Can MacBook Pro output digital audio via usb?

With an appropriate sound device attached to the USB port you can simply select the USB port for audio output using the "Sound" system preferences.

Cheers

Rod

You have to buy a usb or firewire audio interface OR a convertor. There are many available.

If you already own a DAC look at the M-Audio CO2. Converts optical spdif to coaxial spdif

Ok, well I'm not 100% sure I understand what you mean, but I think you're asking if there are any USB audio devices for the Mac that have a digital out? If that is your question, then the answer is yes -- this is the first thing I found with a couple of minutes Googling, but there are bound to be alternatives...

Russell, there are quite a variety of devices that accept digital audio over USB from any mac with a USB port - see http://www.trendsaudio.com/EN/Product/USBAudiodesc.htm for one example.

Try a google on MAC USB Audio OUTPUT any you should pop up some useful options.

Cheers

Rod

Message was edited by: Rod Hagen

Don't know about USB, but the headphone socket doubles as an optical digital audio S/PDIF (Toslink) output. (See here or search the knowledge base.)

In that case, no -- you can't direct audio to a USB port unless it has a USB audio device attached to it.

If Russell's DAC has a USB input, ElBiggus, there is a very good chance that it WILL be simply recognised as an appropriate USB audio device.

Cheers

Rod

In which case he's attaching a USB audio device, which (unless I'm hugely mistaken) was the very nub of my gist... 🙂