Turntable-izm-shcizm, Interface to record with a G5 Options

[humphz]

Hi Everyone.

In need of any feedback or help conserning Apple G5 and turntables and mixing n stuff?

Been mixing n stuff for as long as ive been breathing, just love music, any type any style. Love it. Period! I have a G5 and I would like to hook up my decks and record me in the mix.

What are the options (on a tight budgeot) audio interface, audio card and software to get the sounds in and recorded and sounded tight.

Any advice would be surely welcome.


Humphz

[lepetitmartien]

You need an interface with RIAA correction included (else you'll need it in between the turntables and the interface). From a quick internet search I found:

- ART microPRE
- XPsound XP-202
- RME HDSP RPM (may need something else to work, not sure)

There may be others… along with using a regular USB interface with an RIAA EQ (ART among other are making them). I don't know any of them, but RME is reliable and of top quality. But as all RME products, I can't decipher the website to know if something else is needed, they are rather confusing (it's an hammerfal product, does it need the PCI/cardbus?). Other products are just out so no news altogether.

[abcdaniel]

Do you want to plug the turntables' audio output straight into the audio interface, or do you want to plug the output from your mixer into the audio interface?
This makes a whole lot of difference.

if it's the mixer output we're talking about, you can buy pretty much any audio interface ever. This one is definetly overkill for what you are asking for, Presonus Firebox, but it seems sweet, you can evolve with it and it comes with software, Cubase, included. i haven't used it myself, but it seems nice indeed. Otherwise go for cheap audio interface with software included.

Tell us if you're plugging the turntables or the mixer into the audio interface!

[butterrug]

Humphz,

Same here as I started with DJ'ing weddings at 14 and had a set of decks ever since. I'm 34 now.

As you want to record a line level source, out of the record output from your mixer if you have one. As that will send a seperate signal to the recording source. That isn't effected by listening volume playback and in my experience. Reduces less clipping when recording digitally. You can use the main rca's out or monitor rca's. If going down this route, then find your loudest track/crossfade mix and work back from there. You're trying to eliminate clipping during recording as you will soon discover. I have a powerbook and have balanced xlr outputs from my mixer but all you need is a stereo rca to 1/8 jack lead, you know the score. You must have a pair somewhere! Plug that straight into your line input on your G5. Once this is done, you could use Garageband but I have been using a program for chopping up loops for use in Recycle, Reason and Cubase, transferring vinyl to mp3 for use in Finalscratch and sending tunes to mobile via bluetooth. It's called Audacity, available on here. Download and install it, open up Audacity, hit the record button and start your turntables and off you go. It litterally is that easy and free. As you say you're on a tight budget.

When funds allow, buy Finalscratch 2, as I've transfered all my cd's and vinyl to mp3, using Audacity. Finalscratch has the facility to output straight to wav file, in 2 sections. That have to be stitched together, but it's easy.

Now you have Audacity, if you drop one mix to pause the record. Put the track back to a beat change and start again. Or you could paste the new mix in, if you get really tricky. You can also add effects to the mix, one effect you should use is Normalise. This will thicken up the sound and have it sounding more like a pro cd.

Happy mixing!

Ste

This post has been edited by butterrug: Sun 21 Aug 2005, 00:40

[abcdaniel]

Yeah, obviously you should try to connect your mixer directly to your G5 and check that quality out. My bad. Audacity seems nice too. Sorry, my last post was probably a bit snobbish Instead of paying 450$ for a firebox, you could pay 10$ for a stereo rca to stereo 1/8 jaclk lead, haha.
Sorry, but the firebox have been on my mind for a while It is cool, and will probably deliver somewhat better sound quality than built-in, but will not be a big deal, I guess. Good luck!

[butterrug]

abcdaniel/humphz

not that you're a bad man, dan! just blinded by the firebox. by the sounds of it............!

when funds allow humphz, try a pair of behringer Truth B2031A's hooked up to either your mixer via pair of balanced xlr's ideally, or main/monitor out, as you will need volume control via master on mixer. or i just hook them up to laptop via h/phone socket and with reason loaded and in full swing, wow, sounds to make your toes curl. i'm not shitting you. i heard a pair in a studio in manchester on a saturday, had a pair on the monday! i paid £299 but i wanted to pick 'em up. they let me take demo's home until mine came! ace! but they're on t'inernet for £267! appartently they're mackie copies but i just think they sound the bolloxs!

check 'em out for your next purchase, you will not be disappointed as they can grow with your set-up!

PEACE Y'ALL

This post has been edited by butterrug: Tue 23 Aug 2005, 14:07