Mac mini 2011 HDMI audio issues

well woodmeister I am ignorant in this matter. not using plex, not using mini. are you sure it is not the thunderbolt of he new macs?

Lex, don't take this the wrong way, by the wording

it sounded like you were trying to use PLEX and

since this is a Mini forum was assuming you were using a Mini.

Don't worry, I make mistakes all the time. I just researched the Plex forum for a friend...🙂

I have found a solution to the pass through multi channel audio on the Mac Mini 2011 with Mac OSX 10.7.1. It's a weird solution.

First you need a DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter and a DVI-HDMI cable. That kills the audio in the HDMI cable. Then the optical output works. Not with VLC but with MPlayerX. In MPlayerX Preferences set Audio Output Passthrough both DTS and AC3.

Nothing else I've tried works. I even started it with Mac OSX 10.6.8.

I have been trying also on my new MacMini, no luck. I even tried a new MacBook pro, no luck. Although its funny if you stream from that same computer to an ATV you get 5.1 no problem.

I have a 2011 Mac Mini and I'm using it as a media centre. I just tried playing a surround encoded mkv and it got no sound with Plex. Then I went into the Plex settings and chose inbuilt audio instead of HDMI and now all is fine. I also have the sound preference pane set to built in digital for output (using an optical cable to my surround amp).

It really should work for anyone. If it makes any difference I'm using 10.7.1

Perhaps give it another go and see if the right settings enable dolby passthrough.

Incroyable !!!

Who buys a Mini for much else that a media platform?
Not many people... then why is it so complicated to use DD 5.1
I really need to be a Mac addict to pay twice or thrice the PC price tag !

I finally managed to see the sweet "dolby" displayed on my old Harman Kardan receiver.

The only setup I tried:

- udes Mini display port -> DVI and an DVI->HDMI cable for video. As one member said : It kills the audio in the HDMI. Meaning that it probably cancels an autoswith function that makes audio unavailable on toslink if HDMI cable is detected by the Mini sound board

-when i go in the Audi and MIDI config : I don't see the HDMI exit any more.

-in the Audi and MIDI config I seleted 44100hz / 2ch-24bi
-I clicked on the configurer the speakers : and selected STEREO.

How mader can it get that selecting stereo..when that's the last thing you want to hear????

- then i ddownloaded XBMC. (I had never heard of this thing before and launched it out of dispair. It looks cool ad powerful, It looks like a media player.

- I told it to scan a folder where I knew I had Sucker Punch 1080p DD 5.1

- It did'nt work... so I went on this llink : http://forum.xbmc.org/archive/index.php/t-109511.html

- remember i'm on toslink audio + Minidisplayport/DVI:DVIHDMI video. so in the System / audio settings :
-optical/coax

-5.1

-boost level volume on downmix - YES

- AC3 - YES

- DTS - NO I(i haven't tried this setting)
-Default output device

I launched the sucker punch movie... and Bliss!!! MAGIC!!! Cloud Nine!!! My receiver plays DD 5.1 and it really is a magic.

Next step : try the DTS.

Next next step... My receiver has only toslink audio. So I will try Toslink Audio + HDmi->HDMI Video...and see if the mac Mini commutes the audio to the HDMI.

Shame on you Apple.

And excuse my English...

Works with HDMI :-)

And DTS !!!

All right : so for Toslink Audio / and HD Video (HDMI or MiniDisplay Port DVI)

Download and install XBMC media player for mac os Lion.

Run the Audio Midi app.

Set to Stereo.

Exit the Audio Midi app.
Run XBMC

Go to the setup or system tab.

Go to Audio.

Set on Optical
Select speaker layout (mine is 5.1)

Set AC3 and DTS "on" (because my receiver decodes both)

Fidlle with XBMC and launch a movie :-)
And voilà!

Hi all,

I have requested an update from my issue that I reported at Apple.

My issue is that I used to have audio from both the analog and HDMI which you could control in the Midi/sound settings (on 2010 macmini). I use analog for music (receiver) and HDMI for movies (TV).

Now (2011 macmini) if you plug in the analog kabel (headphones) the HDMI audio ouput is switched off (and the midi/sound settings are not changeable/useless).

Apple updated me to say this is 'standard behaviour' and a feature request was sent to the audio team.

Of course this is truly bs, since the 2010 worked perfectly and now the midi/sound settings have no use at all.

Really, really disappointed..... I do not think they will fix it and I will not buy the 2012 version....

But if I leave the analog cable out, the HDMI (DD5.1 and DTS) works perfect with Movist (the best!!) and XBMC, etc. under Lion. But in VLC (which used to be my favourite) HDMI stopped working after upgrade to Lion. This is not a macmini issue, but VLC Lion upgrade issue.

Cheers!

I can confirm that it is as easy as it should be. I didn't have to mess with the Audio/Midi settings at all.

Mac Mini 2001 (base model) running Plex. Mini is connected to TV with HDMI (plain simple HDMI cable) and Mini optical goes to surround amp. I am able to select digital out in sound control panel, and just had to make sure this was also selected withoin the Plex system settings.

I'm really puzzled as to why it seems to be so problematic for some. The 2011 Mini is a great media centre as well as general computer.

You may have found a clue. I wonder if those folks

that are having the issue have the better mini with

the discete graphics instead of like yours with the

integrated graphics?

I can confirm that it is as easy as it should be. I didn't have to mess with the Audio/Midi settings at all.

Mac Mini 2001 (base model) running Plex. Mini is connected to TV with HDMI (plain simple HDMI cable) and Mini optical goes to surround amp. I am able to select digital out in sound control panel, and just had to make sure this was also selected withoin the Plex system settings.

I'm really puzzled as to why it seems to be so problematic for some. The 2011 Mini is a great media centre as well as general computer.

I had no idea there was a 2001 Mac Mini.

Ok I found a way to get 5.1 audio to pass through HDMI. Just use Boxee and put you audio setting to digital.

My Setup (Macmini-hdmi > Samsung tv- opticle cable > av reciver.) i only wish i could get itunes to do the same. Its really sad to know something like this is possible and Apple refuses to implement it on the mac.

I wish it did work that way, but as far as I'm aware, copy protection restricts the passthrough of digital surround. My Samsung will pass 2.0 channel sound only via its optical output. Are you sure you're getting 5.1 passthrough? That would be very surprising.