Surround Sound (5.1) output built in to Mac Pros?

Question

Level 1

0 points

Surround Sound (5.1) output built in to Mac Pros?

I have a new (2008) Mac Pro (Dual Quad 2.8GHz) processor. I connect my receiver to the digital out and have messed with all the setting to get surround sound out of it. In the audio setup it only keeps showing stereo speakers (5.1 is grayed out). I cannot find a clear answer (to me at least, pretty new to this).

Can i get surround sound (5.1) out of the Mac Pro *out of the box* for DVDs and Soundtrack Pro 2 ? If so where can i find the instructions to do it. If not, what do i need to do to get surround sound out of the Mac Pro?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Jun 30, 2008 7:23 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jun 30, 2008 9:32 PM in response to NiN213

If your receiver has a Dolby Digital decoder in and you play a DVD with 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack you will get surround sound, same goes for DTS. If you play a music CD the you will get stereo PCM, the same goes for games.

Hope this helps/

Reply

Answer 2

NiN213 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 5, 2008 11:15 AM in response to NiN213

Thank you...

I am going into a Samsung DVD player. It has a digital input in the back. The top says Dobly Digital Pro Logic 2, and DTS. I get surround sound from my PS3 and Xbox 360 so i assume that it has a decoder.
I connect the digital cable to the back of the MacPro, and under audio settings i select digital audio out. I go to Multichannel, but the only one i can select is stereo. The 5.1 is greyed out.
Is there something wrong with my Mac?

Message was edited by: NiN213

Reply

Answer 3

Jul 5, 2008 12:39 PM in response to NiN213

Under preferances in DVD player if not mistaken there is an option you must set for Dolby digital to work, not 100% sure of this, will go look when I get home.

ABout the Mac's sound card.

The sound card build into the Mac is stereo ( 2 channels ) and will only deliver mono or stereo sound. Even if you use an adapter like the one I got with my Loictech speakers that allows you to connect all 5.1 speakers to the stereo output the sound will play through all speakers but it is not true surround.

The type of signal that is send to the digital output depends on the source, if you play a CD it will be PCM, if you play a DVD with Dolby Digital sound track it will be Dolby Digital. Your Amp / Receiver must have a Dolby Digital decoder to decode the signal. Dolby Digital can be 2 channels as well it is not always surround.

CD's are stereo, all though most amps / receivers got DSP's in which will play the music on all 5.1 speakers ( also not true surround ). Same goes for games.

Not sure if there are Apple games that are written for Dolby Pro logic and pro logic II, if there are they will be surround if you got a Pro logic / pro logic II decoder in your amp / receiver.

SACD / DVD Audio is multi channel - need SACD or DVD Audio player to play these. These players use 5.1 analog output, these can not be put out via digital output so with these players you need amp / receiver with 5.1 analog input.

If you where able to use M-Audio's PCI sound card in the Mac your music CD's will still be stereo or not true surround. Same with games unless the game have been written to take advantage of the sound card.

Hope this helps

Message was edited by: Freddie Herbst

Reply

Answer 4

Jul 5, 2008 10:14 PM in response to Freddie Herbst

When in DVD player, goto preferences, select disc setup, under audio select digital out, then your movies will be surround if they got a surround sound track and your mac is connected to a dolby digital receiver.

Reply

Answer 5

Jul 5, 2008 10:45 PM in response to Freddie Herbst

In the audio setup, if you elect line out, the 5.1 option will be disabled as the Mac's sound card is stereo, if you select digital out the 5.1 will also be grayed out as the MAc only takes the digital signal and sends it to the receiver, the speaker setup must be done on your receiver, the Mac can ot do anything with the signal it can only sent it to the receiver.

Reply