Mac Mini Surround Sound in iTunes

[beaporwoll]

So I just broke down and bought a new Mac Mini and hooked it up via HDMI to my Denon receiver. I went online and found how to set up OSX for surround sound but to my disappointment iTunes didn't put out a 5.1 signal. Is there any way to do this or am I out of luck??

I run all my audio and video through my receiver since my TV came out before HDMI was introduced (but it's still an HDTV...go figure). I'm was hoping to replace the Apple TV I had hooked up but if it's not gonna send out a Dolby 5.1 signal then the TV will stay put.

 

[wpc33]

I recommend this app for surround audio playback
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html

 

[fkntotalkaos]

I recommend this app for surround audio playback
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html

i suggest plex
http://www.plexapp.com/

 

[ahankinson]

If you're playing MP3s in iTunes, they're stereo files. Only two channels, so don't be surprised that it doesn't output 5.1.

You have two options to get surround sound in that case: Use another software package that can do some audio processing to produce fake 5.1 (as others have suggested), or see if your receiver has the option to do that. Mine does (a Yamaha).

 

[indg]

open the audio midi setup app. configure speakers for multichannel.

set your audio output to use hdmi. restart itunes (or whatever app you use to playback).

rent or buy a movie off itunes that has 5.1 DD and test it out.

 

[ahankinson]

@indg

That may work for an analogue surround out, but I don't know if it will work for digital out. I don't have an HDMI system to try it on, but I have my mini hooked up to my receiver via TOSLINK. When I open Audio Midi Setup.app, I don't get the option to configure more than two speakers - the rest are greyed out.

 

[beaporwoll]

Some help

Thanks for all the help. I tried to use my Denon amp to try to "force" a 5.1 surround when playing music in iTunes but the audio from the HDMI didn't send a signal to the subwoofer. However when I used the headphones output and sent it via optical I was able to trick my amp into putting it into 5.1 with the sub working and all. So I guess I got a semi-fix...not sure what the difference between HDMI and optical sound is (thought they were the same) but I'll take it. Now onto a newer TV so the display isn't so blasted small when it's in 1080

 

[Undecided]

Is there any way to have iTunes default to use the surround sound track instead of stereo? I keep forgetting to switch the audio track to the surround track.