MacPro Optical output

[j.hall]

ok, this is a weird one.

i monitor PT through AES 1/2 into a Mytek DAC. the DAC also has an spdif input.

so i've always used an optical to spdif converter so i can hear all computer audio through my same exact monitor chain, while PT is running and i'm working. i can quickly reference anything in itunes, quicktime, spotify, etc....

on my MacPro (8 core 3.2g harpertown) the optical out is not working at all. the mytek shows a constant -20db signal, but the line is silent. i've tried everything.

is this a CoreAudio issue?

i'm unable to delete the Avid CoreAudio plug-in. finder keeps telling me it's "in use".

on my old system, i removed coreaudio as it created some of these problems.

ideas?

btw, the optical to spdif converter box is fully tested and working.

[cubivore]

if you're connecting optical out of the mac to the mytek you don't need to use the core driver for regular non-PT stuff like itunes, vlc, etc. just set the audio output to digital/optical in the system preferences. that's what i do with my macpro and lavry da10 so i can just toggle on the da10 between rca (PT) and optical (mac).

[j.hall]

i just booted my old machine, and everything works fine. (PPC G5 running tiger)

so either i have a bad optical output on the MacPro (8core 3.2g Lion), or i'm simply missing something.

[j.hall]

i got it working.

chalk it up to a strange apple thing.

in prefs "sound" pane, i select internal speaker, quit prefs, launched itunes, hit play. quit itunes, reopened prefs, sound pane, selected optical output, quit, launched itunes, hit play, it worked.

WEIRD.

thanks for the help!