[ElEsido]

Is it possible for a Powerbook (OS X) to send an SPDIF signal out through a USB port in order to have an external DAC convert it?

 

[trickywombat]

The Powerbook G4s before October 2005 do not have the combined analog/digital I/O.

Check using your System Profiler (e.g. Click the Apple on the menu bar, About This Mac, then More Info...

Under Hardware, look at Audio (Built In). If there's S/P-DIF, it'll be listed there.

 

[nick_charles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElEsido /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is it possible for a Powerbook (OS X) to send an SPDIF signal out through a USB port in order to have an external DAC convert it?

No and yes.

No it will not be SPDIF but if it has a USB port and you have a suitable music player that can interact with a USB DAC you can send digital audio out via the USB port to a USB DAC, the data will just be packaged differently.

 

[ElEsido]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickywombat /img/forum/go_quote.gif The Powerbook G4s before October 2005 do not have the combined analog/digital I/O. Check using your System Profiler (e.g. Click the Apple on the menu bar, About This Mac, then More Info... Under Hardware, look at Audio (Built In). If there's S/P-DIF, it'll be listed there.

Yes, the latest G4 Powerbook and aparently the Intel MBs have an optical spdif combined in the analog audio plug. Mine doensn't, that's why I thought I might be able to hack something to send an spdif-signal over usb.

 

[ElEsido]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick_charles /img/forum/go_quote.gif No and yes. No it will not be SPDIF but if it has a USB port and you have a suitable music player that can interact with a USB DAC you can send digital audio out via the USB port to a USB DAC, the data will just be packaged differently.

Thanks! I didn't think that it was as easy as connecting the external DAC to USB and voilà.

 

[krmathis]

No! Cause USB don't use S/PDIF (afaik)...
For S/PDIF you need either optical or coaxial output/input.

 

[paaj]

Either use an USB DAC, or a normal DAC with an USB to SPDIF converter, like the hagUSB.
If you have firewire (probably yes), the Apogee Duet is an awesome device