How do I connect Macbook Pro to Home Theater?

What do I need to hook up my Sony DVD Home Theater system to my Macbook pro?

• I'm at a loss here and I can't exactly find what I need. Google gives me everything about hooking up your TV to your mac, and that's not what I need. What cords/cables/adapters do I need to set this up? I have the home theater system, an HDMI cable, HDMI mini display port adapter, Macbook pro with OS X 10.7.2 Lion. So what else do I need to set this thing up?

• Answer:

  Since it appears that your HDMI comes from a mini display port and not HDMI, things aren't as easy. What you're looking for is digital 7.1, as you have the display adapter in hand. If your computer doesn't have an orange rca (digital sound) or a "SPDIF" (digital fiber optic) connector or a built in 8 channel discrete output digital to analog converting sound card, you'll have to shop for an external sound card. They connect via USB, and just shop for the features that go with your av receiver. (orange rca digital, SPDIF fiber digital, or HDMI) If your av receiver supports 7.1, it has at least one if not all 3 digital sound protocols.