Optical Out (NO LIGHT)

Question

Level 2

150 points

Optical Out (NO LIGHT)

I am trying to get an optical signal out of the optical out port. I have plugged in an optical cable but dont seem to have any light output at the toslink end. Does this output socket need to be enabled any where?

Thanks for your help!!

Regards Alf

new mac mini, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on May 31, 2009 2:19 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,541 points

May 31, 2009 7:48 AM in response to Puch27

The audio in and output ports are analog and digital. For analog use a standard 3.5 mm mini plug. The digital requires a fiber optic cable with a mini plug. This mini plug is .5 mm longer than the analog version so that it can touch the LED and activate it for digital sound transmission.
There is an Output pane in System Preferences>Sound. That is usually automatic if you do not have other audio devices attached through FireWire or USB.
There are also audio selections in Audio MIDI Setup in Apps/Utilities.

Reply

Answer 2

Puch27 Author

Level 2

150 points

May 31, 2009 10:03 AM in response to Dah•veed

i have the correct optical plug but there is no light output!!!

Reply

Answer 3

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,541 points

Jun 5, 2009 11:19 PM in response to Puch27

Not all toslink mini-plugs are long enough. It has to be longer than a standard 3.5 mm analog mini-plug.
There is no output if there is nothing to output. If nothing is playing the LED does not light. Play something and plug in your cable. Also, digital audio sleeps about 15 seconds after output stops.

Reply

Answer 4

Puch27 Author

Level 2

150 points

Jun 9, 2009 12:35 AM in response to Dah•veed

Thanks Dave!!

It was the sleep thing that caught me out.

Thanks again!

Regards Alf

Reply