Digital Preamp?

I have an SM58 and a SM57. I have an XLR to 3.5mm cord which plugs them directly into my MacBook's audio-in. However they are too quiet. I'm aware that I need a preamplifier. However, I'd rather have a digital one, or a plug-in or something. A sound-card upgrade? I'm not sure. I am recording on the go, so the simplicity of my setup is essential. Is there any way to achieve this?
MacBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)

You have a couple of great mics there. You do not want to reduce their effectiveness in recording. I would recommend an UA-25 from Edirol to compliment the SM57 and 58.
http://www.roland.com/products/en/UA-25/index.html

Similar Messages

Recording and soud output

Hi,
I'm having troubles hearing my recording. I've seen many posts in this forums about "no sound" topics but I didn't find a solution to my problem yet, so my post. I have the impression Logic is using the same audio unit for output than for input.
I've been using the configuration wizard to setup my external audio unit, a digital preamp (on which I can connect a mic or a guitar) connected by USB to the Mac. The setup has selected one input and two outputs. However I don't want Logic to use these outputs, but the internal outputs of my Mac.
I've got an audio object, which I used for recording, configured to use CoreAudio as peripheral, "Track 1" as track, "Output 1-2" as output. These outputs seem to be those of my external audio unit, but this is not what I want, I want the internal Mac outputs. I've has a look at the environment window but without much success.
-fred
Mac OS X (10.4.3)

ok, had to create an aggregate, saw this in an another post in this forum. Problem solved.
-fred

Multiple input device recording/mixing help in Audition 5.5

I'm presently evaluating Audition 5.5 and haven't been able to find any information pertaining to what others MUST do everyday.
I'd like to use Audition to record simultaneous tracks from different sources (microphones). I'm using several USB sound card dongles (each with a single 3.5mm stereo microphone input and headphone/speaker output) as quick and convenient method of creating an array of microphone inputs. Each dongle appears as a discrete audio device with a corresponding input and output.
Fine so far.
Where I'm struggling is in trying to map each microphone to discrete mixer channel. I choose Edit->Preferences->Audio Channel Mapping, but it seems that only channels from any one particular sound device may be mapped to mixer channels at any time. If I assign the microphone from sound card A to Track 1, I can't assing the microphone from sound card B to Track 2. When I try, it alters the hardware device selection and negates any prior channels I've mapped that aren't part of the same device. I hope I've explained the situation clearly.
I'd like to map the microphone from sound device (dongle) A to Track 1, the microphone from device B to Track 2, C to 3 and so forth. But I cant' seem to figure out how to make Audition simultaneously recognize more than any one sound device at any particular time.
Is there a way to do what I'm trying to achieve? Does Audition not support simultaneous mixing/recording from multiple hardware devices? If not, do other products exist that DO support the configuration I'm trying to create which I can use as a front-end - to later mix-down in Audition?
I'd greatly appreciate any helpful insight, guidance, suggestions or recommendations.
Thanks!

remford wrote:
I'm not having any SYNC problems that I'm aware of...
Of course you're not - that's because the system prevents you having them by limiting the physical sources you can use!
Here is a brief explanation of the sync problem - I hope it makes sense:
When an input device digitises a signal, it has to provide a clock source for its A-D device. Normally this clock is locally derived, and the device outputs a digital stream at that rate. But if you have two devices (let's say that they were two external USB ones) both trying to be the input device, then their clocks won't be synchronised - inevitably. Audition, and all other software come to that, can only record at one rate, and if another device provides an input that isn't exactly at the same rate and phase as the one providing the master clock, then fairly soon, you get to a point where the data being inputted won't coincide with the main clock any more, and a bloody great click occurs. On older systems where you could use multiple devices, some allowed for the clock sources to be externally synchronised, and a lot of pro gear still does - it helps a lot when you are using digital mixers and external digital preamps if you can feed everything from a master clock, rather than daisy-chaining it.
When it comes to ASIO, Steinberg made the relatively easy decision not even to try to implement it for multiple devices. Instead, they suggest that you use a single device which is capable of supporting as many inputs as your PC can manage. As an example of how this works, my MOTU device that I mentioned above has eight analogue inputs, and also an 8-channel ADAT input. So, without too much trouble I can connect an external 8-channel digital preamp to it and have 16 inputs in total. It uses an optical connection for the ADAT, but to use it I either have to provide sync from the MOTU to the preamp, or use the preamp as the sync source for both itself and the MOTU, replacing the internal clock. With the only digital preamp I have it's this latter option that makes sense, as there isn't an easy way to get sync from the MOTU back to the preamp. (I should perhaps explain that the preamp has got a sync input, but the only sync output from the MOTU comes from its ADAT output, and that isn't easy to feed back in).
Yes, until you get used to it the concept of syncing devices takes a bit of getting used to - Steinberg's idea was to keep it as simple as possible, even though on the face of it, it's rather frustrating.

Does anyone know how good the SAMPSON USB mic is compared to...

Does anyone know how good the SAMPSON USB mic is compared to having a dedicated audio interface with lets say a good condenser mic?
I am going to be doing some vocals and need a very good quality recording.
It just seems pretty simple right now to use a high quality USB.....
Rather than getting an interface (which I will be getting down the road)
but how "high" is the quality of the Sampson USB mic? Say even compared to
an AKG condenser?? Will I get 90% of the way there compared to an AKG mic and an dedicated audio interface (like the firepod or m-audio-410)
and also if anyone knows will the difference in audio interfaces affect the actual recording quality by a great difference?
thanks, technoreid

I have a Samson C01U USB Studio Condenser mic that I use most of the time.
PRO
To be honest it's really a lot of bang for the buck (about $90 at Sam Ash Music) and incredibly simple to use.
It's well-built (the screen is very rugged, and it has a good amount of heft to it.
Given that GB 3 has a lot of decent vocal presets (and software outboard equipment) in it now (with radio/podcast settings and voice over stuff) you can get it to sound pretty good. In that sense, I think it is an ideal podcast or voice over mic.
It's easy to use, just like GB itself. I am a BIG fan of using equipment that is intuitive and does not thwart the creative process, and the Samson fits the bill. Pull it out of its storage bag; plug in the USB cord into the mic and then into the USB port of your Mac and Voila! you're in business.
CON
You are limited by the length of a USB chord, whereas XLR cables into a firewire analog to digital piece of outboard gear will have XLR in, and XLR cables are the standard for long distances mic usage.
One track, mono at a time. There is no way (that I know of) to effectively do simultaneous stereo recording. But if you are using GB as a composition tool (as I do) you do most of your instruments in GB and only vocals (and maybe guitars) live and only one at a time.
You get what you pay for. Is the Samson C01U as good as a Neumann U87 into a tube-based Analog to digital preamp? Is it the way I would record vocals for a major record release? No. But the difference isn't like listening to a scratched 78 rpm shellack record versus a digital recording either. For most applications, the difference is minimal. How much? I don't have the testing instruments to quantify.
But then again, there's something to be said for spending $90 versus $3,800 (SRP) for a U87 and $2,300 (SRP) for a PreSonus ADL-600 Stereo Hi Volt Tube Mic Preamp......
iMac G5 PowerPC Mac OS X (10.4.6) 1.9 gHz, 1Gig of RAM

Soundtrack Pro channel mapping with a new setup

Hello All,
Looking for a bit of guidance regarding editing / mixing for 5.1 in SoundTrack Pro and Adobe Audition.
I had been editing with both pieces of software and had a successful 5.1 set up. I could place audio in each speaker independently via the software, and it would playback properly in the software and upon export.
Recently I've switched my setup from an old Klipsch ProMedia GMX D-5.1 (that was connected directly to the editing machine via optical), to a Denon 1610 receiver and Energy speaker surround setup (again, connected directly to the editing machine via optical).
The problem I'm encountering is that I can't get either piece of editing software to output properly and / or to the specified speaker / channel. Everything, all channels, are coming out of the Fl or Fr speakers. Playback of previously created 5.1 tracks (QT or .ac3 files), in QuickTime or VLC, are mapped properly.
What am I missing? I have a suspicion that the issue is the elimination of the Klipsch Digital preamp / control module. If this is the case, do I need a DAC that goes toslink in to toslink out and into my receiver? Id so, do you have any recommendations for a DAC?
Thanks.
Floyd

I haven't tried this, but one way around this might be to teach MainStage about the offending button.
Set up a new button in MS Layout & 'Learn' your patch change to it.
Having done that, disable the new button in Edit.
If you set this up at Concert level, it ought to prevent any patch change messages getting through to the rest of MainStage.

I am trying to play my digital music off a hard drive onto my home stereo. I would like to know if the mac mini can just hook to my processor and play music through the processor(preamp) on my home stereo speakers?

I currently have a nice home stereo component system. I also have a 500 GB external hard drive loaded with music. I am looking for a way to play the music off this Hard Drive onto my home stereo system. I currently have a WD home entertainment box that I can play movies that I download off the Internet on my TV, of course piped through my home stereo for the sound. I would like to know if the mac-mini could be used in this form also. Just have the HD hooked to it, the TV would become my monitor and the mac mini would play the music ... RANDOMLY ... with the use of iTunes. This of course would be hooked up to the home system with an hdmi cable and the HD hooked up through a USB connection.
Just would like to know if this could work?

Yes. Is the short answer.
You can directly connect the speaker out port of the Mac mini to an input on the AV Receiver which then feeds your speakers. This would be an audio only solution. If you use a TOS-Link connection this will be a pure digital connection ensuring the best quality (important for audiophiles).
You can if you wish connect the video from the Mac mini to the AV Receiver, and if you have a Mac mini with HDMI or a Mini Displayport you can run the audio and video via a single cable. (Older models would use two cables, the aforementioned TOS-Link pus a DVI to HDMI cable.)
If you do connect the video output from the Mac to the AV Receiver you can then display this on your TV, and have as one possibility iTunes displayed with perhaps one of the iTunes visualisers playing along with the music. Another possibility would be to use FrontRow on the Mac.
A different approach would be to have the Mac mini stream over a network to a device e.g. the Sonos Zoneplayer which is then connected to the AV Receiver. An AirPort Express is also able to do this.

Analog TV, digital TV antennas

I've been getting my cable through Comcast for awhile now. I used to have more extensive cable channels but with their switch to digital, my channels have dropped down to just the free channels and a few other meaningless channels that no one ever watches.
I have looked into pricing for the more expensive cable packages through Comcast, Dish, DirectTV etc. and have decided that I really don't want to spend the money on that given my TV viewing habits and my ability to view programs on the internet. The only channel I will actually miss is the Fox News Channel.
I am paying $19/month, including taxes, for the channels I *think* I can get with an antenna for free. I have older TV sets all purchased 10-15 years ago that still work fine. I don't have the ability to put a massive antenna on my rooftop. Can anyone make any recommendations for a TV antenna that will work with my older TVs? Or, does anyone know whether the new TVs come with built in antennas? I am not adverse to buying a nice new TV for my living room. I heard that [another retailer] has a bunch of inexpensive TV sets if BestBuy doesn't have what I am looking for.
In the end, anything I choose will end up paying for itself - eventually - once I stop paying Comcast $19/month for nothing. I just need a direction to head in. This is not something I know much about.

aragona36 wrote:
Also, do I need a digital converter box and a tv antenna? I've been researching this but it is very confusing to me.
Yes, with older TVs you need a converter box. Newer TVs all come with built in digital tuners. You'll get far higher quality if you get a new HDTV.
Note: Unlike the old analog signals where image quality depended on signal strength, with digital signals you pretty much either get the signal or you don't.
If you click on the antenna reccommendation on antennaweb.org (in your case "yellow UHF"), it'll give a more detailed description - http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/antenna.aspx?color=Yellow . Yellow UHF is a category of antennas - small omnidirectional. Good news is that this means your TV stations are close by, as that is the smallest antenna category there is! Basically, any antenna made by a member of the CEA will have its category on the packaging.
If mounted indoors, you may need to go one or two size classes up from the CEA reccommendations.
I reccommend antennas from the following manufacturers: Winegard, Channel Master, Antennas Direct
I reccommend preamps from the following manufacturers: Winegard, Channel Master
You say you can't have a large roofmount antenna - what about a smaller roofmount antenna? Getting the antenna on the roof helps a LOT.
*disclaimer* I am not now, nor have I ever been, an employee of Best Buy, Geek Squad, nor of any of their affiliate, parent, or subsidiary companies.

MACPRO: Is there an interface that uses DIGITAL AUDIO IN?

I just got my new MacPro (woohoo!) and was getting ready to replace my 'ol tube preamp-to-soundcard configuration with a FW input box... when I realized I only have ONE of each FW port!
I already have my USBs overpopulated, and my FW800 daisy-chaining my backup drives... But then I noticed those unused DIGITAL audio plugs in the back.
...Are those even an option?
I really don't know if I want to put a box on the FW daisy chain...
Hmmmm.
tix,
e

If you want use the digital in/out of your mac are there many fantastic Professional gear
I can suggest
RME ADI-2 it is good and not so expensive
there are also many dream-machines
one of the best (to me) is: Universal Audio 2192 that comes with a Great Class A preamplifier!!!
Apogee mini-dac + Mini MP... or Rosetta 200 (up to +26dBu OUT)
there are many others AD/DA converters... search for it on Google or Yahoo

Samsung LCD TV... Need a good Digital Antenna?

I have a 46" Samsung LCD HDTV (Model #LN46C670). We just purchased an RCA Multi-Directional Amplified Digital Flat Antenna to try and pick up our local channels over the air. I followed the installation instructions to the letter and made sure the settings on the TV were correct but we were still unable to pick up any channels. Anyone else had any luck with digital antennas? What are some of the brands/models you have successfully used with this TV or one like it? Thanks in advance for your help!

lonzom10 wrote:
Understood... all thing are releative. So I guess my first question would be... Is there a way to know for sure whether or not signals are available at my address? If not, what would be the best internal Antenna to use for testing this? An then of course there is my original question... What digital antennas have others used with this specific TV and had success?
There is no difference between a digital antenna and an oldschool analog one whatsoever. It's all marketing BS. The ONLY change to antenna requirements with the digital transition was that antennas no longer need to cover the old 700 MHz TV band - but the performance gains obtainable for redesigning an antenna to not cover those bands any more is so negligible that no one has done it to my knowledge.
http://www.antennaweb.org/ - You can put your address in here and determine what size class of antenna you need. Also, don't bother with RCA antennas, they're crud. Similarly, nearly all antennas with built-in preamps are crud. I haven't seen a single one that published noise figure specifications for their preamp, which says they have something to hide. In most cases they don't even publish specs for the gain of the antenna itself.
Note that the above site can sometimes be inaccurate if you have oddities in your local terrain. Also, if your antenna is indoors, the construction (materials, etc) of your home are important as is whether the antenna is on the side of the house facing the TV stations.
http://www.forums.bestbuy.com/t5/TV-Home-Theater/Which-TV-Antenna-should-I-get-for-the-LCD-TV/td-p/1... - Read my posts here, quite a lot of information about respected brands and specifications to look for.
*disclaimer* I am not now, nor have I ever been, an employee of Best Buy, Geek Squad, nor of any of their affiliate, parent, or subsidiary companies.

Using ATV2/3 with non-HDMI Receiver and theater projector and also need iTunes downloaded movies to work. I'm thinking to use the Toslink digital out for surround sound and an HDMI to RGB converter for video but not sure the iTunes DRM will prevent?

I have a theater with a Runco projector but non HDMI. alas, my receiver is non HDMI. Changing electronics and projector is a non-starter.
I would like to be able to buy HD movies on iTunes and watch them by streaming via Apple TV3. My plan is to capture surround sound from the TosLink digital out, which my preamp/receiver can handle. For the video, I need to convert the HDMI to RGB component to feed my receiver.
This is where iTunes DRM and HDCP issues might arise. I am under the impression that I need an non-HDMI compliant converter so that ATV3 can even talk to my receiver. It is my understanding that this is possible and takes care of the HDCP issue. But what about the DRM issue? All I want to do is buy and watch HD movies, no bad intentions. I find it incredible that iit might not be possible.
Anyways, is there a 100% certain approach even if it costs up to $300-400. Again, changing hardware is a non-starter so please avoid the obvious "buy an HDMI amp and projector".
Thanks

I have a theater with a Runco projector but non HDMI. alas, my receiver is non HDMI. Changing electronics and projector is a non-starter.
I would like to be able to buy HD movies on iTunes and watch them by streaming via Apple TV3. My plan is to capture surround sound from the TosLink digital out, which my preamp/receiver can handle. For the video, I need to convert the HDMI to RGB component to feed my receiver.
This is where iTunes DRM and HDCP issues might arise. I am under the impression that I need an non-HDMI compliant converter so that ATV3 can even talk to my receiver. It is my understanding that this is possible and takes care of the HDCP issue. But what about the DRM issue? All I want to do is buy and watch HD movies, no bad intentions. I find it incredible that iit might not be possible.
Anyways, is there a 100% certain approach even if it costs up to $300-400. Again, changing hardware is a non-starter so please avoid the obvious "buy an HDMI amp and projector".
Thanks

Digital, analog, what?

My turntable (Stanton STR8-80) has a S P/DIF digital out and two RCA audio outs (red and white). I would like to get an album of mine into digital form using my macbook.
Which cables/ports do i use for this, if it is possible?
Thanks,
Collin

The S/PDIF is a coaxial digital output, not an optical one. I'm not sure what type of cable is necessary, as I don't know the architecture of the audio input on the MacBook.
You definetely don't want the amplified signal from your receiver, you do, however, need the receiver/preamp line level (+4dBu) signal from the receiver after the phono stage and proper grounding.
An S/PDIF signal from the turntable will not sound right if recorded directly, since the compressed and high-pass-filtered analog audio information on the LP hasn't been flattened.

Digital Input on iMac

Hi all,
I'm currently waiting for my first iMac to be delivered. I want to record my Audient Mico preamp direct into my DAW via s/pdif direct into the iMac, so in the meantime i've ordered this cable:
http://www.lindy.ie/2m-spdif-digital-optical-cable-toslink-to-mini-optical/35222 .html
Can anyone confirm if this will work for what I want to do please?

Hi kessler182
Yes you may want two, both the iMac's Digital Input and Output are mini 3.5mm.
http://www.amazon.com/3-5MM-TOSLINK-FIBER-OPTIC-TOSLINK-mini-Toslink/dp/B00006LV F3/ref=sr11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1283739190&sr=8-1
Dennis

Can MacBook Pro output digital audio via usb?

I'd like to output digital audio via usb. Can it be done from iTunes? This would allow me to go directly to my dac and then to my preamp.
Thanks.

Russell, there are quite a variety of devices that accept digital audio over USB from any mac with a USB port - see http://www.trendsaudio.com/EN/Product/USBAudiodesc.htm for one example.
Try a google on MAC USB Audio OUTPUT any you should pop up some useful options.
Cheers
Rod
Message was edited by: Rod Hagen

Digital output went out after I upgraded...

My Apple TV was working correctly. Until the software update...
Did the software update, and now I don't get a signal from the digital out connector. Already:
- checked Settings -> Audio/Video -> Dolby Digital Out. It was on.
- used the same cable with another component, and it was working correctly...
- tried another input on the preamp
Any pointers?

DOUBLE UPDATE: Disconnected the ATV, waited a few minutes. Et Voilá!!
I thought that was the typical repair procedure only for PCs.. Apparently, it also does wonders to ATV...

Spartan e3 Analog 2 Digital

Hi,
i've a problem concerning analog to digital conversion using my spartan e3 fpga.
I set the PreAmp as recommended in the User Guide and want to start analog to digital conversion.
I also disable the other SPI devices in order to read out the MISO properly. But when i've no signal neither on
ADC A nor on ADC B i can read out values, which a different from zero. And the most confusing thing is, that
the values are changing with the time.
I also use a 34 cycles to read out the data properly.
Best regards,
Steve Ness

Hi Steve,
an analog-digital converter needs a input source with a well-defined impedance.
If you have an open analog input (floating) the ADC provides you with any value. Mostly this value changes slowly.
More details you can take from the following documents:
Troubleshooting Unexpected Voltages, Floating, or Crosstalk on Analog Input Channels
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/B9BCDFD960C06B9186256A37007490CD
You can test the analog input with a battery.
I hope this helps.
With best regards,
Ralf N.

Digital Preamp?

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