MacBook as Media Centre

[LGShepherd]

Hi everyone!

i just have a few questions and i have searched the forums for my answers and have found some, but i am new to macs and everything still is a little confusing.

I have recently just bought the mini DVI adapter and have my MB hooked up to my 32inch HD LCD via DVI to HDMI. i want to run the macbook as my entertainment centre (watch DVDs, AVI's, listen to music, watch TV etc)

my first problem is sound, the sound currently only comes out of the MB speakers which is a little quiet when i am sat on the other side of the room. i had read somewhere that the macbook gives out optical/digital sound and can be 5.1 via VLC? what would i need to do this? i currently am thinking about purchasing a big surround sound kit and run my MB, xbox etc through it and just have the one sound source.

secondly, i would like to record TV on the mac to playback on my TV (i have a dvd recorder and the quality is pathetic) is there anyway that i could do this?

thanks in advance for your replies

 

[iBookG4user]

I'm not sure about the 5.1 speakers, but for using your MacBook to record TV, you'll want something like the eyetv hybrid.

 

[kolax]

You'll need something like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-Digital-audio-adapter-optical/dp/B00016W67I

In order to convert your standard optical cable to the mini optical connector that the MB has.

 

[icecone]

mb got optical out
just get a optical 3.5mm to toslink cable and connect it with your surround amplifier

 

[LGShepherd]

so... if i use what the 2 previous posts have said, i will be able to get 5.1 sound from my MB? obvioulsy, some AVI's etc won't be able to give 5.1 surround sound, but DVDs will in VLC.

is there anyone in these forums who uses their macbook as a media centre?

is there any USB soundcards that might be decent to try?

and, sorry for all the Qs, is there anyway of getting TV/satellite on my MB and being able to record? DVD recorders are awful

thanks!

 

[kolax]

TV/satellite on my MB and being able to record? DVD recorders are awful

iBookUserG4 already gave you a link for that:
EyeTV

I haven't tried surround sound from my MacBook Pro - I'll give it a try tonight and let you know.

 

[Mr. MacBook]

you could try normal external speakers put into the headphone port...

 

[kolax]

Using optical out from my MacBook Pro and watching a Denon Demo DVD that uses all 5 speakers, I got full surround sound.

And that was using the default DVD Player. Quite impressed with that.