5.1 issues/options UPDATE: Cheap Fix that works well!

[celticpride34]

whut up,

First off, I know the 5.1 issue has been argued over and over. Im not a n00b that hasnt tried different stuff, read threads and doesnt know wtf hes doing. Ive been messing with the sound issue/issues since before I can rememer. After not being able to get it to work without booting into HeXP on my alienware, I mustered up and bought a soundblaster 24bit external from new egg. I guess like most things, I didnt fully do ALL my reserch (all though I did do a grip of it). I just got a logitech X-530 5.1 system off newegg for $59 with shipping! (NICE SYSTEM, I Highly advise it for that price). After reading various HCL's I thought that the sound blaster would support 5.1 I plugged it in, and it appered to. Now the nightmare begins. Soooo I am now finding that osx does not actually support 5.1? This is unacceptable. Ive read from others that it does support 5.1 but only through the digital output (which the sound blaster does also have). Now my options and problems. I really like my $60 logitech system, especially the fact that I got it for so cheap. I dont want to have to send it back to new egg for $20 and then get a home therater system for $100+. Is there any way to convert the three 3.5 mm audio plugs on my logitech system (front/rear/sub) to digital? (I dont think its possible without a reciever which is lame) The one thing Im going to try right after i post this thread is a 3.5mm three-to-one adapter like this one : http://www.trianglecables.com/20590.html. Im thinking with this, Ill just merge all the channels and use them as though they were all on the "front" speaker output, the only one that works on the SB. I dont care if its not truely "multichannel" or if all the speakers just mimic each other. I just want sound out of all of them. With this method I am a little worried about ground loops & or interference. I dont know. Will post results. Also, Im installing 10.4.6 on my other system right now which has a patch labeled "support for usb sound blaster". Dont know what this is for, sound blaster works fine (aside from only 2 channels) without a patch. Hopefully this will somehow enable 5.1 or multichannel, but Im not holding my breath. Any ideas on this. I know there are a lot of people who want/need 5.1 or multichannel support. I know we can fix this. If a 3-1 3.5mm adapter wont work, than I think/believe digital output may be supported in 5.1, but Im not sure and am just pissed that I thought I was all set after reserching from other people and it seems notbody actually tried 5.1 on the soundblaster. It may say 5.1, but it doesnt work as it is. Any luck with digital output or any other options for 5.1 or atleast sound out of 5 speakers? Any input is greatly appreciated....

[celticpride34]

UPDATE: Since nobody is interested in posting replies, I thought I might offer a solution for people who are looking for 5.1 audio WITHOUT having to use digital output. Its funny how easy it is to fix this problem. First off. The External sound blaster 24 Live! does work fine without any problems. OSX however, DOES NOT support any more than two channels, even though it says (and many people on this forum who dont actually test, only read what is says) it will not do any more than 2 channels. I dont know if didgital output works with it, I believe it does, but am not going to buy a home therater system to test it. My solution. I went to radio shack, adn bought a "Three Headphone Cable Adapter" (Radio shack part #42-2458) Similar to the one pictured in my original post. Merge all the channels into one, and run that off of the "front speaker" output, or what ever one works with your sound card (with the sound blaster, the front output is the only that works). Now I know that all your doing is copying the audio source from the front two speakers, and essentially running stereo x 3 channels, so its not "multichannel" or "true 5.1" as each channel does not have its own signal. I can tell you however, that for listeing to itunes, or watching divx, this works AWESOME! You cant tell the difference. No intererence, no distortion, no volume reduction, no problems to tell as of yet. If your an audio proffesiosnal, I know this probably wont work, and anyways, what are you doing, you should actually own a mac for this! For people that go and do what I did, buy a sound blaster, or another usb sound card, then in the hopes of being able to have a nice 5.1 system this solution works perfectly. (again, I HIGHLY reccomend picking up a logitech x-530 from newegg for $60 with shipping, an EXCELLENT VALUE/SYSTEM). I was afraid that I would have to purchase a home theareter system with digital output for 5.1 channels. I was wrong. This works just as well and the adapter only costs 7 bucks. Again, I know its not obviously the same as running a home therater audio system via digital output and "true 5.1" but you know what....its a lot cheaper, and still sounds AMAZING! I hope this helps those people who are trying to set up 5.1 or more on their hackintosh.

Good Luck--

[frogman]

UPDATE: Since nobody is interested in posting replies, I thought I might offer a solution for people who are looking for 5.1 audio WITHOUT having to use digital output. Its funny how easy it is to fix this problem. First off. The External sound blaster 24 Live! does work fine without any problems. OSX however, DOES NOT support any more than two channels, even though it says (and many people on this forum who dont actually test, only read what is says) it will not do any more than 2 channels. I dont know if didgital output works with it, I believe it does, but am not going to buy a home therater system to test it. My solution. I went to radio shack, adn bought a "Three Headphone Cable Adapter" (Radio shack part #42-2458) Similar to the one pictured in my original post. Merge all the channels into one, and run that off of the "front speaker" output, or what ever one works with your sound card (with the sound blaster, the front output is the only that works). Now I know that all your doing is copying the audio source from the front two speakers, and essentially running stereo x 3 channels, so its not "multichannel" or "true 5.1" as each channel does not have its own signal. I can tell you however, that for listeing to itunes, or watching divx, this works AWESOME! You cant tell the difference. No intererence, no distortion, no volume reduction, no problems to tell as of yet. If your an audio proffesiosnal, I know this probably wont work, and anyways, what are you doing, you should actually own a mac for this! For people that go and do what I did, buy a sound blaster, or another usb sound card, then in the hopes of being able to have a nice 5.1 system this solution works perfectly. (again, I HIGHLY reccomend picking up a logitech x-530 from newegg for $60 with shipping, an EXCELLENT VALUE/SYSTEM). I was afraid that I would have to purchase a home theareter system with digital output for 5.1 channels. I was wrong. This works just as well and the adapter only costs 7 bucks. Again, I know its not obviously the same as running a home therater audio system via digital output and "true 5.1" but you know what....its a lot cheaper, and still sounds AMAZING! I hope this helps those people who are trying to set up 5.1 or more on their hackintosh.

Good Luck--

 

 

 

 

Does your mic work with Creative Labs Live 24 external. I just want my skype back!

Have you tried skype yet!