OS X 10.5.8 and USB Audio Class v2.0

Question

Level 1

21 points

OS X 10.5.8 and USB Audio Class v2.0

I realize that this is about a very old version of OS X, hopefully someone can help out. I have an old G5 that I use as a basic iTunes audio server running OS 10.5.8 (the most recent version that machine can run).

I just picked up a new USB DAC, but it is not being recognized as an audio device. (It does show up in System Info on the high-speed USB bus, but that's it). According to the manufacturer (Schiit) the DAC requires USB Audio Class v2 and I believe 10.5 does support that. I found an old post on an Apple mailing list that seems to confirm:

http://lists.apple.com/archives/usb/2008/Nov/msg00039.html

So my question is: do I need to manually enable USB Audio? Or is there an optional driver I need to install? Anything else I might be able to do to get this to work?

Thanks in advance!

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8), G5 Dual Core 2.3 (A1177)

Posted on Mar 26, 2015 7:11 AM

Reply

Answer 1

a brody

Level 10

83,047 points

Mar 26, 2015 9:59 AM in response to Brian Pylant

Try the audio-midi setup in Applications -> Utilities, or hooking up to directly to the Mac after rebooting.

Your Mac if it hasn't had its PRAM battery replaced in the last 4 years might need a new one.

If that doesn't work, you'll have to contact the manufacturer and ask them if they ever made drivers for the PowerPC 10.5.8.

Reply

Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

239,465 points

Mar 26, 2015 10:06 AM in response to Brian Pylant

Hi Brian,

Long shot, but...

Open Audio Midi Setup in Applications>Utilities, see the input & output options & KHz setting there.

Reply

Answer 3

Brian Pylant Author

Level 1

21 points

Mar 26, 2015 12:43 PM in response to BDAqua

That was my first indication of the problem -- it doesn't show up in Audio/MIDI setup as an available audio device. 😟

Reply

Answer 4

Brian Pylant Author

Level 1

21 points

Mar 26, 2015 12:47 PM in response to a brody

At first they said it requires USB Audio Class 2.0, which OSX 10.5.8 should have... I got an email from them a little while ago that says it requires 10.6, so I guess there is a difference between the USB Audio in 10.5 and 10.6? Not sure... they do not make any Mac drivers for their products, as they are supposed to be recognized by the system. The only drivers the have are for Windows since it doesn't have native USB Audio Class 2.0 support.

http://schiit.com/products/modi-2

So unless there is some way to upgrade the USB Audio Class in 10.5.8 I guess I'm out of luck with this machine?

😟

Reply