kinomatic

I just got one of these new MBP (my 12" pwbk died 4 months ago). These 

new intel machines all have something called S/P-DIF Out: Connection: 

Combo and S/P-DIF In: Connection: Combo, i.e optical multichannel 

sound. I am wondering 1) whether there is some cheap magic box/mixer 

that would let me convert these inputs to analog inputs and outputs 

and 2) whether max msp would be able to treat these as discreet 

I just got one of these new MBP (my 12" pwbk died 4 months ago). These  
new intel machines all have something called S/P-DIF Out: Connection:  
Combo and S/P-DIF In:  Connection: Combo, i.e optical multichannel  
sound. I am wondering 1) whether there is some cheap magic box/mixer  
that would let me convert these inputs to analog inputs and outputs  
and 2) whether max msp would be able to treat these as discreet  
channels in the DSP?

spdif-break-out-box

Yes, you can connect the optical input/output to an external AD/DA converter which most likely could offer you better conversion than the built in analogue sound card.

I'm pretty sure the optical in/out is only stereo. I suppose (although have not tried it) you could get four channels of output by creating an aggregate device combining the optical and analogue outputs.

Yes, you can connect the optical input/output to an external AD/DA converter which most likely could offer you better conversion than the built in analogue sound card.  

I'm pretty sure the optical in/out is only stereo. I suppose (although have not tried it) you could get four channels of output by creating an aggregate device combining the optical and analogue outputs.


Thanks for the reply. I am pretty sure the optical connection has more 

channels, but could not find any specs at apple. I did find this 

http://digitalprosound.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=56671&afterinter=true

Anyone know of any boxes to convert the optical signal to analog 

discreet channels and whether they would show up in the dac of max msp?

On Nov 20, 2008, at 10:23 PM, Roth Michaels wrote:

> I'm pretty sure the optical in/out is only stereo. I suppose 

> (although have not tried it) you could get four channels of output 

> by creating an aggregate device combining the optical and analogue 

Thanks for the reply. I am pretty sure the optical connection has more  
channels, but could not find any specs at apple. I did find this  
article:

Anyone know of any boxes to convert the optical signal to analog  
discreet channels and whether they would show up in the dac of max msp?

> I'm pretty sure the optical in/out is only stereo. I suppose  
> (although have not tried it) you could get four channels of output  
> by creating an aggregate device combining the optical and analogue  
> outputs.


All I know about it is from looking in AudioMIDI setup. Any time I have used optical been stereo TOSLink from CD player to MINIDisc has been ADAT Optical from my MOTU.

It does appear as you can pass encoded surround sound through, as far as I can tell MSP can't deal with that and your only option is two-channel PCM out the TOSLink. Be cool if you could prove me wrong, but it seems really designed just for DVD playback or other stereo S/PDIF uses.

It does appear as you can pass encoded surround sound through, as far as I can tell MSP can't deal with that and your only option is two-channel PCM out the TOSLink.  Be cool if you could prove me wrong, but it seems really designed just for DVD playback or other stereo S/PDIF uses.


SPDIF break out box