Comments for Pro Audio, Music & Mac Blog

Comment on Can Michael Dell Pull A Steve Jobs? by The Apple Blog Community

The Apple Blog Community — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:43:43 +0000

Can Michael Dell Pull A Steve Jobs?…

He’s maybe the closest thing in the PC world, isn’t he?

It’s just too sweet to laugh at how W R O N G Michael Dell got it way back when Jobs was still iCEO.

I blogged about it more here:

Ca……

Comment on Does MOTU DP 5.1.1 Update Fix Bounce To Disc Dropouts? by LoudMac

LoudMac — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 03:03:01 +0000

Minimum System Requirements: Digital Performer 5.11 requires OS 10.4 (Tiger) or later to install and run. MOTU recommends OS 10.4.4 or higher.

OK, here’s a very nice improvement on the somewhat klunky VI implementation in DP: There is a new option in the Project > Add Instrument Tracks menu for adding multiple instruments.

You can then choose how many of the selected instrument to add, how many MIDI Tracks to add that will be assigned to the selected instrument, and whether or not the new Instrument and MIDI Tracks get added to a new Track Folder.

Sweet…

But here’s the kicker for me, as well as anyone who bounces around with their projects from rig to rig:

There are two new options in the Bundles Window->Mini-Menu named Import Bundles… and Export Bundles….

YES!

Export Bundles allows you to export all audio bundles for use in any Digital Performer project.

Import Bundles allows you to import saved bundles for use in any Digital Performer project.

Comment on M-Audio’s New ProFire Lightbridge 32 Channel Lightpipe Firewire Interface by LoudMac

LoudMac — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 23:01:15 +0000

I think 32 channels falls squarely inside the available bandwidth of a Firewire 400 buss.

BUT, and this is a very significant caveat IMO, if you’re running an external hard drive on that same buss, or a DSP effects box like the Liquid Mix, Powercore, or Duende, fat chance says I…

And I’m right there with you on the build-quality of M-Audio anything (especially drivers).

Comment on M-Audio’s New ProFire Lightbridge 32 Channel Lightpipe Firewire Interface by larraga

larraga — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 19:13:25 +0000

I really want something just like this to connect a Mackie d8B to a G5 for use with Digital Performer, but wonder if one Firewire 400 connection can handle 32 channels of audio bandwidth. That and M-Audio build quality has me worried somewhat.

Comment on In-friggin-credible acoustic guitar tapping & harmonics by LoudMac

LoudMac — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 03:29:37 +0000

Hey Chris…

There are some other youtube vids of Eric Mongrain if you do a search.

Brian

Comment on In-friggin-credible acoustic guitar tapping & harmonics by chrisyale

chrisyale — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 23:45:55 +0000

Dude,
That IS amazing.
Take care LoudMac!
Chris

Comment on PowerBook G4 & iBook G4 Battery Exchange Program by LoudMac

LoudMac — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 01:13:44 +0000

Well, I received my new replacement PowerBook G4 battery this week via DHL.

It came with instructions and prepaid shipping label to return the old battery. Extremely smooth process all the way around.

Apple wants the recalled batteries out of the marketplace so I’ll swap with them. Thanks for the free battery, Apple (Sony)…

Comment on MOTU DP 5.1 Universal Binary (Intel Mac) Update Now Shipping by LoudMac

LoudMac — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 14:20:36 +0000

Well, that’s a good question because my iMac G5 has a pretty noisy fan. I don’t know how much the intel-iMacs have improved the fan noise, but clearly the Mini will be pretty quiet.

Unfortunately, that silence comes at the expense of horsepower. The mini’s will certainly have less oomph for plug-ins and track counts. Bear in mind, everyone’s subjective needs are different. If you don’t record a TON of tracks or use many VI’s, then it may be perfectly fine. If you track live drums and instruments or love to pile on the plugs (guilty as charged) you may want to forego the Mini.

Comment on MOTU DP 5.1 Universal Binary (Intel Mac) Update Now Shipping by J Michael

J Michael — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 17:04:28 +0000

Greetings? Has anyone yet evaluated DP 5.1 with the new mac mini core duo 1.83 ghz (preferably with 2 gig ram)? Trying to weight upgrading to a super quiet mini versus springing for an imac core duo 2. For use in a home project studio where the noise of an iMac might be heard during miked recording. Opinions most welcome. Thanks.

Comment on TASCAM DM-3200 as front end for Digital Performer? by LoudMac

LoudMac — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:55:31 +0000

From MOTU-MAC:

Set one up for a client using a Quad G5 & 4.61

NOT the most userfriendly machine I’ve encountered, it’s very powerful, but also very deep and takes quite a bit of setting up initially (not helped by the fact that the manual is terribly engineer-speak).

Works as a mostly solid 16 channel “Mackie Control” as well (w touch sensitive faders)

using it for 14 live keyboard inputs, 2 mics “hardwired” into DP

8 stereo submixes from DP returned into 2nd layer, 3rd layer for FX returns / CD input (has a built in SampleRate converter for 2ch input)

some external connected via added Behringer ADA8000 for extra in/out

Routing is very flexible and nice how the pans become controls for the eq and dynamics like an extended soundcraft 328

Sounds MUCH better than the ProTools24 with 888/24 into a TridentDesk it replaces
-as the studio-owner mentions every time I show up there…

A bit quirky, very sensitive to the correct power-up sequence, occasionally the FW interface causes little clicks and ever so often the “MackieControl” stops working but it’s the 1st release of the driver, so I’m hopeful only wish it had the remote channel names on the fader

I much prefer the sound of AD, DA, eq, gate & compressor to what Yamaha give in their “old” range (haven’t played with any of their 96k offerings yet) and the built in reverb is ok so in that price range I would definitely do it again

as usual YMMV