5.1 Audio Output on Mac

[kevinokev]

Using the optical output from my mac, I've run a toslink cable to my 7.1 receiver to play audio from a video file within VLC. The mac is set to use the Digital Out option within the OS and the VLC player is also set to Digital Out under Audio Device. I only have a Stereo, Left, Right and Reverse Stereo option under Audio Channels.

In the past, this setup has worked to sucessfully play 5.1 audio using the Auto Surround option (here the receiver detects the input channels and proceeds to process the audio accordingly). However now my receiver is only showing STEREO on the display readout.

I've checked numerous forums on this but none of them actually go into receiver settings. I know for a fact the video file has 6 channels of audio as I've heard this file sucessfully before and the codec information reads as 3F2R/LFE

Any idea ??

[kevinokev]

Bueller...Bueller... I guess this is too specific of a problem.

[jollo]

Originally Posted by kevinokev

Using the optical output from my mac, I've run a toslink cable to my 7.1 receiver to play audio from a video file within VLC. The mac is set to use the Digital Out option within the OS and the VLC player is also set to Digital Out under Audio Device. I only have a Stereo, Left, Right and Reverse Stereo option under Audio Channels.

In the past, this setup has worked to sucessfully play 5.1 audio using the Auto Surround option (here the receiver detects the input channels and proceeds to process the audio accordingly). However now my receiver is only showing STEREO on the display readout.

I've checked numerous forums on this but none of them actually go into receiver settings. I know for a fact the video file has 6 channels of audio as I've heard this file sucessfully before and the codec information reads as 3F2R/LFE

Any idea ??

You didn't say where you are checking the outputs on the Mac (Sound in System Preferences or using the Audio MIDI Setup application), so forgive me if this is wrong.

Have you checked how many outputs the Mac is set up to use in the Audio MIDI Setup application? Also are you using Lion? My Mac Mini keeps resetting my audio to 96k after every restart.

Check your audio format in Audio MIDI Setup, Toslink won't carry more than stereo if the the format is set higher than 48 kHz (I think).

I hope that helps some.

[kevinokev]

Originally Posted by jollo

You didn't say where you are checking the outputs on the Mac (Sound in System Preferences or using the Audio MIDI Setup application), so forgive me if this is wrong.

Have you checked how many outputs the Mac is set up to use in the Audio MIDI Setup application? Also are you using Lion? My Mac Mini keeps resetting my audio to 96k after every restart.

Check your audio format in Audio MIDI Setup, Toslink won't carry more than stereo if the the format is set higher than 48 kHz (I think).

I hope that helps some.

Using Sys Prefs or by option clicking the Speaker icon on the top right of the OS and selecting Digital Out. When checking the MIDI Setup App I can only select 2ch as I'm using the on-board audio output. I believe the only way you can select multi-channel is if you have a secondary audio card. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Running the most current version of Snow Leopard.

[jollo]

Originally Posted by kevinokev

Using Sys Prefs or by option clicking the Speaker icon on the top right of the OS and selecting Digital Out. When checking the MIDI Setup App I can only select 2ch as I'm using the on-board audio output. I believe the only way you can select multi-channel is if you have a secondary audio card. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Running the most current version of Snow Leopard.

I didn't think this was so tough but I was wrong. I have a Mac Mini and it has HDMI out and you can choose multiple channel audio in the Audio MIDI app. I tried hooking up a Toslink connection and you are right, there is only the choice for stereo out.

I did find this: How to get 5.1 surround sound on your Mac maybe it will help but I haven't tried it.

[kevinokev]

I'm thinking one of the more recent OS updates had changed how the optical out works (or at the very least reset my preferences to the point of not functioning as intended). I'll check out the link and see if it offers any new insight to this unique problem.

Thanks for your time and reply. I'll keep you posted.