Q: Going 5.1 or 7.1 sound on my Mac Pro?

I personally use a 5.1 set up with my macpro.
my previous pc i had a AudioBlaster sound card that adapted upto 7.1, the macpro itself i believe can distribute that.
either via the Line In or the Optical audio port.

I purchased a pair of surround sound speakers from Logitech, that has a control pod that works well with any set of audio inputs, coax, optical and analog.

so depending on your speakers you can do direct optical fromt eh macpro. as im not too certain about any audio cards or interfaces, i mean if it sounds better an dhas better quality then, go with the interface, let me know what kind of set up you got going, seems pretty interesting. id like to know what others use to set up their surround sound options. =)

My understanding is that the analogue output on the Mac Pro is only stereo. The optical can carry encoded multitrack formats such as Dolby Digital 5.1 or EX (7.1) but that requires the source material to be encoded in that format.
For instance if you are playing a DVD encoded in DD 5.1 and feed the signal out the optical output to an amplifier (home theatre) that can accept optical and decode the Dolby Digital signal then you'll hear a 5.1 signal.
The Mac Pro itself won't provide that sound though unless the source is previously encoded that way.

I use an external, firewire, interface to allow me to use Soundtrack Pro and monitor it in 5.1.

Hence for anything other than replay of previously encoded surround formats, 5.1 etc, you'll need to have a audio interface device of some sort to provide surround.

Of course if all you want to do is watch DVDs in surround then hook up the optical output to something that can decode it .... home theatre amp etc.

goodluck let me know what you come up with, may i make a suggestion if you want alittle all in one speaker set up?

look through this site:
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakersaudio/home_pcspeakers/&cl=us,en


they have a pretty wide variety when it comes to home audio, personally i use the z5500's theyre incredible, i use them for both pc and home theatre use. theyre completely expandable as far as you can set your own cable lengths and everything you can use, Coax, Optical, analog and has an assortment of options stereo, multiple stereo surround, dolby/dts encoders ... give that shot if thats what your looking for. sorry to sound like a sales pitch but no profit is made from this haha, if so id love another set. im interested into see how others have their macs set up with speaker configurations =)

ALSO, im not sure if this is of any assistance to what your looking for but i did stumble across this looking for an unrelated product; http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/firewave/

Hey Stephen,
In your post you said, "I use an external, firewire, interface to allow me to use Soundtrack Pro and monitor it in 5.1."
What firewire interface would that be and does it work well?
I'm looking for something to work with my Mac Pro and my Mac Book Pro.
Something like the FireWave by Griffin.
Thanks in advance for any info.

Regards - jason