Apple Asteroid?

[MacRumors]

AppleInsider claims to have knowledge of a new audio interface for GarageBand users in the coming months. An audio 'breakout box' of sorts, Asteroid will include two XLR/ TRS audio input connectors, two RCA analog output jacks, and a standard headphone jack. The device reportedly will draw power through a single FireWire 400 port and include a phantom on/off power switch. Developed by portions of the crew originally responsible for Emagic and recently spun into Apple's iPod division, the device is expected to be debuted during the MWSF show in January 2005, along with a revision to the iLife suite of applications, including a new version of GarageBand.

Asteroid will require Mac OS X v10.2.8 or later, iLife ‘04 or later, and a computer with a built-in FireWire port. A forthcoming revision to the Mac OS X Sound Preference Pane will reportedly allow Asteroid to interface with Apple's Soundtrack, Logic, DVD Player, and other third party applications. Meanwhile, revised FireWire Audio sound drivers have already appeared in early versions of the company's Mac OS X 10.3.7 Update.

The device will retail for approximately $129 - $149 and will aggressively target similar products such as M-Aduio's Mobile Pre and Edirol's UA-5 USB Digital Audio Capture device. But even at $149, Asteroid will represent one of the lowest priced FireWire breakout boxes on the market, selling for $250 less than M-Audio's more sophisticated FireWire 410 audio interface.

 

[virividox]

wow really good value for the price. i might be tempted to get one!!! darn u apple u make me poor

 

[narco]

Sounds good to me. By the way, there's a typo on M-Audio.

Fishes,
narco.

 

[nagromme]

BTW "Asteroid" is just a code name AFAWK

Cool to see more stuff coming from the new "iPod Division." AI has a good track record lately--this sounds true to me.

This is outside my area for sure... what are examples of how a breakout box like this would make GarageBand more useful? What does this do more easily than other methods? Just OS integration? (Not to sneeze at that. Or maybe a massively lower price would be enough )

And I know the rumored specs are prelimary... but wouldn't more inputs (like optical) be important? Are those big plugs common for consumers? (But maybe this is "prosumer," not consumer.)

 

[Trowaman]

so, is this thing just basically a hub for all your different music cords and feeds them all into your Mac . . . or PC via Firewire?

 

[coolfactor]

so, is this thing just basically a hub for all your different music cords and feeds them all into your Mac . . . or PC via Firewire?

I think this will be an intro product for a whole line of products, with some getting more advanced features.

I'm confident there will be the "Apple touch" added that the competition hasn't considered yet.

 

[JohnGillilan]

This would make sense as all of eMagic's old hardware has been discontinued.

 

[earthtoandy]

is is exactly what i need! i love it. amazing price too.

 

[orion123]

Is it me or is AppleInsider pulling a MOSR and running an old rumor as their own? Didn't PowerPage run this exact item once last week and again yesterday with more info?

I mean, I totally side with AppleInsider on this, they are trustworthy. I just wish they'd given a nod to O'Grady.

 

[fatbarstard]

Next Thing You Know....

This is very minor news.... unless you are 17 and madly writing your opus to take over the world on a synthesiser (s******)....

 

[katanna]

Does this mean I can finally get audio input on my iMac???
Yea!!!

Matthew

 

[KC9AIC]

This device would absolutely rock. I've wanted a way to connect Shure SM-58 mics with XLR connectors into my iBook for recording vocals. An Apple firewire device would skirt the issue of not having sound inputs and having a crappy built-in mic.

 

[supercres]

Needs digital audio out (and in?) to rival some of the other boxes.

 

[stoid]

Does this mean I can finally get audio input on my iMac???
Yea!!!

Matthew

You could always get the Griffin iMic. It's runs audio through USB. However, it seems that this Asteroid will give better sound quality.

 

[earthtoandy]

and it has pahntom power. SWEET!

 

[Mac-Xpert]

The device reportedly will draw power through a single FireWire 400 port and include a phantom on/off power switch

I wonder if that's possible. Most microphones that use phantom power, require a 48v power-supply. Is it possible to get that kind of power from a firewire connection?

 

[Mike Teezie]

so, is this thing just basically a hub for all your different music cords and feeds them all into your Mac . . . or PC via Firewire?

Grossly over simplified explanation: A microphone's signal is too weak, and needs a preamp to boost its signal to line level.

Same for guitar or bass.

This would let you use two mics/guitars/basses whatever.

I would buy one of these the instant they were announced, even though I'm a Digidesign/Pro Tools guy.

 

[tacomancini]

Perfect for Podcasters

Wow, this sounds perfect for podcasts. The latency in usb is just not good if you need to monitor your mixes. I would also like to see a firewire mic made similar to the Micflex.

 

[asif786]

Does anyone know...

...I'm trying to hide all my wires from my iMac. So far, I've only got one wire (apart fom power) coming out of it - it's an apple thin firewire cable that leads to a firewire hub behind my bed.

the firewire hub is plugged into my ipod, lacie drive. so, could i think plug this device (asteroid) into my hub, and then plug my speakers into the asteroid?

I know it's abit of a high price point just to get rid of one speaker cable tho.. :S

 

[cb911]

i'm not a musicy type person at all... but i was going to say that Asteroid is a really cool name for a piece of hardware!! (or software for that matter.)

but it seems that it's just a codename...

well Doctor Q might like the fact that the other codename was Q97...

 

[backspinner]

I wonder if that's possible. Most microphones that use phantom power, require a 48v power-supply. Is it possible to get that kind of power from a firewire connection?

Yes, it's called a switched mode power supply (with very good filtering) that will transform a low voltage to a higher one. My guess is that the firewire power supply is about 12V on laptops.

 

[freddiecable]

MIDI!?

It must have MIDI in and out!?!?



strange otherwice...

 

[nagromme]

Does anyone know...

...I'm trying to hide all my wires from my iMac. ... I know it's abit of a high price point just to get rid of one speaker cable tho.. :S

I'm not clear on this device, but it does sound like it could be a way to (among other things) get audio to speakers via Firewire.

But there's also AirPort Express with AirTunes. That's wireless audio to your speakers--ONLY for music. But other sound still comes out of your iMac's own internal speakers (or speaker--if it's a G4), and depending on your needs, that might be just fine for non-music stuff.

 

[geminitsl]

ASIO?

One thing is for sure, if this device will have ASIO drivers that work in my music program, I will get it!

 

[cluthz]

Thought that apple wasn't allowed to produce audio production hardware, due to the apple corp agreement.
Anyway, this one looks nice, I hope it also gets a midi in/out too!

Especially the phantom power is nice!