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Re: Recording on a Powerbook



On 04-03-05 13.40,  "LeonD" <ld60@rcn.com> wrote:

> After years of being a Windows users, I'm jumping ship and getting a 
>Mac; a
> 15" PowerBook.  

If you are not in extreme hurry about this it might a good idea to hold 
back
for a couple of months. Rumours of "G5 powerbooks" are circulating right
now.

> One of my primary uses it to record digital audio.  I'm
> looking for suggestions on how to connect a mic / guitar to the laptop.

The fastest interface is a PCMCIA, Cardbus interface. I can recommend the
RME Multiface since I'm using this and know from my own experience that 
it's
one of the best interfaces. This one has a break-out box with 8 in, 8 out, 
8
digital Adat or stereo S/PDIF. I'm using it with a PCI card on a tower mac
(G5) and with the Cardbus interface with a IBM pc laptop (will be replaced
by G5 laptop a.s.a.p.).

You could also go for a firewire based audio solution. That's not as fast
but good enough, many say. There are some inexpensive FW units around (410
etc) and a general rule sais the cheaper they come the cheaper they sound.
But if top fidelity is not a must, you have plenty to chose from.
 
> While four inputs would be nice, I could get by with two.  The most I'd 
>like
> to spend is around $500.

> One store I stopped in really pushed Digidesign's
> Mbox.  They said in addition to having quality hardware, the included
> software was great.

Agreed! At least it was two months ago before Apple dropped the price for a
complete Mac studio software set-up, by Logic, with more than 50 % (well to
be true, the price remains but all softsynth instruemnts comes bundled).
 
> So, is the Mbox the way to go or is there something else I should be
> considering?

It depends on what you plan to use the gear for. And if you want to expand
it into the future. That's my main concern against getting a G4  based
lappie now because we may soon want to run many programs together, wiring
them up to each other through OSX.

Best wishes

Per Boysen
-- 
www.boysen.se
www.looproom.com