Re: Outputting multichannel sound through the optical link??
Re: Outputting multichannel sound through the optical link??
- Subject: Re: Outputting multichannel sound through the optical link??
- From: "Simon Thorpe" <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 9 Feb 2010 08:42:59 +0100
- Importance: Normal
On Tue, February 9, 2010 08:22, Brian Willoughby wrote:
>
> On Feb 8, 2010, at 23:10, Simon Thorpe wrote:
>> But what about allowing the Optical connector to stream to the HDMI
>> audio
>> too? My understanding is that the difference between SPDIF and an ADAT
>> Lightpipe (which can do 8 channels of 48 KHz 24 bit audio) might
>> well be
>> just a software issue.
>
>
> No, it is not purely software. The hardware must be capable of
> handling the higher data rates of ADAT. Some hardware is clearly
> designed for both, but not all SPDIF hardware is capable of ADAT. In
> fact, not even all SPDIF hardware is capable of 96 kHz SPDIF, because
> that uses double the rate of the original 48 kHz SPDIF standard.
>
> I have not looked at Apple's technical documentation for their
> optical outputs on any of the various models which include the
> feature, but that is where you would find the answer to this, unless
> someone volunteers to reply and save you the search. Unless Apple
> chose an off-the-shelf part that can handle ADAT, or designed custom
> hardware with ADAT in mind, then it's not going to support ADAT with
> a mere software change.
>
> Besides, there are a couple more things to consider with regard to ADAT:
>
> 1) if you want ADAT output, then just buy one of the several FireWire
> audio interfaces supported by CoreAudio
> ...and ...
> 2) no home theatre gear supports ADAT anyway (to my knowledge).
>
> Brian Willoughby
> Sound Consulting
Brian
I can see that it certainly could be an unsolvable hardware problem. But I
think it is worth encouraging Apple to try this option, although clearly
the USB port route is probably the easiest route.
Yes, I am well aware of the fact that home theatre equipment is extremely
unlikely to handle ADAT. Indeed, when I tried to find a cost effective way
of making use of the 8 channels of ADAT output on my MAudio box I gave up.
It appears that even the simplest optical link to 8 audio D/A convertors
costs hundreds of bucks. That's why I ended up getting the Edirol Firewire
box which comes with 10 channels of output straightaway.
Simon
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