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Firewire Question
- Thread starter acedrums
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No. Firewire is a separate bus, which cannot be connected via an adapter to USB or the Gigabit Ethernet port.
The is always the new MacBook Pro 13-inch model for that.
You just have bought the "collector's edition" model, as it is known now jokingly.
The is always the new MacBook Pro 13-inch model for that.
You just have bought the "collector's edition" model, as it is known now jokingly.
Just because something has more "speed" doesn't mean it is faster. While a FW connection is faster than USB, if the limiting factor is the drive, then it really won't be faster. You should see if using USB provides the level of performance that you require and then make a judgment call if you need firewire.
USB's speed is burst, and is not good for sustained transfers, as with video or audio capture.
That is why I told him to try it and then make a judgement call. Without knowing what he is actually doing, one cannot say that USB wouldn't work for him. If it is streaming then no, if it is just moving finished work, then it would work.
If you have the option to return the machine for a model with Firewire I recommend it. Even for just moving large files (I doubt that's all you'd be doing if you are using the Mac for music recording) Firewire is notably faster.
RE: Firewire question
"i wanted firewire for recording. Do you think its worth returning this laptop to get one with firwire"
You want to attach an audio interface, is that correct?
There _are_ some (not many, but some) audio interfaces out there that work fairly well with USB2.
One that comes to mind is the M-Audio "Fast Track Ultra". It offers 4 mic inputs, and various other inputs. You can google it to find out more, and there are a couple of decent videos out there demonstrating its connection and usage. I don't have one myself, but it looks to be very nice for the money.
DO NOT consider buying a USB 1.1 interface. These are too slow to handle more than a couple of inputs at once during recording.
If you need a LOT of inputs - say 8 at once or more - firewire is the way to go.
- John
"i wanted firewire for recording. Do you think its worth returning this laptop to get one with firwire"
You want to attach an audio interface, is that correct?
There _are_ some (not many, but some) audio interfaces out there that work fairly well with USB2.
One that comes to mind is the M-Audio "Fast Track Ultra". It offers 4 mic inputs, and various other inputs. You can google it to find out more, and there are a couple of decent videos out there demonstrating its connection and usage. I don't have one myself, but it looks to be very nice for the money.
DO NOT consider buying a USB 1.1 interface. These are too slow to handle more than a couple of inputs at once during recording.
If you need a LOT of inputs - say 8 at once or more - firewire is the way to go.
- John
well, I was considering investing in a imac, that way i can use the laptop for more graphic/personal use. Would that be a smarter idea? Taking the fact that if i start recording (since I am a drummer), I wouldn't be moving my set up much if not at all. I mean, come on, I am not moving my drums every time to record them.
RE: Firewire Question
RE:
"well, I was considering investing in a imac, that way i can use the laptop for more graphic/personal use. Would that be a smarter idea?"
For recording music with DAW software, a 24" iMac would probably serve you better than a laptop with a small display.
It's hard to beat that large screen when scanning and scrolling through a "timeline" in which horizontal movement is most important.
If I'm not mistaken, an iMac also offers you _two_ Firewire ports (1 800, 1 400). You can plug the audio interface into one port, and an external drive (for recording tracks, backups, archiving, 2nd boot drive) into the second one.
And even an iMac isn't _that_ hard to move around if you need to do so.
- John
RE:
"well, I was considering investing in a imac, that way i can use the laptop for more graphic/personal use. Would that be a smarter idea?"
For recording music with DAW software, a 24" iMac would probably serve you better than a laptop with a small display.
It's hard to beat that large screen when scanning and scrolling through a "timeline" in which horizontal movement is most important.
If I'm not mistaken, an iMac also offers you _two_ Firewire ports (1 800, 1 400). You can plug the audio interface into one port, and an external drive (for recording tracks, backups, archiving, 2nd boot drive) into the second one.
And even an iMac isn't _that_ hard to move around if you need to do so.
- John
The new iMacs only offer one FW800 port, since they were updated in February.
The FW400 port is gone from Apple's entire current line as it seems.
The FW400 port is gone from Apple's entire current line as it seems.