Connecting your Mac to your TV

[Geesix]

Ok guys hopefully someone can help me out. I got a macbook
My computer: MacBook
Display: 13.3"
Processor Type: 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo
Model Number: NOt sure
Factory: not sure
Production Year: 2009
Production Week: some time in Sep., I bought it in Oct of 2009.
Production Number:not sure

My tv is a samsung 40" lcd tv series 5/500

I have a hdmi rocketfish cable and a mdp cable, the picture show up on my tv by the audio doesn't. The audio still come out of my macbook, how do I get it to come out of my T.V.? Thank you very much.

 

[Lbatson21]

Some mini display port adapters don't even support audio, but some do. You have to adjust the sound settings in preferences after the cables are hooked up and you change to the correct input on the tv. Go to system preferences > sound > output and make sure once hooked up you select hdmi as the output. This will stay that way from now on when you hook up the hdmi to the display port and revert back to normal once disconnected. If this doesn't work you may want to try another adapter. I have a dynex mdp to hdmi and it supports sound the way I just described.

 

[Geesix]

Some mini display port adapters don't even support audio, but some do. You have to adjust the sound settings in preferences after the cables are hooked up and you change to the correct input on the tv. Go to system preferences > sound > output and make sure once hooked up you select hdmi as the output. This will stay that way from now on when you hook up the hdmi to the display port and revert back to normal once disconnected. If this doesn't work you may want to try another adapter. I have a dynex mdp to hdmi and it supports sound the way I just described.

Ok when I went to system preferences > sound > output, there was no hdmi output anywhere.

 

[Lbatson21]

Do you have the mdp adapter connected to the hdmi cable and plugged in to the tv? It wont show as an option until its all connected. Also make sure you're on the right input channel so you have both displays on before it will show an hdmi audio output. If it doesn't show it may not be an adapter that supports audio I would guess

 

[Geesix]

Do you have the mdp adapter connected to the hdmi cable and plugged in to the tv? It wont show as an option until its all connected. Also make sure you're on the right input channel so you have both displays on before it will show an hdmi audio output. If it doesn't show it may not be an adapter that supports audio I would guess

Yes I have my mdp connected to my macbook and then the hdmi to the mdp and to the t.v., I believe I have all the cables connected correctly (I hope). Also What input channel do I have to be on? I have it on hdmi. Also I have the same mdp adapter as you mentioned above (dynex).

 

[bobtomay]

luckystar_30:

Your owner's manual is available here.

On page 20, you'll find the following:

I wouldn't guarantee that TV will even work with a PC. There is no VGA input, so your only option to try is HDMI.

Your MB has a mini-DVI port. You'll need:
a mini-DVI to HDMI cable
A high speed HDMI cable
For audio, you'll need a stereo 3.5mm mini-plug to RCA cable.

Follow the directions above for connecting and changing the audio settings on the TV to work with the HDMI port.

 

[bobtomay]

Geesix:

1st, you don't have it connected via mdp (mini displayport), because that MB does not have a mdp. It has a mini-DVI port. So, if you've got the video connected and working, good job there.

To get your audio to the TV, you'll need the same audio cable as the link I posted for luckystar above and it will plug into the DVI Audio port.

Here's a direct link for your owner's manual - link - and you'll find a pic of the connection on page 9.
(Yes, it'll take a while to download.)

 

[albeee4]

Hi Bobtomay,
Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this subject.
I have a brand new 15" MBP and purchaced the monoprice converter and cables to use component or svideo out. When everything is connected I only get color bars and can use the menu from the converter but nothing else works. I have tried to change the display setting already. I'm thinking I may have a defective converter.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Theshizirl]

Bobtomay,

I have a Macbook Pro (2010), 17 inches with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. I am trying to connect it to my Samsung 27 inch HDTV via HDMI cable and mini adapter. However, when I do so, the picture is there but it seems off in that the sharpness seems way too high, but I can't do anything about it when I try to adjust the sharpness.

What's up?

Thanks

 

[Geesix]

Geesix:

1st, you don't have it connected via mdp (mini displayport), because that MB does not have a mdp. It has a mini-DVI port. So, if you've got the video connected and working, good job there.

To get your audio to the TV, you'll need the same audio cable as the link I posted for luckystar above and it will plug into the DVI Audio port.

Here's a direct link for your owner's manual - link - and you'll find a pic of the connection on page 9.
(Yes, it'll take a while to download.)

So basically bobtomay, you're telling me I can't do it all with just the hdmi cable? When I bought it at bestbuy they told me I could do both with just the one cable. Please don't tell me I wasted $70 bucks on that stupid cable.

 

[RavingMac]

So basically bobtomay, you're telling me I can't do it all with just the hdmi cable? When I bought it at bestbuy they told me I could do both with just the one cable. Please don't tell me I wasted $70 bucks on that stupid cable.

The problem isn't with the cable (though $70 is way too much for an HDMI cable) but the fact your display port on your Mac (and mine too) doesn't put out audio.
If it isn't too late, I would return the HDMI cable to Best Buy, order a replacement from Amazon (~$12 plus shipping) and order an audio cable so you can connect sound from your Mac to your TV.

 

[RavingMac]

BTW
Bob put quite a bit of work into putting together this sticky. A lot of the questions I have seen could be easily answered just by reading the first couple of posts in it.


EDIT: I just checked and Amazon has their Amazon Basics (their own house brand) High Speed HDMI Cable listed for $11.99 for the Ethernet 3D capable or $9.99 for non-Ethernet version in 9.8 ft length.

 

[Geesix]

The problem isn't with the cable (though $70 is way too much for an HDMI cable) but the fact your display port on your Mac (and mine too) doesn't put out audio.
If it isn't too late, I would return the HDMI cable to Best Buy, order a replacement from Amazon (~$12 plus shipping) and order an audio cable so you can connect sound from your Mac to your TV.

Thanks and thanks to Bob too.

 

[bobtomay]

Geezix:

Razormac got it right. Definitely take that cable back to BB and get your money back. They rape you for cables the way Apple does with RAM.

I like those Amazon house branded HDMI cables. They're pretty flexible which can help in tight spaces behind your equipment.

albeee4:
I'm assuming you mean composite (rather than component) and S-Video. To be honest, I have not used either one of those for a video connection in over 10 years - maybe 15 - I forget when component made the scene. Just from the reviews I've read about that converter from monoprice though, I think you're probably correct.

If your Mac sees it when you open up Displays properties though, you might try some lower resolutions - 640x480 maybe - and see what happens.

Theshizirl:

??? I don't have a clue. Think this is the first time I've ever seen a complaint that the picture from a Mac is too sharp.

 

[TheyCallMeShoe]

Gigaware Adapter on AOC L22H998 TV

i have a brand new less than one week old Macbook Pro 2.8Gz i7 and an AOC tv (L22H998) and a Gigaware displayport to HDMI adapater. All my HDMI cables work (tried several) and the adapter works on my roomate's monitor. The TV works with two other windows laptops with HDMI ports. Everything i've tried and i've tried everything doesn't work with this computer and that TV.

When i plug the adapter/cable in, the laptop screen will turn blue and come back as all my other mac laptops have in the past with video out adapters. The TV says "no signal"

System Prefrences > Displays > detect displays = nothing

Does anyone have experience with Gigaware adapters? AOC tvs?

 

[Buzzard2010]

Why doesn't Apple carry a MDP - HDMI Adapter themselves? It seems they have every other adapter you could think of just not HDMI, they even sell HDMI cables on their website.

- Simon

 

[u5er]

Why doesn't Apple carry a MDP - HDMI Adapter themselves? It seems they have every other adapter you could think of just not HDMI, they even sell HDMI cables on their website.

- Simon

Moshi Mini DP to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support - Apple Store (U.S.)

Kanex Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable with Audio Support (10 ft.) - Apple Store (U.S.)

 

[u5er]

I have a mid-2010 MBP that I'm connecting to my receiver using a MDP->HDMI adapter from Amazon. Picture and sound both work perfectly. However, after 1 minute or so, the TV will suddenly display a snowy, blank screen as if there is no signal, but the sound will continue to play through my speakers. Screen comes back up if I touch the trackpad. This made me think it's a screen saver related issue. So I changed the screen saver setting to 'never', but the problem persists. I've tried looking around the display settings but I don't see anything that is related to this. Am I missing something? Or do I have a defective adapter?

 

[RavingMac]

I have a mid-2010 MBP that I'm connecting to my receiver using a MDP->HDMI adapter from Amazon. Picture and sound both work perfectly. However, after 1 minute or so, the TV will suddenly display a snowy, blank screen as if there is no signal, but the sound will continue to play through my speakers. Screen comes back up if I touch the trackpad. This made me think it's a screen saver related issue. So I changed the screen saver setting to 'never', but the problem persists. I've tried looking around the display settings but I don't see anything that is related to this. Am I missing something? Or do I have a defective adapter?

I would lean toward the defective adapter or cable, or possibly ever your TV.
I have a pre-HDMI Mac Mini and it is connected to my TV through my Denon Receiver using a mini-displayport to HDMI adapter. I never see drop out like you mention.

 

[bobtomay]

I'd tend to agree with Razormac - but try a different HDMI port on the TV to see if the same issue shows up.

Also, unplug everything and plug it all back in - even though the connections look good, have seen this take care of some strange issues from time to time.