5.1 SPDIF from a Notebook

RexA wrote on 5/12/2004, 7:38 PM
Earlier this year I bought a cheap notebook made by ECS in Taiwan. One item in its feature list is SPDIF output from the headphone connector. The cryptic manual mentions nothing at all about using SPDIF digital audio output.

I posted a question to ECS support and got this answer: "Yes, the output is coming from the headphone jack but you need a four terminal mini-plug to a digital coaxial audio adapter in order to utilize SPDIF sound system."

From that I am guessing I need a 3.5 mm plug with 2 ring connectors rather that the normal 1 for a headphone plug. Searches in local stores and on the internet have come up with no hint of where to get such an adapter or the wiring connections (if I wanted to make my own).

I am wondering if anyone here has any knowledge about how I might use this alleged feature of my PC? I am hoping I can use it to drive my surround receiver for mixing surround in Vegas.

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 5/12/2004, 9:12 PM
you won't be able to mix surround with SPDIF no matter what. You need a decoding device that can accept SPDIF and convert it to analog audio, and likely, your surround receiver won't be able to properly do it, because it will have a built in limiter, and who knows what the quality of the decoder is....
But...
you can find these cables online, and I think Sony offers them on the Sony Electronics website. they are usually around 25.00
farss wrote on 5/12/2004, 9:24 PM
Definately Sony have them, standard for most of the D8 cameras and some VCRs. You'll have to workout which connector is the SPDIF out for yourself though.
RexA wrote on 5/12/2004, 10:38 PM
Thanks.

With the info that the cables are used for camcorder AV output, I found that RadioShack has them for $15 -- p/n 16-3686. I was in the Shack today but without the magic words, couldn't find one. I'll try again tomorrow.
RexA wrote on 5/12/2004, 10:59 PM
>> you won't be able to mix surround with SPDIF no matter what. You need a decoding device that can accept SPDIF and convert it to analog audio, and likely, your surround receiver won't be able to properly do it, because it will have a built in limiter, and who knows what the quality of the decoder is.... <<

It seems like the best option that I have now. When I listen to DVDs the receiver is being driven from SPDIF out of the DVD player. It sounds pretty good to me. As far as I can tell there is no compression on the audio in this receiver unless I turn it on. Seems like any audience for my DVDs would be listening on a similar system or worse.

Is there another way to approach this if I am using a notebook?
logiquem wrote on 5/13/2004, 6:06 AM
USB2 external 5.1 enabled sound box such as Edirol or Creative.
pwppch wrote on 5/14/2004, 7:39 AM
Understand this: Vegas DOES NOT stream AC3 encoded audio. You need an audio solution that will expose 3 seperate stereo pairs that can be routed to the Surround Master bus in Vegas.

So, unless your audio card is encoding analog audio on the fly to AC3 out of the SPDIF port, you will NOT be able to use your audio card for mixing in Vegas.

Peter
RexA wrote on 5/14/2004, 11:56 AM
Yes. As I'm playing with this setup (I got the proper cable) I am finding that I can only get 5.1 from streams that are already encoded, like a DVD. I guess I'll have to get an external sound card and all the wiring I need to hook up all the channels to my surround amp.

If it seems too easy, you probably don't understand it.