Part A:
I stumbled upon this thing to use for digital and stereo i/o with a NiftyCase.
6hp, USB-C audio i/o, headphone volume, analog stereo in/out.
Wonderful. Had to order one from Amazon Japan (can't get 'em here) and it arrived today.
Opened the box. Huh, no ribbon cable. Just a USB C to USB A wire.
Turns out the CU1A is only powered by it's USB.
You can't use it as a headphone amp or final output on it's own,
because you can't use it unless it's connected to USB power.
Audio tests to come, but an unexpected failure of design.
Grrr.
Part 2:
Well, that ends that. The Mac mini doesn't see it, no matter what I tried.
It's got no LEDs, so that's a big help. Back in the box it goes.
Don't feel like debugging it further. Maybe later. Bigger fish to fry.
Grrr. Argh.
Part III:
So, if I use a USB-C to USB-A cable, into a port extender, to USB-C, to Mac mini (??!?), it connects.
It acts like incomplete CU1A firmware. Maybe why you can't find them in the US yet.
So USB-C to USB-C on macOS isn't working and the Synthtribe app doesn't know about updating the CU1A yet.
I'm glad I got this far.
noodlehut.bandcamp.com