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Mac Forum / General / Portable Macs / May 2004MIDI interface and audio options for Powerbook (or iBook)
I'm considering buying a Powerbook G4 (the 15" with the Superdrive looks like the most attractive option for me right now) or an iBook if I decide to go for a budget option. Anyway, the main uses will be Mini-DV video editing and audio/MIDI. I don't know much about the audio/MIDI part,so I could need some help here... 1) I currently use an Atari ST for MIDI sequencing and feel no need to change platforms for that as it works really well. I do however need something for AUDIO recording, and that's where the Mac comes in. Also for additional music stuff like acting as a playback sampler if possible (my external sampler has limited memory and using the Mac for an extra sampler would be great!). In any case I need a MIDI interface for synchronizing the audio recording (multitrack, as I have a limited amount of music gear, making it hard to do everything "live", recording it in stereo in one go). Will any simple MIDI interface do, such as this one (Yamaha UX-96) which I can buy here in Japan where I'm right now: http://www.yamaha.co.jp/product/syndtm/p/dtm/ux96/index.html 2) Do I need any additional audio input/output device for the Mac, or can IU use what's built in? I believe the Powerbook G4 has audio in/out -if this is the case, is it good enough, or do I need an audio interface such as this one (Yamaha UW-10) which I can also buy in Japan: http://www.yamaha.co.jp/product/syndtm/p/dtm/uw10/index.html 3) I have no idea which program I'm going to use for my music recordings, but are these devices software independant meaning I can use any audio recording program, or does each program support only specific interfaces? By the way, which audio program would you recommend that won't cost an arm and a leg, and would I need any additional hard drive etc. to be able to use it properly? I'm a hobby musician, but serious at that, with several external synthesizers, samplers etc. needing something that would work properly. Hallvard > I'm considering buying a Powerbook G4 (the 15" with the Superdrive > looks like the most attractive option for me right now) or an iBook if > I decide to go for a budget option. > 1) ... In any case I need a MIDI interface for synchronizing the audio > recording (multitrack, as I have a limited amount of music gear, > making it hard to do everything "live", recording it in stereo in one > go). Will any simple MIDI interface do? I suggest you look at some of the Roland (Edirol) units, they are much better, and you can get ones that handle both audio and MIDI together. Of course, if you want to do it properly, then you should look at the somewhat expensive M-Audio FireWire audio-plus-MIDI interface. (Frankly, audio down USB sucketh) > 2) Do I need any additional audio input/output device for the Mac, or > can IU use what's built in? If you want good sound quality for recording and production, then the onboard stuff isn't up to snuff. > 3) I have no idea which program I'm going to use for my music > recordings, but are these devices software independant meaning I can > use any audio recording program, or does each program support only > specific interfaces? No, most big-name audio production suites (such as Cubase or Logic) are device independent. > By the way, which audio program would you recommend that won't cost an > arm and a leg ... New Macs come with iLife 04, which includes GarageBand. Its no Cubase, but is plenty powerful. Alternatively, visit the eMagic website and look at their Logic 6 packages, specifically the ones which come with a pretty good MIDI / audio interface. > ... would I need any additional hard drive etc. to be > able to use it properly? Lots and lots of gigs! 30 GB would be my absolute minimum. Geoffrey (remove EXCESS BAGGAGE to reply via mail)  SignatureWARNING: mail to this address will be auto-bounced if: (a) more than 10% original content appears before first quoted matter, (b) quoted material exceeds 75% of total message content, and/or (c) HTML is used to format text and/or embed non-ASCII items. > > I'm considering buying a Powerbook G4 (the 15" with the Superdrive > > looks like the most attractive option for me right now) or an iBook if [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > (Frankly, audio down USB sucketh) Please explain this. Is sound quality worse, or are there other problems involved? I see that most audio interfaces are USB -is this because they're cheaper to make than Firewire ones? And they're "good enough" for the consumer group, while pros will hear the difference? Hallvard > > > I'm considering buying a Powerbook G4 (the 15" with the Superdrive > > > looks like the most attractive option for me right now) or an iBook if [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Hallvard After checking around i saw that the M-audio 410 firewire thingy seems almost unusable (sorry to say as i expected to buy one). The EMI 6|2 does NOT suck even if USB on the other hand. Get a lot of input about things before you follow advice and buy audio for mac as not much is as safe as it sounds! One of many places to check is http://www.osxaudio.com/ g'luck Joakim SignatureJoakim Wendel Remove obvious mail JUNK block for mail reply. My homepage : http://violinist.nu > After checking around i saw that the M-audio 410 firewire thingy seems > almost unusable (sorry to say as i expected to buy one). What kind of problems or disadvantages are we talking about specifically? > The EMI 6|2 does NOT suck even if USB on the other hand. > Get a lot of input about things before you follow advice and buy audio > for mac as not much is as safe as it sounds! > One of many places to check is http://www.osxaudio.com/ > g'luck I have no idea about these interfaces, so please tell me what to look out for when choosing one. Hallvard > > After checking around i saw that the M-audio 410 firewire thingy seems > > almost unusable (sorry to say as i expected to buy one). [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Hallvard As i mentioned i have not used the M-audio 410 myself, but if You would check out the comments on it at http://www.osxaudio.com/index.php?story=577 A friend of mine has used it for a while and he thought that the crashes were due to Cubase and not the hardware - now thinking of giving the 410 back to the store. Problems are 1) Crashes 2) Latency 3) Had a problem with magically disappearing as sound card but seems fixed with latest driver? The USB product i mentioned (works well for me) is nowadays called A62m http://www.emagic.de/products/hw/hw/index.php?lang=EN#AUDIO Most importantly is not to listen to just my advice but to get adviced by people who have used the products you are interested in for a longer period of time. Life is way too short to beta test audio/midi interfaces that you had to pay full price for, they tend NOT to work when you need it the most. ciao Joakim SignatureJoakim Wendel Remove obvious mail JUNK block for mail reply. My homepage : http://violinist.nu |
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