MacBook to TV but no sound

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Level 1

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MacBook to TV but no sound

Dudes,

I've connected my MacBook up to my TV using a Mini DVI-VGA adaptor, and a VGA extention, so I can watch TV shows bought from iTunes (I don't want an Apple TV until it has DVR support....).

However, I can only get a picture, no sound.

At the moment, I'm having to use the MacBooks very faint speakers to provide the sound, which means episodes of Lost ain't what they should be.

Can anyone help rectify this / suggest another lead / way of hooking up?

My TV has no HDMI, but it does have SVIDEO and those red, white and yellow inputs.

Any help v much appreciated!

Johnnycakes

MacBook 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.5), 1GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Posted on Feb 3, 2009 4:42 AM

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Answer 1

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Glorfindeal

Level 6

9,330 points

Feb 3, 2009 5:06 AM in response to johnnycakes

You are going to need a cable that connects to your headphone out jack on the macbook (mini-din connector) and converts it to 2 rca jacks (red and white, yellow is used for video).

Glor

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Answer 2

Macaby

Level 3

923 points

Feb 3, 2009 11:46 AM in response to johnnycakes

johnnycakes wrote:
I've connected my MacBook up to my TV using a Mini DVI-VGA adaptor, and a VGA extention, so I can watch TV shows bought from iTunes (I don't want an Apple TV until it has DVR support....).

Not sure what you mean by DVR support with Apple TV. While I don't use my Apple TV much, it does record paid movies in a DVR fashion which stay on the HD for up to 30 days. As far as I know, it won't record anything from hulu.com type of sites, but I can't record those on my MB either. I would assume that Apple TV would sync TV shows bought via iTunes. As you probably know, ALL syncing from iTunes to Apple TV is a one way street (only TO Apple TV).

As to your sound problem, I think I bought my 3.5 audio jack (6 footer) that splits into 2 RCA plugs from Radio Shack for about $5 or so.

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Answer 3

johnnycakes Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 3, 2009 11:52 PM in response to Glorfindeal

Perfect - thanks. I think I have just the lead in the loft!

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Answer 4

johnnycakes Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 3, 2009 11:59 PM in response to Macaby

Macaby wrote:
Not sure what you mean by DVR support with Apple TV.

I just mean that hopefully one day Apple will add DVR support to the Apple TV, meaning you can record shows from the TV on it - like any other DVR/PVR. Even better if it has a Blu-Ray drive and functions with Apple's Remote iPhone/iPod Touch app - especially for recording remotely. There's been a ton of patents submitted for such functionality (although they don't always make it into released products). Wait and see - it'll happen one day. It's crying out for it. Better keep the speculation to a minimum here, though, in case I incur the wrath of a Mod...

Message was edited by: johnnycakes

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Answer 5

Macaby

Level 3

923 points

Feb 4, 2009 8:16 AM in response to johnnycakes

Yes, I would strongly agree that the features you mentioned with the exception of BlueRay would be nice to have on an Apple TV. BlueRay has turned into a big turkey. Yes, it does provide a great picture, but at around $10 extra for the DVD's, I haven't bought a disk yet for my 1 year old BlueRay player.

As to giving the Apple TV full DVR ability, I wouldn't be surprised if that could be done now with software. The problem is that sites such as Hula.com do not allow for recording. If they did, most people would be fast tracking through their commercials and that would mess up their business plan.

That said, there are programs that will record cable tv shows on Windows computers and I assume on Apple computers as well. However, except for a college dorm room where space is very limited, why bother when you can pickup a stand alone DVR for around $100 or so.

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Answer 6

johnnycakes Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 16, 2009 11:29 PM in response to Glorfindeal

Glorfindeal wrote:
You are going to need a cable that connects to your headphone out jack on the macbook (mini-din connector) and converts it to 2 rca jacks (red and white, yellow is used for video).

Glor

Hi Glor,

I tried this, but it didn't work. Picture was fine still, but no sound. I wonder if perhaps it's either a problem with the cable I was using (which I'm pretty sure was mini-din in the headphone out to RCA (red and white) with the yellow left empty (there is only red and white on my lead) or my TV. Or do I need to enable something on my MacBook?

That said, I think I might try and do it through S video instead. Can you tell me what I'll need? TV has an S-video connection. What leads etc will I need to hook up the MacBook to this S-video connection, and does S-video provide picture and sound?

Many thanks!

Johnnycakes

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Answer 7

Macaby

Level 3

923 points

Feb 17, 2009 12:10 AM in response to johnnycakes

S-Video does NOT include sound. You will still ned an audio cable from our "headset" out jack that splits into 2 RCA plugs that then go into the inputs on your TV that are ASSOCIATED with the S-Video input. Quality wise, this is a better way to do than Composite cables.

You'll need the mini-DVI to Video Adaptor (which I believe you already have.

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Answer 8

johnnycakes Author

Level 1

10 points

Feb 17, 2009 12:18 AM in response to Macaby

Macaby wrote:
S-Video does NOT include sound. You will still ned an audio cable from our "headset" out jack that splits into 2 RCA plugs that then go into the inputs on your TV that are ASSOCIATED with the S-Video input. Quality wise, this is a better way to do than Composite cables.

Thanks Macaby - in that case, maybe I'll stick with what I've got (not too fussed about the quality). But I don't understand why I couldn't get any sound. Perhaps I'm using the wrong cables. I will try again to night and post back with results. I think I have another RCA cable that I could try.

You'll need the mini-DVI to Video Adaptor (which I believe you already have.

Yes, def got this and picture is fine.

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Answer 9

Apr 6, 2009 2:07 AM in response to johnnycakes

hey johhny how did you get on enabling sound. ive got the same problem on my macbook and 40" panasonic plasma setup. picture quality through hdmi is good but i get no sund even when i sue the leads out of the headphone socket and into the audio in at the back of the telly. if youve succesfully done it can you let me know what you did as im lost as to what else to do. cheers

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