JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Recording Studio and Gear Forum What this Macuser does not like about the new Macs

I have an iMac DV 400. It has a mic in jack. I think the new eMacs may have a jack for that also but the new iMacs and G4s do not. I guess you have to use a USB connection for running a line in. Can anyone tell me how that works? There must be some additional hardware involved. Thanks.

JeanB

Hi Jean,

Yep, you have to use either a USB or a Firewire (IEEE 1394)-based soundcard with any of the "slotless" Macs - at least if you want "pro-quality" sound.

The new Protools MBox is supposed to be a great interface with no problems on the Macs (eMac, iMac, or PCI-based G4). MOTU has the 828 (firewire), which is also very nice for the money (around $700-800) and has multiple in/outs. The MBox is about $450 street price and includes two Focusrite mic preamps, which makes it an excellent buy - especially if you do mostly audio and one or two tracks of recording at a time, instead of using a lot of midi. I've heard the 828 also sounds very good.

PCs seem to have more issues with USB and firewire than Macs, but often PCs get more plugins going at once, so it's a tradeoff.

There are several other brands of mostly USB interfaces (I can't think of any other fireware interfaces off the top of my head) if you need to have other options. Let me know.

Here are the sites:

www.digidesign.com
www.motu.com

What software are you using now?


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Larry
www.audibleresponse.com

[This message has been edited by Lwilliam (edited 08-24-2002).]

Oh, I am ok right now because I am only planning to do rough demos, but someday I would like to upgrade to the dual processor G4s. I have an iMac 400 DV and it has a built in input jack. It's a real bummer to know that when I upgrade, I have to buy extra hardware to input sound. The built in mic is OK but for recording purposes, a better mic should be used and besides what if you want to input analog audio into the puter.

I only have Cubasis VST 2. A baby program but it will have to do for now. I am thinking of Protools when I can afford it.

LOL, maybe by the time I can afford it, and enough musicians grouse about it, Apple will include a line in jack. Then again, I may be thinking of the company that used to care. Thanks, Larry.

JeanB

Actually Mac used to have those line in type RCA's on the old 8500's. I can't recommend anything by MOTU, the worlds worst customer service for audio anyway.

Emagic makes a usb audio that's supposed to be quite good. 2 in 6 out. Very small very portable. But that's my vote for inexpensive audio that sounds good.

Hi Jodi,

Did you have a bad support issue with MOTU at one point? I'm curious because I certainly haven't gotten any PRE-sales support on their software, and no demo version of DP is available.

Oh, and I remembered that Tascam has a couple of USB audio mixers available, also.


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Larry
www.audibleresponse.com

[This message has been edited by Lwilliam (edited 09-10-2002).]

Thanks, Jody.


JeanB