Mac Pro: A Question of SOUND

[NJRonbo]

I am a brand new Mac Pro user who just switched from a PC.

Have a question regarding the way the Mac Pro handles SOUND

When I hooked up my Mac Pro I opted to use the OPTICAL output
rather than using the smaller single jack audio output beneath it.

Problem is, some programs choose on their own to output through
the OPTICAL (digital out) output and others choose to use the
built-in speaker.

I have been able to go into PREFERENCES of individual programs
(EyeTV for instance) and select DIGITAL OUT as my preference.

However, there are other programs that give you no preference
whatsoever on how the audio is outputted (such as iChat login
sounds).

Other than going into the System Control Panel -> Sounds
and setting DIGITAL OUTPUT as the default, are there any other
suggestions to steer all program audio through the optical out?....

....or was I better off opting to use the smaller output jack
beneath it?

I even wish the almost Gong-like audio that plays through
the internal speaker when powering on the Mac Pro was pushed
through the digital output as well, but I know that's impossible.

 

[michaelsaxon]

Have you gone into system preferences and selected your default output as optical there?

 

[yojitani]

I even wish the almost Gong-like audio that plays through
the internal speaker when powering on the Mac Pro was pushed
through the digital output as well, but I know that's impossible.

I'd like to know what other responses you get to this. I also have a similar problem with the analogue line out. In fact, the powering on sound should come through the speakers.. at least it did with my former powermac...

YT

 

[FireArse]

Power-up sounds

Come to think of it, you're absolutely right.

My PM 2GHz had the startup 'Bong' throught the speakers too - i remember because at times Id wake up my parents cos Id left the volume on the external speakers too high!

As for the optical sound issues - I was under the impression that once you selected 'optical' as your default sound device, it all went through there.

F

 

[NJRonbo]

I noted in my original post that I did go into the
User Preferences and selected OPTICAL OUTPUT as
my default so I am surprised that I am getting a mixed
bag of sound outputs.

 

[yojitani]

I don't think this will answer all your questions, but I just noticed that in the 'sound' preference panel under 'sound effects' you can choose to "play alerts and sound effects through" different channels.

hmmm..

 

[michaelsaxon]

I noted in my original post that I did go into the
User Preferences and selected OPTICAL OUTPUT as
my default so I am surprised that I am getting a mixed
bag of sound outputs.

Sorry. I didn't read carefully.

 

[sblasl]

I use a little application called LineIn on my Mac Pro to drive my Edirol
MA 20D Digital speakers..

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11333

There is also another application called JackOSX.

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/16162

 

[Darwin]

I'd like to know what other responses you get to this. I also have a similar problem with the analogue line out. In fact, the powering on sound should come through the speakers.. at least it did with my former powermac...

YT

I've noticed the same thing with my Mac Pro, the startup sound always comes through the internal speaker.

I'm guessing that in the startup process the Mac Pro doesn't detect the use of the external audio jacks and just uses the internal speaker because thats all it sees in the beginning.

Thats my theory anyway