Using an imac

  • Thread starter Thread starter JohnBJohn
  • Start date Start date
J

JohnBJohn

Tard
I have an 2007 2.4Ghz imac. What I would like to know is how good quality of an audio input/soundcard it has. Would I be better suited to use the built in input or a cheap usb interface such as an imic?
 
An iMac soundcard is identical to your run of the mill crappy PC Notebook soundcard (realtek, etc).
 
I've done recordings using my pc's built in audio and they're ok. i'd still try and get at least a usb interface. when i get my mac i'm going to download the line 6 driver and run everything from a mixer into a guitar port which is hooked up via usb to avoid using the line input which probably won't give as good quality.
 
I use LINE-IN on my Imac - sounds great. I had 2 different interfaces (including a FastTrack USB) but found I didn't need em - sounded the same as LINE-IN. Sold em both. The Imacs have a small preamp built-in so it works better than say the Mac laptops which don't.

I use Logic, Garageband, Amplitube 2 (all of em - Hendix, Metal, X-Gear, etc), Guitar Rig 3 etc. and they all sound and record nicely just using LINE-IN.

I use a standard guitar cable with a small 1/4" -> 1/8" adapter from Radio Shack ($3.00).

I was using an ART TUBE STUDIO preamp with it too but moved it over to my Valve Junior setup as it works GREAT as a Gain Boost on the VJ. Just increase the INPUT and OUTPUT on the ART and actually overdrive the 12AX7 in it.
 
the i macs have a better line in then the macbooks? is this somethinh you have actually tried and tested, or have heard from a friend etc?

also i read somewhere that the line in is for like guitar and bass keyboard line ins etc... but when you plug in a mic you have to boost it a lot. or maybe it's vice versa i don't know

if it is too high can you damage your soundcard in anyway?
 
Hard2Hear said:
An iMac soundcard is identical to your run of the mill crappy PC Notebook soundcard (realtek, etc).
Click to expand...

Nonesense.

Apple, unlike every other PC manufacturer make use of better quality DACs that are capable of clean, 24/96 audio from the get go their drivers are extremely efficient resulting in low latencies. You even get SPDIF In/Out via Toslink right out of the box on every Mac as well.

I get 6-8ms in Logic using the onboard audio card on both my Mini and MacBook for recording as well as realtime softsynth performance with no dropouts to speak of.
 
whats toslink?

and s/pdif are the red and white aux jacks that can send a stereo file right?
 
brzilian said:
Nonesense.

Apple, unlike every other PC manufacturer make use of better quality DACs
Click to expand...

There's this guy from Nigeria that is offering me a bridge in brooklyn and some swampland in florida if I just give him my bank account info...Also this Jim Jones guy is offering free koolaid...
 
In the Apple Logic Forums we've discussed this (Guitar Players) a lot. Imac's (and G5 Desktops in general) really don't need anything between a guitar and the LINE-IN. The Macbook guys claim their signal is low with Guitars going in DIRECT. Mine is GREAT like it is.
 
brzilian said:
Nonesense.

Apple, unlike every other PC manufacturer make use of better quality DACs that are capable of clean, 24/96 audio from the get go their drivers are extremely efficient resulting in low latencies. You even get SPDIF In/Out via Toslink right out of the box on every Mac as well.

I get 6-8ms in Logic using the onboard audio card on both my Mini and MacBook for recording as well as realtime softsynth performance with no dropouts to speak of.
Click to expand...


I'm physically looking at one of the internal io boards from a MacBook Pro right now and its the same Sigmatel chip I see in countless other PC notebooks. There is nothing magical about Macs, sorry. When you're talking latency, thats CoreAudio, not the soundcard, thats better than Windows WDM audio. That I agree with completely.

H2H
Apple VAR Pro Audio and certified repair.
 
I haven't read and don't know much about core audio... how is it different then windows/better?
 
Core can amalgamate multiple cards for one thing. Of course, that will likely ause some other problems, but at least its an option.
 
amalgamate multiple cards? what cards? like sound card (as in audio interfaces?)
 
If you have 2 different interfaces with 2 inputs on each, you can use them both together as a single 4 input device.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top