Audio I/O Card for Intel MAC

[Russell Lasson]

Have you looked at the Intensity Pro? It has HDMI and SPDIF.

-Russ

Russell Lasson
Kaleidoscope Pictures
Provo, UT

[Kendra Pasker]

Hi Russell,

Sadly I already have the intensity but not intensity pro.

Thanks!

KK

[Russell Lasson]

If I were you, I’d sell yours on ebay and buy the pro. I don’t like using separate cards for audio and video. It’s hard to trust that it’s really in sync.

-Russ

Russell Lasson
Kaleidoscope Pictures
Provo, UT

[Kendra Pasker]

Yeah, unfortunately for my wallet, I think you’re right. Arg!

KK

[Chris Clephane]

Which mac do you have?

It was my understanding that virtually every mac made in the past few years has Optical SPDIF (TOSLINK) sound output. Based on that…in my humble opinion (not criticizing, just explaining) ….nobody who owns a mac really needs a 3rd party sound card unless they are trying to record multiple channels at once…or unless they really think they can hear the difference on a 96khz DVD/CD. (Trust me…blind tests prove you can’t.)

All of our G5 dual 2.0’s, the new intel Quad and dual Quad….heck…even my G4 1.67 17″ laptop has an optical out port…… The desktops have a separate port.

The Lower end macs have a dual-function port. (Mac Mini, some laptops, etc.)

You CAN get an optical (TOSLINK) to SPDIF (electrical) converter box for about $20.
Just check online. I believe http://www.partsexpress.com has them as well. Use SPDIF OPTICAL ELECTRICAL and TOSLINK as keywords and you can find all of these parts CHEAP on the internet.

FYI- many (ALL at this point?) of the sound out ports on later macs have this dual function. They operate as a standard sound out port (plug in you headphones OR little cheapo’ computer speakers)……
…….OR with the appropriate adapter….(its long and skinny…it fits over the end of a standard TOSLINK optical cable…and it fits right into the audio out socket just like a standard 1/8″ headphone plug.) You use that …and VOILA! you have 24-bit digital audio out of your mac.
Use an OPTICAL to ELECTRICAL SPDIF converter and you can interface with most home stereo units that support SPDIF in. (heck…some home units have optical in as well….)
FYI-Using the DVD player application, it is my understanding that the built in digital connection on macs can also output 5.1 to a digital receiver. I am guessing that this is why there is not much of a 3rd party market for consumer/low end audio cards on macs…..you just don’t need ’em…they are redundant.

Good luck.

So which mac do you have anyways?

I edit video. I post sometimes.
I fix things. I eat marshmallows.
I play drums. I drink scotch.
I like TV.

Done typing now.