Digital input card

[dextkrk]

Hi,

 

I'd like to capture S/PIDF Toslink signal on my PC, so I'm looking for a card with optical/toslink input. I know I can find it on high end sound cards, but those are pretty expensive, and optical input is the only thing I care about. It can be PCI, PCI-e or USB-2/3. 

I need it to run well on Linux (it's a sound server). Let me worry about that part, but I most likely need a couple of options.

 

I'm having hard time to find it on Google, so maybe someone could help?

[mariushm]

See if the Creative sound cards have good support in Linux.

You can find loads of them on eBay, the PCI kind.

 

There's some with optical in on the bracket, here's some examples:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Creative-Sound-Blaster-X-Fi-Xtreme-SB0770-7-1-PCI-Sound-Card/303467131719?hash=item46a80cf347:g:xvYAAOSwQjheNKor

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Sound-Blaster-Creative-Labs-SB0770-Internal-Sound-Card/383357127169?epid=1008040962&hash=item5941dd8a01:g:p70AAOSwmU9eExLj

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Creative-Labs-Sound-Blaster-X-Fi-Xtreme-Fidelity-7-1-sound-card-model-SB0880/254467036992?hash=item3b3f6ad740:g:Tz0AAOSwd1teCZ7V

 

Also look at cards like E-MU or  Asus or HT Omega 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/E-MU-EMU-0404-PCI-professional-sound-card/202893319366?hash=item2f3d625cc6:g:xl4AAOSwpJJeKdxc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/TURTLE-BEACH-Montego-DDL-7-1-Channel-24-bit-96KHz-PCI-Sound-Card/333394848347?hash=item4d9fe1aa5b:g:8HkAAOSwfiddykUd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HT-Omega-Claro-II-PCI-7-1-channel-sound-card/324040494160?hash=item4b72518c50:g:W68AAOSwSqZeG1vd

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HT-OMEGA-CLARO-Plus-Surround-7-1-Channel-24-bit-192KHz-PCI-Interface-Sound-Card/163947754246?hash=item262c0c3306:g:znQAAOSwgZtd0LUo

 

 

[ShearMe]

try this: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Sound-SPDIF-Digital-Stereo/dp/B002LM0U2S/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=usb%2Bspdif&qid=1580956410&sr=8-4&th=1

 

be careful of cheaper ones that look similar. often the "optical in" port ends up being empty on the board (not soldered on)

[dextkrk]

Thanks, this is very useful.

 

High-end Creative cards are very hit-and-miss with Linux.

 

I have actually managed to find this:

https://www.terratec.de/details.php?artnr=10063

 

Looks like it's well supported on Linux, and it's very cheap: 5-15$. I don't care about advanced DSPs, "24bit 192kHz stuff", I'm fine with 16 bit, so this should work just fine. I literally only need it to hook-up Windows (where I play games) to the sound server.

 

If it doesn't work, I'll try something from your lists, thanks again.

[ShearMe]

4 hours ago, dextkrk said:

Thanks, this is very useful.

 

High-end Creative cards are very hit-and-miss with Linux.

 

I have actually managed to find this:

https://www.terratec.de/details.php?artnr=10063

 

Looks like it's well supported on Linux, and it's very cheap: 5-15$. I don't care about advanced DSPs, "24bit 192kHz stuff", I'm fine with 16 bit, so this should work just fine. I literally only need it to hook-up Windows (where I play games) to the sound server.

 

If it doesn't work, I'll try something from your lists, thanks again.

Please let us know if this works out for you. I'll add it to my parts list for future needs.

[AZ Hobo]

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-7-1-Channel-Sound-Card/dp/B00X7B2NY0

[dextkrk]

On 2/6/2020 at 5:59 PM, ShearMe said:

Please let us know if this works out for you. I'll add it to my parts list for future needs.

TERRATEC AUREON 5.1 PCI works perfect on my Linux server, out-of-the-box. But there is a one thing to consider: toslink input and outputs can work in following configurations:

 - only input

 - only output

 - input to output proxy (this doesn't allow for any processing, kind of pointless, it'd be better to get an active range extender)

 

I ended up with 2 cards. They have cost me 5$ each. One for input, one for output.

 

This actually finishes my project. I can use my single HiFi tower and headphones for all of my sound sources: Windows gaming PC, Linux laptop and iPhone/Android phones. Single, or all at the same time, and without touching any buttons If I ever get a TV, I'll just buy another of those 5$ cards.