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Xbox 360 + EMU 0404 USB

post #1 of 15
12/11/07 at 12:55am
Thread Starter 
Not sure if this is the right forum (the Xbox 360 is not a computer and I've seen various PS3-related posts here), but here goes.

Is it possible to use the Xbox 360's optical output with the EMU 0404 USB's optical input? Right now I've just got analog cables running from the 360 to the 0404 but am looking for something a little higher quality. I have an optical cable and tried plugging it in and hitting Direct Monitor, but am unsure of what to do next. Any ideas?
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post #2 of 15
12/11/07 at 3:01am
You may need to configure the Xbox 360 to send only stereo (2.0) information over the optical output, if that's possible. I'm not sure if the 0404 USB can accept and/or downmix 5.1 information, which is what the Xbox 360 outputs by default.

Otherwise, from the manual:

Quote:
S/PDIF to Analog: Attach a S/PDIF source, power cycle the device, and set direct monitor to “Main”.
Try that first.

Also, select Optical as the S/PDIF mode.
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post #3 of 15
12/12/07 at 4:15am
Thread Starter 
Okay, so I've got an optical cable going from the 360 to the 0404 USB. S/PDIF mode set to optical. 360 is outputting digital stereo. Neither direct monitor modes output anything. :[
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post #4 of 15
12/12/07 at 7:15am
Darn... My only guess is that the content is encoded in a lossy format like Dolby Digital or DTS. Since the 0404 can't internally decode those formats like a receiver would, you may be out of luck.

From the official Xbox site:

Quote:
Digital Stereo: select this option to fold any Dolby Digital multichannel audio program down to two channels (left/right) for a direct digital connection to an audio receiver. The console will not collapse multichannel DTS (Digital Theater Systems) output to 2-channel DTS.
They don't mention PCM conversion or "linear PCM" output; it may only output encoded streams.
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post #5 of 15
12/14/07 at 2:55pm
Did you figure this out yet?

Out of curiosity I just connected my X-DAC to the Xbox360 optical out (set to digital stereo) and it works flawlessly. The X-DAC reports 48kHz
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post #6 of 15
12/14/07 at 10:43pm
Thread Starter 
Still haven't gotten it working, though I've been sick these past couple days and I'm at work right now. I'll see if I can force the 0404 to do 48 kHz and see what happens.
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post #7 of 15
12/18/07 at 12:34am
Any luck with this. I have the 360 in place(xmas) but I am looking to get the hd595's and the 0404 in place of receiver/speakers.

Is it worth it even though it sounds like I will have to use the analog audio?
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post #8 of 15
12/18/07 at 4:03pm

360 optical to 0404 usb

I have been using my Xbox 360 connected to my 0404 USB playing Mass Effect for past few weeks through optical. I set the 360 to Digital Stereo, power cycle the 0404 so it syncs to the external clock, direct Monitor Main and it is output via to amp via L/R outputs. Works for games primarily, if memory serves even with Digital Stereo on HD-DVDs would get some static.
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post #9 of 15
12/19/07 at 3:28am
Tonight I reconnected my amp while watching The Perfect Storm and the output was something that sounded like hard clipping. It may have just been that DVD (no sound options in the menu so I couldn't change anything). As always, make sure that whatever you have connected starts with its volume low
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post #10 of 15
1/20/08 at 5:03pm
It looks like I can't use both the HDMI with optical audio output on my Xbox 360 without buying the proprietary xbox cable. Do you think I would lose any quality by running the following:

XBox360 - HDMI - TV - TV optical out - 0404USB - cans
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post #11 of 15
1/20/08 at 6:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by soundsound View Post
Do you think I would lose any quality by running the following:

XBox360 - HDMI - TV - TV optical out - 0404USB - cans
Probably... That's a lot of steps for a digital signal to pass through. There's a good chance that routing through so many devices will cause a significant amount of jitter (timing problems).
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post #12 of 15
1/20/08 at 11:14pm
Yeah, I didn't like the sound of it all either. Any suggestions? Throw away the xbox and just listen to music...
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post #13 of 15
3/5/08 at 12:24am
Try this

Xbox 360 Premium - HDMI Cable / Digital Optical Adapter Hack

you dont need the microsoft proprietary cable
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post #14 of 15
3/10/08 at 10:30pm
Very nice, glad I didn't purchase the cable. Much appreciated.
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post #15 of 15
3/11/08 at 6:15pm
Thanks for that link Pockymonster, I have a Vizio TV which doesnt have a digital audio out, and I would like to run HDMI and optical out at the same time without the damn MS cable. This hack should work, shall try it today evening.
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