Bypassing internal Mac DAC

[SamusAran]

I EQ certain tracks and artists but not others. When I EQ, I use eqMac2. I've noticed that when using eqMac2, the audio midi setup shows eqMac2 as the output, not the LCX+SDAC that I'm using. That made me wonder if when I use eqMac2, I'm using the Mac's internal DAC instead of bypassing it to use the DAC. The sound is still coming out of DAC/amp, but since they're different components in the same housing, I wasn't sure if the DAC portion isn't being used with EQ. Thanks!

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I EQ certain tracks and artists but not others. When I EQ, I use eqMac2. I've noticed that when using eqMac2, the audio midi setup shows eqMac2 as the output, not the LCX+SDAC that I'm using. That made me wonder if when I use eqMac2, I'm using the Mac's internal DAC instead of bypassing it to use the DAC. The sound is still coming out of DAC/amp, but since they're different components in the same housing, I wasn't sure if the DAC portion isn't being used with EQ. Thanks!

The signal has to go through a DAC, a Digital to Analogue Converter, so that the 10010010100010111101010011001011110001010101011100001010100001010111 can turn into an electrical signal that will go through an amplifier to become a more powerful signal that can drive transducers like headphone drivers or speaker drivers.

If your eqMac2 is acting as a DAC then you can't send a digital signal that has already been converted into analogue to a DAC ie the SDAC since a DAC requires that it receive a digital signal at which point it will do its job of converting it into analogue.

If you have the Mac hooked up to the SDAC via USB anyway. If you connected the Mac to the analogue RCA inputs on the LCX, then your Mac's DAC is the one converting the digital signal into analogue, not the SDAC.

 

[SamusAran]

The signal has to go through a DAC, a Digital to Analogue Converter, so that the 10010010100010111101010011001011110001010101011100001010100001010111 can turn into an electrical signal that will go through an amplifier to become a more powerful signal that can drive transducers like headphone drivers or speaker drivers.

If your eqMac2 is acting as a DAC then you can't send a digital signal that has already been converted into analogue to a DAC ie the SDAC since a DAC requires that it receive a digital signal at which point it will do its job of converting it into analogue.

If you have the Mac hooked up to the SDAC via USB anyway. If you connected the Mac to the analogue RCA inputs on the LCX, then your Mac's DAC is the one converting the digital signal into analogue, not the SDAC.

Thanks! My Mac is connected to the LCX via micro-usb, not the RCA inputs. My question is whether the eqMac2 is acting as the dac when it's selected. Is it possible to EQ using the software while still using the SDAC? Or does eqMac2 always convert it so it's already analog by the time it leaves the Mac?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Thanks! My Mac is connected to the LCX via micro-usb, not the RCA inputs. My question is whether the eqMac2 is acting as the dac when it's selected...Or does eqMac2 always convert it so it's already analog by the time it leaves the Mac?

And like I already explained, a Digital to Analogue Converter like the SDAC can't take any signal other than Digital, since its job is to Convert that incoming Digital signal into Analogue, not take an Analogue signal already Converted from Digital by another DAC.

In short...the scenario you're talking about is absolutely impossible. Because a DAC need to take a Digital signal to Convert to Analogue, not take an Analogue signal and...I don't know what it can do with it, honestly. I mean it's like hooking up a PlayStation's analogue video output (is this even a thing still? ie the yellow RCA) and then somehow connecting that to the display port output on a graphics card or a laptop instead of running it through a capture card.

Is it possible to EQ using the software while still using the SDAC?

Yes.

That's how A/V receivers and car audio receivers and H/T or car audio processors have been doing it since digital became a thing.

Digital Sound Processor >> DIgital to Analogue Converter >> Amplifier

Computers have been doing the same thing too.

Digital Sound Processor on motherboard/soundcard >> Digital to Analogue Converter on motherboard/soundcard or external >> Amplifier circuit on motherboard/soundcard/external

 

[SamusAran]

And like I already explained, a Digital to Analogue Converter like the SDAC can't take any signal other than Digital, since its job is to Convert that incoming Digital signal into Analogue, not take an Analogue signal already Converted from Digital by another DAC.

In short...the scenario you're talking about is absolutely impossible. Because a DAC need to take a Digital signal to Convert to Analogue, not take an Analogue signal and...I don't know what it can do with it, honestly. I mean it's like hooking up a PlayStation's analogue video output (is this even a thing still? ie the yellow RCA) and then somehow connecting that to the display port output on a graphics card or a laptop instead of running it through a capture card.




Yes.

That's how A/V receivers and car audio receivers and H/T or car audio processors have been doing it since digital became a thing.

Digital Sound Processor >> DIgital to Analogue Converter >> Amplifier

Computers have been doing the same thing too.

Digital Sound Processor on motherboard/soundcard >> Digital to Analogue Converter on motherboard/soundcard or external >> Amplifier circuit on motherboard/soundcard/external

I appreciate the breakdown. I understand the purpose of the dac; that much is clear from its name. My main question has been whether after eqMac2 has done it's thing, whether the signal has been converted to analog already, or if (even after having been equalized) the signal is still digital, allowing the SDAC to still serve a purpose.

In other words, if I use eqMac2, is the Macbook's dac converting the signal to analog?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I appreciate the breakdown. I understand the purpose of the dac; that much is clear from its name. My main question has been whether after eqMac2 has done it's thing, whether the signal has been converted to analog already, or if (even after having been equalized) the signal is still digital, allowing the SDAC to still serve a purpose.

In other words, if I use eqMac2, is the Macbook's dac converting the signal to analog?

Dude.

I literally answered that.

I broke down the entire process twice to illustrate how it works and why it can't work the way you're worried it works, and in the second time I already ended with a summation what I initially thought would be obvious.

It would be impossible for the Mac to have Converted the signal from Digital to Analogue and then sent it to the SDAC, which is a Digital to Analogue Converter. It can't take an analogue signal to...what? Not convert it anymore to analogue? I can not even accept an analogue signal in the first place.

 

[SamusAran]

I see. My worry was the possibility that the DAC portion of the unit was being bypassed and the signal was going straight to the amp, but it sounds like since the signal is traveling via USB input to the DAC and not the RCA input to the amp, the SDAC isn't being bypassed, so the SDAC is doing the converting. Sorry for the confusion I really do appreciate your help.

 

[PaganDL]

@ProtegeManiac,

I think you may need that target on your desk again for headbanging.

Hope you have a great day !