Streaming from Macbook Air to Unitiqute without a network...?

Posted by: scott_man on 15 October 2012

Help!

Apple has removed the optical output from the Macbook Airs!  I need to play music from my iTunes library (ideally via iTunes interface on the Mac) through my Unitiqute at an upcoming party.

 

The Macbook Air can send out digital audio over USB (or embedded in the HDMI signal).  Unfortunately, the 'Qute USB interface can not support streaming.  Only toslink and coax inputs on the 'Qute.

 

The location will NOT have internet and the Macbook Air doesn't have a wired Ethernet connection, so  crossed IP cable won't do the trick.

 

I could use a Musical Fidelity V-Link convert the USB signal to toslink -- but that costs $125... for one event, that is a bit much.

 

Any thoughts -- on either the network side of things or the USB conversion side?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Scott B.

Posted on: 15 October 2012 by PureHifi

UnitiQute has a digital iPod dock via the USB input...presumably you have an iPod with the same iTunes library on it ?

Posted on: 15 October 2012 by scott_man

The iPod doc might work... but, I need access to a full 80 GB library to "DJ" the event... Available phones are too small... and without a network, playing from the remote library on the Mac won't help...

 

Normally, I just use uPnP with the 'Qute and all is fine, but without a network, I am struggling a bit.

 

Scott

Posted on: 16 October 2012 by PG

It may not be the best quality, but the headphone socket out of the air into analogue inputs using a cable or airport express using an optical cable may also work, plus you can take it with you

Posted on: 16 October 2012 by Bart
Originally Posted by scott_man:

 

The location will NOT have internet and the Macbook Air doesn't have a wired Ethernet connection, so  crossed IP cable won't do the trick.

 

I could use a Musical Fidelity V-Link convert the USB signal to toslink -- but that costs $125... for one event, that is a bit much.

 

Any thoughts -- on either the network side of things or the USB conversion side?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Scott B.

Isn't there an adapter that provides an Ethernet connection?  I'm pretty sure there is. (There is a Thunderbolt > Ethernet adapter for the newest Air, and the previous models have something similar I'm pretty sure . . . )

Posted on: 16 October 2012 by Eloise

Do you have an old router you can take?

 

Set it up without any internet connection, just connect wired to UnitiQute and wireless to MacBook Air. 

 

Any router should work for this, though on of the ideal options would be a AirPort Express.