iTunes: Surround through FireWire audio Inteface?

[Nuukular]

Is there any way to use my multi channel audio interface, which is hooked up via firewire to output the surround channels. There is no decoder in the firewire device present, so I guess I would need some sort of software decoder. Is anyone aware of any solution that might fit my needs? I want to watch movies from the iTunes Store, so I guess that solution would need to integrate with iTunes. I haven't found any solution to that so far, but probably someone else has already done this?

 

[waw74]

if your surround system has optical in, all macs have had optical out for quite some time. you just need a toslink to mini plug cable (or an adapter if you already have a cable)

i've never used this with movies from the iTunes store, but it should work.

 

[blanka]

Yes, you can set up a fictive 5.1/6.1/7.2 surround speaker in Audio/MIDI Setup from any set of audio-outputs.
VLC, XBMC etc will decode the DTS/DD to 5.1 PCM suitable for the Firewire device.

 

[Nuukular]

Yes, you can set up a fictive 5.1/6.1/7.2 surround speaker in Audio/MIDI Setup from any set of audio-outputs.
VLC, XBMC etc will decode the DTS/DD to 5.1 PCM suitable for the Firewire device.

Does this mean I will need to use VLC or XBMC to play the movie? If so, I don't think this will work with movies from the iTunes store.. I am not sure right now if I understand your answer correctly.
I tried setting up a 5.1 speaker setup, but it appears iTunes won't let you select the 5.1 stream unless you use the digital buit in output.