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2024-03-01 5:31 pm
Does anyone know how to decode optical audio (Toslink / SPDIF) into I2S? I want to use an ESP32 (or some such device) to take optical audio as an input and output Bluetooth, or analog audio so as to drive headphones. I got this idea from Bill's video, on I2S Audio, and from a Sparkfun WM8950 breakout board. One of the things the WM8950 audio IC (and many other devices) can do is take I2S and output to headphones, and/or ESP32 can accept I2S and output Bluetooth.
My TV is old enough that it does not have Bluetooth output, and new enough that it does not have RCA audio nor headphones out. All it does have is an optical audio output, and maybe HDMI/ARC. And since the optical audio out is connected to a sound bar, that is almost out as well. But maybe not completely out because I have seen optical splitters that might give me 2 optical out ports.
Commercially available assistive listening devices are ridiculously expensive. They also need an audio source, like analog audio and/or Bluetooth. If I had an audio source to drive such an assisted listening device, I'd just use a headset, or external input to hearing aids and wouldn't need anything else!
At a TV store, the guy was touting that newer TVs have BT output. But he also said that when BT is enabled, that cuts off all other audio outputs except the TV speakers. If that is correct, that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. I want to use the sound bar AND Bluetooth.
Any thoughts? Thanks for your help.
- John
DroneBot Workshop reacted
2024-03-01 6:49 pm
It would be a great project; I'm very interested in building some assistive devices for my Mom (who is almost 93) and even myself!
I found this adapter online that looks like it may do the conversion for you.
Another thought is to convert it to analog and work with it that way; little boxes that convert optical audio to analog are pretty cheap. And many of those small audio amps they sell on Amazon have optical inputs (as well as Bluetooth).
😎
Bill
"Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window." — Steve Wozniak
2024-03-01 7:26 pm
@dronebot-workshop @jhb I think Bill has found the solution. I am hearing impaired and my hearing aids came with a box to convert the fibre optic audio output from the TV to some sort of radio. It's probably BT but I can't see it.
I would not believe the salesman, at least some TV's will allow BT and normal audio.
First computer 1959. Retired from my own computer company 2004.
Hardware - Expert in 1401, and 360, fairly knowledge in PC plus numerous MPU's and MCU's
Major Languages - Machine language, 360 Macro Assembler, Intel Assembler, PL/I and PL1, Pascal, Basic, C plus numerous job control and scripting languages.
Sure you can learn to be a programmer, it will take the same amount of time for me to learn to be a Doctor.