I have also found rear speaker jack to be more stubborn during switching than front headphone jack.
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Hi zombi1,
Welcome to the HP Forums!
I have done some research on whether or not one can utilize both digital or analogue audio out at the same time, and unfortunately this is not possible.
Thank you for posting, and Happy Earth Day!
MechPilot
I work on behalf of HP
Please click “Accept as Solution ” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
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Mini digital/analog audio output

I'm using my Mini for itunes music (AIFF) with my home entertainment system. It's pretty high end and I want my receiver to handle the DAC. Is the HDMI output from the Mini digital? Can I make the output digital?
Should I consider going out the USB to a DAC and then to receiver?
Thanks

Should be HDMI. It's got the highest bandwidth -- it can basically pipe 8 digital audio channels uncompressed -- and you can rely on the DAC in your receiver or pre-amp to do the work. If your setup is good, the DAC in your receiver / pre-amp should also be good.
Others may be able to speak to the USB > DAC question. I'm not an terribly well informed, but USB has got lower bandwidth than HDMI, and is not really tuned for A/V delivery. That said, I've read some good reviews of USB > S-PDIF / Analog Stereo DACs.
Finally, I think that S/PDIF is going to be pretty heavily compressed for anything above simple stereo, so if you're interested in high performance 5:1 or better, it's probably not ideal.

Playing analog audio out to sonos connect from Apple TV

We have Apple TV playing to our stereo via HDMI, and we have been unsuccessful in getting audio to our Sonos Connect Amp. We are using the Optical output from the Apple TV and playing into a DAC which converts audio to Analog for the Stereo inputs on the Sonos. Is there some setting we are missing to get this to work? We would like listen to whatever is playing on the Apple TV on our homes Sonos zones.
Thank you,
JT

No. This would be airplaying to multiple devices at once using an iOS device. You can do this though in iTunes on a Mac if you have to.

AppleTV audio out to old amp with only analog audio

I'm thinking about getting the Apple TV for both video and for playing my music on my home stereo system. I currently have an old amp with only analog audio capabilities, but the new ATV looks like it only supports digital optical out, and the digital to analog converters I've looked for seem pretty expensive. How can I get the audio from my music collection (iTunes) to play wirelessly through ATV through my amp?
I currently also have an Airport Express which I use for audio, but I was thinking of selling that and just using the ATV since the ATV can essentially do the same thing as the AX with added video benefit. I've seen some threads on streaming audio from the ATV to the AX, but do I really need both? Seems like there should be another way.
I was thinking of connecting the ATV to my TV via HDMI cable for audio, and then using an analog audio out from the TV to my amp. But, if I'm correct, that would only provide me with sound coming from the TV. It wouldn't give sound out from iTunes, for example. Is that right?
Are there any other options?

Followings are my observations in audio streaming with Apple TV 3 and Airport Express through AirPlay protocol:
-- Apple TV 3 come with only digital audio outputs through HDMI and optical SPDIF outputs. If you connect optical link from the optical output to optical input of any DAC and HDMI cable from the HDMI output to HDMI input on TV set, audio output will be transmitted through both digital outputs. Thus is is not necessary to turn on TV set unless visual feedback is required. There is no audio analog line output for Apple TV 3.
-- AirportExpress come with single combo mini jack (digital + analog) for audio output regardless of old/new models. You can connect either digital optical link (with Mini/Toslink adaptor) to digital input of DAC or analog line cable (inferior) to analog line input of amplifier. When analog line is used, digital-to-analog conversion is done by DAC built into AirportExpress for which do not expect quality is as good as most external DAC models. What do you expect from a single-chip DAC implementation vs standalone DAC models cost few thousand dollars ? Moreover analog line is susceptible to interference more than digital line.
So the decision to use Apple TV or AirportExpress, analog or digital transmission for audio streaming depends on whether you need WiFi base station features of AirportExpress to establish wireless network and quality of your audio system to justify all-digital audio transmission. Followings are what I use in audio streaming from iMac/iPad mini /iPhone 5 to audio system in living room. Quality of audio output is comparable with Sonos Zone Player as audio source.
Apple AirPort Extreme wireless base station (802.11n, 5GHz)
Apple TV 3 (firmware 5.1.1, Xtreme HD Toslink optical cable)
Antelope Audio Zodiac DAC
Bel Canto power amplifier
Bowers & Wilkins 683 speakers
Yamaha YST-SW215 subwoofer

New Macbook Air: optical digital output audio?

Does new (July 2011) Macbook Air have a digital output audio so I could connect it via optical cable to my receiver when i'm watching movies.

It doesn't appear so. The MBA spec sheet only states
Headphone port
whereas the also new Mac mini has
Audio line in minijack (digital/analog)
Audio line out/headphone minijack (digital/analog)

65x900b - two questions - amazon in dolby 5.1 and using audio out with subwoofer

Does the amazon app output 5.1 like netflix? I can't seem to find any way to set the amazon audio.Also I have used a 1/8 y adapter and plugged it into the audio out on the TV. One end of the Y goes to my A/V receiver and the other to the wireless transceiver for the subwoofer. The cable from the wireless transceiver to the tv is a mono cable so if i have them both plugged into the Y one of the channels cannot be heard. The subwoofer works fine. But when I change to audio out like I said I loose one channel. When I unplug the mini cable from the Y adapter however I get full stereo sound outputting. Is there anything I can do to resolve this conflict. Can I use a stereo mini cable for the wireless transceiver for the subwoofer.ThanksLloyd

Hi lgroveman,
Welcome to the Sony Community!
Amazon with Digital Dobly 5.1 is already supported. Please make sure to update your TV to the latest software, kindly check this link for further details and steps by steps procedures. In addition, please make sure to perform the steps below to Refresh the internet content of the TV once the installation is complete.
Press the HOME button, then select [Settings]
[Network] → [Refresh Internet Content].
The Analog Audio Out cannot drive both a stereo system and a Subwoofer. If you connect a Subwoofer to the TV SWF-BR100 the frequency response of the audio output is limited to the subwoofer frequencies.
To output 5.1 surround sound from your TV an ARC (HDMI ) or the Optical Out connection is needed because analog audio out support stereo sound.
If my post answers your question, please click the button below "Accept as Solution"

Using MacBook Pro as Digital Optical Audio bridge...

I have an idea for my MacBook Pro, but I'd like to know if it's feasible before I go and buy what I'd need to test my plan:
I have an Xbox 360 with digital optical audio out (TOSlink), and I have a MacBook Pro with digital optical audio in (through the 3.5mm minijack on the side. So far I'm A-OK.
Now, I'd like to know if I can have the Xbox's output go into the MacBook Pro's input, and route that audio signal through the MacBook Pro to either (a) the stereo output of the MacBook Pro, or (b) (preferred) my 5.1 decoder on my Griffin FireWave.
Every time I use the Xbox, I have to unplug the audio from my speakers to the Griffin FireWave, and that's a pain because the wires are all behind my desk. If I could route the audio through my MacBook Pro, then everything would be perfect. Is this possible?
And if this isn't possible, can I use an old iMic adapter I have laying around to route the audio through the MBP?
Thanks for your help!

I found a program called LineIn that allows 'software audio pass through in to out,' but I don't think this will pass the 5.1 channel audio through to my FireWire-connected Griffin Firewave.
Does anyone know of any way this can be done? Do you think the Audio/MIDI Setup Utility application can be of any use with this? Or is there a way to pass the digital signal straight through to the Griffin?

Audio Out erratic

MacPro 2008 the past few days, analog Audio Out from Windows Vista U. 32 & U. 64 Realtek is erratic using plug in the back of box. This is true for Logitec Z-2300 plug and speakers via Yamaha receiver plug, so it is not male side of connection, or the plug. Erratic means wiggling plug gets sound from that connection: off (internal Pro speaker takes over) & on. Either, plugged into the Headphone slot in front of the box works as usual.
In Leopard OS, there is no problem with either jack plugged into back even if wiggled. Only thing I can imagine is that internal female side has loosened? from tension over time though it does not affect Leopard!? On software side of equation, before posing this, I completely restored both Window OS's from a five day old backup so it is not the OS's.
Right now sound is ok if I keep tension on plug by taping wire to side of the box, easier than keeping a finger on it, but neither is a permanent solution. Wondering how long I'll be without my Mac if from the east coast of Canada it has to find some service? Apple could make a good advert of this further evidence of user friendly Vista.

Welcome to the forum.
I would not think that the scaling would be an issue, as it would affect the display of the GUI and maybe playback (though I would assume less so).
Now, for your Low Memory warnings, take a look at this ARTICLE on setting up your computer for NLE work. There is also a FAQ Article to see, as well.
My guess would be that PrE 7 just requires a bit more in the way of resources, than your PrE 4 did. You are probably marginal with PrE 4, and PrE 7 pushes you over the edge.
Good luck,
Hunt

Combined optical digital audio output/analog line out

Combined optical digital audio output/analog line out minijack on the new Mac Pro support 5.1?

Are you asking if it has that?
http://www.apple.com/mac-pro/specs/
says:
Combined optical digital audio output/analog line out minijack
Which means it does.
On all but the earlier Mac Pro models, this has been standard since the iMac G5.
Mac Pros earlier used SPDIF.
These are now mini-Toslink.

Digital audio out port

I am having a problem, quite opposite to what most of what I've read about Mac audio port issues online, concerning my audio-out port. I'm running an Intel Imac, 7,1, running OS 10.5.8. The specs do specify the audio port on this mac is dual; analog and digital output. Everything I've read to date relates to the red optical light being stuck on coming out of the audio port. My issue is that I CANNOT, and I emphasize that, get the red light to come on and thus use my optical cable (it's working on other equipment) and connect it to my AV receiver. I have never in the past even thought about using an optical cable so it never was an issue. In fact I never knew the port was dual. The external speaker and headphones work fine and the audio panel in the preference pane reflects that; either says 'internal speakers' or 'headphones' automatically when engaging/disengaging audio phone jack. When I put in my toslink (optical) cable, the panel goes to 'headphones' instead of 'optical out' or 'digital out'. There is never a provision to click on digital out on either the sound panel or the midi setup panel. I've tried everything I can click on at both panels. Audio Output in midi setup says 'master stream' (always greyed out) and Source- either 'headphones' or 'internal speakers'. The default and system output drop downs never give me a 'digital' or 'optical' option. Everything works fine except that I cannot get the red light to shine and cannot get digital out at all. Any ideas? Maybe something in terminal or in openfirmware screen? 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

MBP- Digital Audio Out is always on

For some reason after (I believe) I updated to 10.4.9 the Digital Audio Out on my MBP is always on, thus making the internal speakers unusable. If I plug in headphones they work fine but after I unplug them it switches back to digital audio.
How do I fix this?
15" MBP 1.83ghz. Mac OS X (10.4.6) 1.5gb of Ram,

ok, since this prob comes up every week and often more than once a week, I wrote a detailed explanation and saved it so I could repost it next time it happened to someone. here it is:
the audio input/output connector on all mac notebooks is a dual function connection. it can switch between analog and digital optical. the way it does this is by an automatic sensor that detects what is plugged in. if it detects that an optical digital cable is connected, then it will switch to digital output and/or input mode as the case may be. this is why you see a red light - it's the optical digital audio stream. it seems that in many cases, people's connectors are becoming stuck, and the machine thinks there is a digital optical cable plugged in. it can happen if you've connected or disconnected headphones, or speakers, or possibly even if something is loose in that port and it just gets jammed with the sensor being tripped. people have suggested trying to gentle poke inside the port with a paperclip, to try and reset the sensor back to the setting that nothing is plugged in. for some people it has worked, for others, not. you can also try plugging in headphones and unplugging them a few times to see if it does the trick. if none of this works, then unfortunately the best bet is going to be taking the machine in for a service.

Analog vs. optical audio out ... and what cable to I use?

I've ordered an iPod Hi-Fi, which I intend to use in place of external speakers for my G5. I have two questions:
First, do I want to connect using the analog or the optical audio out?
Second, if the latter, what kind of cable to I need if the optical is preferable?
Thanks

I don't have a wireless network -- the house we live in is wired for Ethernet, and neither of us use a portable computer. My only concern, therefore, is to find a cable that will go from the PowerMac G5 optical audio out to the audio in on iPod Hi-Fi. From what I've been able to learn online, the former is Toslink, the latter -- as you say -- mini. So I'm assuming that the "mini-to-optical digital Toslink audio cable" will do the job.
I confess, however, that most of this information has not been easy to come by. Apple could certainly do a better job here.

Splitting digital/analog audio outs?

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