Replace DVD player with VLC

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Replace DVD player with VLC

Hi All,
It's simple: DVD player doesn't support (USB or firewire) multichannel soundcards (except via the optical port).
VLC does support the config precicely as per Audio/MIDI setup. Very cool, but a shame that apple can't do this...

Any way to incorporate VLC (or other apps) into front row, or at least pipe the surround sound to an external soundcard from DVD player/front row???

Thanks,
Trev

Message was edited by: tricky_trev

MBPro13" 2009, iMac 20" 2007, iBook G4 pimped, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 17, 2010 8:10 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 17, 2010 10:09 AM in response to tricky_trev

Exactly which external multichannel card do you have? My M-Audio Sonica USB worked very well with Apple's DVD Player. Are you sure you haven't selected your device in the DVD Player's preferences? You do have to select it, it won't be enabled by default.

Since Apple has not release a software development kit for third party vendors to create plug-ins for Front Row, there's no way I know of to switch to VLC for DVD movie disks.

-Doug

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Answer 2

tricky_trev Author

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Mar 18, 2010 4:25 AM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

Hi Doug,

The choice to select the external card is greyed out when my external card is plugged in (set to System Sound Output). It's not greyed out when unplugged, but i only have the choice of System Sound Output of course.

In system preferences, the external card is selected at the sound output device.

I am using the Native Instruments A8DJ.

Any further tips?
Trev

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Answer 3

Mar 19, 2010 1:29 PM in response to tricky_trev

Which Mac are you trying to do this on? Both the 2009 MacBook Pro and the 2007 iMac already have digital optical audio out. You shouldn't need a third party card... Or is it the iBook? If so, what version of Mac OS X are you running?

-Doug

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Answer 4

tricky_trev Author

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Mar 22, 2010 1:55 AM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

Hi Doug,

Alu iMac 2007, Latest Macbook Pro 2009, all upgraded to latest OS X release.
Yes, they have optical out, but my amps have XLR inputs..... and my soundcard is 8 channel at fantastic quality. I don't want to add another processor in between.
It's not a hardware issue. I just want Apple's DVD player to function like VLC. ie. working multichannel.

Trev

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Answer 5

Mar 23, 2010 3:28 PM in response to tricky_trev

I guess the only other place to check might be the Audio/MIDI Setup utility (in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder). Maybe you have to do some kind of configuration there to get the Apple DVD Player to recognize your device.

-Doug

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Answer 6

tricky_trev Author

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Mar 29, 2010 3:00 AM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

Doug,
Audio Midi setup works PERFECT with VLC. i can assign 5.1 to channel outs 1 to 6, and stereo out on channel outs 7 & 8 (or anything else eg. 1&2).

DVD player only outputs stereo, so it's obviously not transcoding/demultiplexing.

Time for me to start using Plex (XBMC based) instead of Front Row I think 😟

Trev

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