Do you Tosser , or anyone anywhere know what exactly will work with the on board FW800 on the MBP ? or is it a non issue really because I could add the FW port using the express card slot and use the on board FW for my external HD
It is possible to get a proper Expresscard/FW adaptor with an on board TI chipset. However, for many of us, this has been a somewhat less than ideal solution. In theory it should work, but in practice and with anything but HDDs, this is far from always the case.
Far less rambling than I and certainly I can see that you are used to conversation through words , being a journalist helps I imagine , I'm not , so I'll respond each of your paragraphs in turn if I can.sorry if it's a bit long this ....
No , to a certain extent the CPU power does matter purely because I'll be running either Traktor Scratch Pro Or Serato Scratch Live and both those titles use a fair amount of CPU I'm told , especially the former , graphics wise I think that the integrated chip would be fine on the MB , I have doubts about the cPU although it is over the minimum specs req' I like to have a little overhead available there if needed.
Then Ableton software which also use the CPU a fair bit too I'd get a Macpro but need mobility , also I feel the larger screen would be an advantage for this particular software .I wouldn't care if it was blue with green dots as long as it worked
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I am willing to bet that the CPU matters far less than you think. RAM does, the CPU far less. Of course it matters to a certain extent*– you propably loose out if you were using an MBA that throttles back to 800MHz, but within reason, it really matters little. You're not doing video, and part of what you're doing is midi, which, as far I know, doesn't really tax a system that much. But then again, I know jack ***** about midi.
Haaa , yes I've met a few microwave listeners before and hear what your saying , I'd rather put money into something decent though than buy crap and buy twice , initially it's a bitch to pay out the money but in the long run something that I can rely on for quality of sound /durability , but, not cost the earth is what I'd like , not bothered at all about bragging rights or showing off or anything , just want decent gear man but nothing more than necessary you know .
Yes, that is one of the reasons I am (was?) trying to steer you into buying a whitebook if you MUST have a Mac. It means you can spend more money where it matters. Even if it just means getting something with better plugs, mondane as it sounds.
I was thinking you might say that about all in ones , was beginning to think that way my self , funny isnt it , when you initially begin looking at this stuff it takes an age to wade through the garbage and the only way I can find out it's garbage is by reading every bloomin article out there at every piece of gear there is
and talking to good folk like yourself of course .
I think it's a wise decision if you indeed go for separates. I mean, without an unlimited budget or the ability to go "I won't improve my sound quality until I can buy everything in an all-in-one once again" I really don't think buying such things are a good idea, all things considered.
With that said, though, if all you can afford a single thing, cheap as it may be, you might not get what you want, ultimately, but at least you're doing it.
Thing is I've used a fair amount of equipment over time but never had to know anything about it before , should have learned but there you go.
The Mic is just for recording simple vocals for sampling into my sets , my little ones developing a habit for singing so I'd like to record that too , like before , just something of good quality but not silly money . I was given some headphones recently I think they're Sennhiesers or something similar (have to check name )
Assuming you want, say, a sexy voice – be it female or male - you will have to go for a condenser – not an electret (not a spelling mistake) - but a "real" condenser microphone. It will be warmer than a dynamic microphone, and what some people don't like about these types is the "proximity effect", but I put that down to them waving it around and not know what they doing. In real life, this proximity can be put to good use, and the more kidney shape the "pick up" is, the more of an effect (as opposed to an omnidirectional microphone).
Forgive me if you know this, but the thing is, that "the proximity effect" is just that: If placed near enough to a mouth, all of a sudden the person will sound like he or she is up close to your ear. You want it pointed right _next_ to the mouth so it doesn't pop and so on, but she will be whispering in your ear, or that warm male voice will be talking to YOU and not the "the crowd".
After considering how it will be used, I think you start rather cheaply. You want phantom power, but this means you will want to have it on your interface.
Now, here's the thing: The Røde microphones are relatively cheap. Well, in my world, they're "dirt cheap", but I realise that they're not the cheapest out there. What speaks for them is that the handheld microhone takes a 9V battery, creating it's own phantom power. Neat, huh?
Seriously, go for some sort of condenser microphone.
I'd read that about the 96 over 192 , it does confuse me a fair bit but wont go there , I'm scared now lol ,
Haha, yeah. For simplicity's sake you can think of as an amplifier (technically it's not the same, but …): When you let an amplifier works its arse off by moving the attenuater up to, say, 3 or 5 o'clock it will distort like hell. Better get a bigger amplifer and keep it below 2 o'clock.
The thing is, that the AD-converter is has less headroom for mistakes and will output those mistakes into the file. With 96khZ output on a 192kHz converter, the information including all the mistakes are lost.
Anyway, that's the simplified version. Let's take the real deal to another day
I like the MOTU ultralite mkiii but I think it may be a little to much to spend at the moment ...nearly £400UK , on top of the interface I have to get a dj mixer and some way of controlling MIDI too and a keyboard for the kids ...I have about a grand UK £
Well, that's reality for you.
Anyway, so how do you feel about finding a DJ mixer you want (find a cheap one – you can always upgrade, and a mixer is the simplest of things) and some cheapo midi controller (there has to be some really cheapos out there, considering you seem to have simple needs from what you told me). Then we can tell what you have left when that is bought?
I'd imagine you know more than I about MIDI but I'd imagine it would have to be supported by the audio interface for it to be able to record the sounds , no ?
Haha, no. I don't know jack about midi. Never used it. I'm just an audio geek and my way of being it is being a sort of "documentarist" (I really don't like that term). I'm guessing it's because of the journalist-part of me – or perhaps it's the other way around? Who knows …
Anyway, if you want to control the audio interface, yes, it will have to be supported by it. If you want to control the interface manually, but control the software-part of your set-up, it really doesn't matter. Now some midi-buff will propable (and hopefully) chime in and tell me I got MIDI all wrong, and that one the thoughts I have of how to use midi is all wrong, and thus clarify things – for both you and me.
good preamps / phono stages it is then , should mention I should be picking up a dj mixer of some sort this next few weeks , not sure which yet , more than likely four up faders ( 8 channels) usuall eq pots and wot not , more than likely get one with NO effects on board as if I ever used them I'd use them in software I imagine
Yeah, I'm in the "clean sound" bracket as well. Better add stuff after or further down the line. It gives you more choices in the long run.
...anyway , I couldn't really use headphones as monitors as I need headphones in order to mix the various sounds together in a live setting so rely on the speakers to give me the monitoring and phones to 'pre mix' the tempo etc before dropping next track in or sound/sample or whatever .
So speakers would be a necessity , use the headphone for mastering and all that and messing with Logic Express but defo need speakers of some sort .
Okay, but start cheaply. I'm serious. Most places have crap speakers and you want to hear what it sounds like places like that. When you really want to hear the details and be able to differentiate, use the headphones. Oh, and get some closed headphones for "looking" for those places (the lining-up). In a venue with a lot of noise you will ruin your ears if you have to turn the volume up loudly enough to drown the speakers.
hehe , I was looking at the Korg nano kontrollers , they look fun for the price , could be ok for the kids then they don't mash up my gear I'll have a closer look in town in a few weeks time read that the MAudio gear can be a bit , well , err .... a bit rubbish .I suppose everyone's mileage varies though , it's tough to decide what to do for best , sometimes there really is too much choice .
Maudio aren't considered "good". But my thinking was that they're cheap(ish), mass produced, and will propably get the job done for what it is. Just don't buy their audio interfaces if you can help it. However, as always, to quote and paraphrase Larry and Lin Pardey (of engineless cruising fame): Go cheap but go now.
The rack mount is not really what I'm after , this gear will be for practice and recording sets at home/studio only , other gear will be there when it's a live set,........ set up by someone else ( thankfully )
Well, you don't HAVE to mount it in a rack. You can put it on a desk or a shelf. What I'm trying to say is that it will most likely gain you better quality for less of a price, all else considered.
]just need something for the house to get stuff recorded and send out .
I'll ask around about the MIDI interface controller but I have seen a few about that look t' have more than whats needed just now & would enable growth ?...
You have to strike a balance, though. Of course, being able to "grow" is always good, but the thing is, that will make you buy more than you need to begin with, and it will make it harder to argue an upgrade based on quality, making you end up with something you paid more for, but never used, where the quality was lesser. If, on the other hand, you buy what you need, you can get better quality for the same amount of money.
Hell, even a good 16bit/48kHz interface with good preamps will outperform any 24bit/192khz with crap preamps, just to make an example. Although I figure you talk hardware growth, the same applies there.
, one from Akai MPK49 which reads up well & costs about £240 UK pounds (ish)
http://www.akaipro.com/mpk49
also seen the Novation SL range which has automap to sort out the MIDI setup , it's around the same sort of price as the Akai ( for the smallest one )
http://www.novationmusic.com/products/midi_control/remote_sl/#details
There is the KorgMicroKontrol for about 200UK but it reads up like its a bit plasticky and crappy .
I hate to say so, but if a company can't even make a proper case, how will the inside be? I'm not talking about "looking good", but at least it can look like it was made to last.
any more thoughts Mr Tosser ? ( couldn't just call you tosser now could I )
No, I don't have any at the moment
Feel free to call me Tosser, I'm more of a Tosser than a Mr.
cheers for all your time spent writing your responses mate ,highly appreciated
No problems, I enjoy it. And no, you couldn't piss me off, even if you tried?
P.S. Just a random information: I feel like you became intimitaded because I told you I was a journalist. Don't be. Although I am one of "those people", I'm a dane, and do journalism in danish (of course), so it's not like I will ever chastise someone for not speaking "properly" whatever that may be. Well, SMS-lingo is another matter
Edit: Okay, as I said, I don't do DJ'ing, so take it for what's it worth. But the USB-bloke suggesting that he knows about proper audio and that it doesn't matter since "you don't record" posted this the summer of (no, not '69) 2007 (click on arrow to see the thread):
So the summer is here and I am going to have some free time. I though of learning how to DJ but I have no clue when it comes to turntables and mixers.
Also I been playing around with NI Traktor but are there other programs? I heard of Serato Scratch Live but would like to know what people like and/or use.
I already have two nice pair of headphones, Denon DJ1000 and Ultrasone Proline 750 so there is no need to get headphones. I plan to do this for fun in my apartment.
