External Sound Card, to aid Astro A40's.

[JosephDuffy]

Hey,
Getting some Astro A40's (When they're in stock on the UK site), along with the MixAmp.
I could really use an External Soundcard for my MacBook Pro 2008 Model. All it has is an In and an Out (3mm Jack?), no toslink, or 5.1 etc.
I'm going to be gaming, under Windows 7 32-bit and Mac (When Steam comes to Mac), and thus need an External Soundcard, that works in Mac and PC, isn't too driver heavy, and has a toslink output (I think).
For more information on Astro A40's, visit www.AstroGaming.com.
Even if you don't know any specific brands/models, any ideas of a price?
Thanks for your help,
Joseph Duffy

 

[cawesjmu]

All it has is an In and an Out (3mm Jack?), no toslink, or 5.1 etc.

The MBP's all have analog/digital headphone jack. For toslink, you just need a mini jack adapter. Here's a cable and an adapter. I realize you're in the UK but I'm sure you can find the same thing over there.

From the MBP specs: Combined optical digital audio output/audio line out (minijack)

 

[al2o3cr]

Hey,
Getting some Astro A40's (When they're in stock on the UK site), along with the MixAmp.
I could really use an External Soundcard for my MacBook Pro 2008 Model. All it has is an In and an Out (3mm Jack?), no toslink, or 5.1 etc.
I'm going to be gaming, under Windows 7 32-bit and Mac (When Steam comes to Mac), and thus need an External Soundcard, that works in Mac and PC, isn't too driver heavy, and has a toslink output (I think).
For more information on Astro A40's, visit www.AstroGaming.com.
Even if you don't know any specific brands/models, any ideas of a price?
Thanks for your help,
Joseph Duffy

All the MB (and MBP) models in recent memory have optical out on the headphone port; it's just in a 3.5mm format. You'll need an appropriate cable (TOSlink on one end, 3.5mm optical on the other) to connect to the MixAmp.

Absolutely NO idea if OS X will send 7.1 out that port, but then again, who needs 7.1 inside of headphones?

 

[JosephDuffy]

The MBP's all have analog/digital headphone jack. For toslink, you just need a mini jack adapter. Here's a cable and an adapter. I realize you're in the UK but I'm sure you can find the same thing over there.

From the MBP specs: Combined optical digital audio output/audio line out (minijack)

Sorry, I'm a real n00b to the sound side of stuff.
A 3mm Jack (Which I presume I have?) can deliver 5.1?!
I have the MBP Early 2008 (No black boarder), and this can deliver it?
Can I check if my MBP will deliver 5.1, with the drivers or something, as I need to know it will work :S
Thanks for the links!
Joseph Duffy

 

[cawesjmu]

Sorry, I'm a real n00b to the sound side of stuff.
A 3mm Jack (Which I presume I have?) can deliver 5.1?!

Yup, it's just physically smaller. It's the same optical signal.

I have the MBP Early 2008 (No black boarder), and this can deliver it?

Yeah, I have the first MBP and it'll do 5.1

Can I check if my MBP will deliver 5.1, with the drivers or something, as I need to know it will work :S

Not sure about that.

I'm no expert on sound, but I'll offer what (I think) I know. Your MBP has a headphone jack which also is a toslink jack. You just need that cable or adapter if you have a toslink cable. If your audio source has 5.1 and you're using a program that can output 5.1 and not downmix to stereo, then you will get 5.1. I don't have any idea about how things will work on the windows side as I don't game or use 5.1 headphones. Hopefully someone on here has some personal experience with a similar set up and can give you real world advice.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

With Boot Camp things become confusing, but, IIRC the Astro's external thing (sound controller) allows for you to use it with all sorts of things and has a 3.5 mm input.