I don't think you have to switch it. If I plug in an optical cable to my
5.1 receiver the Mac just switches over to optical output. If I plug in
a mini to RCA cable and run that to my receiver for just stereo sound it
uses that. One odd thing is that when running digital optical output I
can no longer adjust the volume on the Mac. If you want something to
decode the 5.1 optical into discrete RCA outputs I used one of these:
http://sewelldirect.com/Sewell-Digital-to-Analog-51-DTS-Surround-Sound-Decoder-SPDIF-to-RCA.asp
which has optical inputs and 6 RCA outputs for the left, right, center,
surround left, surround right and subwoofer. I used this in a larger
venue where I had a Mac Mini connected to a rack of amps through a
Mackie mixer.
Main trick is to find one of those otical (mini TOS Link) cables since
the Mac optical output is just the regular mini headphone jack. When I
first set mine up I tried all the usual places like Best Buy and Radio
Shack and none of them had any idea what I was talking about. So I just
found some online for a few dollars. I can give you specific links if
you decide to go this route.
CB
On 4/9/12 10:47 AM, Brent Harding wrote:
That analog out jack can be switched to optical digital, so use an
optical digital cable with the mini plug on the end, or they make
adapters from the optical kind of plug.
----- Original Message -----
*From:* Ray Foret Jr <mailto:rfore...@att.net>
*To:* macvisionaries@googlegroups.com
<mailto:macvisionaries@googlegroups.com>
*Sent:* Monday, April 09, 2012 4:48 AM
*Subject:* Re: 5:1 sound output on a mac?
I tell you that it's in 5.1 channel sound. I know. I have played
DVD's in 5.1 channel sound through that digital output.
Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
Skype name:
barefootedray
Facebook:
facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1
<http://m.facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1?refid=0>
On Apr 9, 2012, at 4:01 AM, Eric Oyen wrote:
no problem redirecting vo to a 2 channel usb device (I have one
of those). the only issue is: is that SP/DIF output in 5:1 sound
or analog. that does make a difference as I have a 5:1 capable
sound receiver that uses SP/DIF.
-eric
On Apr 9, 2012, at 1:32 AM, Ray Foret Jr wrote:
Actually, I've done 5.1 channel sound from my Mac. The sound
for 5.1 channels is taken directly from what is normally the ear
phone output jack. You'll want to be aware that when you run
5.1 channel sound out of your Mac, you will lose VO unless you
direct VO to another output; say, a grifin Imike for example.
Other than that, a Braille display will work nicely.
One further thing. You'll need to tell what ever app your going
to use to output to 5.1 channel sound, and also, you will notice
that 5.1 channel sound will only show up when a receiver which
can take it is connected.
Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
Skype name:
barefootedray
Facebook:
facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1 <http://facebook.com/ray.foretjr.1>
On Apr 9, 2012, at 12:44 AM, Eric Oyen wrote:
Hello everyone.
I am cross posting this to 2 groups that have some of the best
experts for macs around (and also deal with the blind).
what i am looking for is this: I woold like to be able to have
5:1 or higher surround sound output from my mac (either via
firewater or USB device) and haven't had a lot of luck finding
anything. can any of you suggest a manufacturer or some place
that has this hardware and also... does anyone have any
experience setting up such devices. I would like to be able to
use my Mac as part of a home theater system and this is the
last stumbling block.
thanks.
-eric
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the
Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group.
To post to this group, send email to
macvisionaries@googlegroups.com
<mailto:macvisionaries@googlegroups.com>.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
<mailto:macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com>.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the
Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group.
To post to this group, send email to
macvisionaries@googlegroups.com
<mailto:macvisionaries@googlegroups.com>.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
<mailto:macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com>.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the
Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group.
To post to this group, send email to
macvisionaries@googlegroups.com
<mailto:macvisionaries@googlegroups.com>.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
<mailto:macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com>.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "MacVisionaries" group.
To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "MacVisionaries" group.
To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"MacVisionaries" group.
To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
