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View Full Version : Mic Pre into Mac G5?

JubileeMan 2555
09-06-2007, 03:11 PM
My band is over, and I sold the PA gear. I ended using a good chunck of the change on some decent mics (akg3000 and a black e609) as well as a FMR RNP Mic-preamp.

I have a fostex digital 8-track that I'm planning to use to record, but figured I'd ask you guys if you think there might be an easy/cheap way to get my mic-pre to talk directly to my G5... using anything from garageband to cubase to record instead. is there a cheap Firewire adaptor/hookup?

Thanks!!
GaryNattrass
09-06-2007, 03:26 PM
Which fostex 8 track do you have? if it is a D80 then you can get a behringer ada8000 that will give you 8 mic pre's straight into it via ADAT for low $$$.

Keep it simple and then get a yamaha USB mixer for monitoring and mixdown to your mac.

Have had a look at your mic pre and OK you will be able to hook in up to an m-box or other interface but you may be better looking at more integration of you fostex with an interface that will connect via ADAT if it is a D80.

The digidesign 002 is really good value at the moment and will give you a lot of interface for around $600
JubileeMan 2555
09-06-2007, 03:35 PM
Which fostex 8 track do you have? if it is a D80 then you can get a behringer ada8000 that will give you 8 mic pre's straight into it via ADAT for low $$$.

Keep it simple and then get a yamaha USB mixer for monitoring and mixdown to your mac.

Sorry I dont know your mic pre you have but other people will advise you better than me.

The FMR RNP preamp is a simple device. Its only got 1/4" outs in the back with XLR inputs for the mics.

The fostex I have is the MR-8.

I'm assuming theres got to be something that will take the signal from my RNP preamp and have it go into my mac.
thesedaze
09-06-2007, 04:16 PM
What you're looking for is something to transfer the analog signal into digital....known as an A/D converter...

In order for you to hear that same signal back through monitors, you'll need a D/A converter which takes the digital form and pumps it back out to your monitors.

The cheapest thing to do would probably be to buy a small interface that already has 2 channels of built in pre's, line ins, a/d and d/a converters...Then you run line out from the RNP into the line in on the interface....

Interface would hookup via Firewire to your mac.

So the G5 thing...Is that the computer you already had? I remember you bringing it up before.
GaryNattrass
09-07-2007, 02:27 AM
The FMR RNP preamp is a simple device. Its only got 1/4" outs in the back with XLR inputs for the mics.

The fostex I have is the MR-8.

I'm assuming theres got to be something that will take the signal from my RNP preamp and have it go into my mac.

You can keep it very simple by just getting a quarter inch adapter to the line input to your G5, you will then be able to use the mic pre straight into garage band.
JubileeMan 2555
09-07-2007, 10:28 AM
You can keep it very simple by just getting a quarter inch adapter to the line input to your G5, you will then be able to use the mic pre straight into garage band.

What "line input"? You mean the firewire input?
GaryNattrass
09-07-2007, 10:51 AM
What "line input"? You mean the firewire input?

No! does your G5 not have a std sound card with a line and mic input? You could use this to et audio from your pre amp into the G5 and then into garage band.
JubileeMan 2555
09-07-2007, 10:55 AM
No! does your G5 not have a std sound card with a line and mic input? You could use this to et audio from your pre amp into the G5 and then into garage band.

oh...right. You mean the 1/8" jack in the back. Well... my preamp sends 2 1/4" outs for each mic. Wouldn't it become a big bottle neck to go form that to one 1/8" jack? I don't want it to sound like poo.
thesedaze
09-07-2007, 12:08 PM
The mic in and line in on your mac are both different impedances so other than the fact that you'd be downgrading by going through the computer's soundcard, the levels will be a bit off.

You're best bet is to just go for an interface.
JubileeMan 2555
09-07-2007, 12:24 PM
...You're best bet is to just go for an interface.

What might you recommend?
Hipster Dofus
09-07-2007, 06:15 PM
What might you recommend?

I just bought a PreSonus Firebox for my new iMac. I have only "just" started with it, so the learning curve is a bit steep. I can't really recomend it yet, as I have only a few hours with it, but it was easy to get going with the mac..

I have a SM58 beta, a SM57, and an e609 silver to work with so far. I hope I can get some results in a few weeks.
GaryNattrass
09-08-2007, 03:33 AM
oh...right. You mean the 1/8" jack in the back. Well... my preamp sends 2 1/4" outs for each mic. Wouldn't it become a big bottle neck to go form that to one 1/8" jack? I don't want it to sound like poo.

Even with an adaptor you will not lose much going from a quarter inch adapter to the small connector on the back of the G5 bear in mind this is at line level from your pre amp so there will be marginal loss so little in fact that you would never hear the difference in most situations. This by far the easiest and cheapest solution as you requested in your first post and will allow you to get recording with garage band very quickly.

I do this all the time and if you just want a simple solution then it will save you a few $$$ on an interface.

Yes you can go for an interface as a better solution and my recommendation would be an M-box which will give you Pro Tools too.
shigihara
09-08-2007, 06:58 PM
What might you recommend?


this is promising:

http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/duet.php
thesedaze
09-09-2007, 01:16 PM
Before you go out spending an arm and a leg, make sure everything is compatable with your system...G5 is a little out dated, although I have seen them work in recording situations (granted, it was on a ProTools HD rig, so the memory and processing wasn't as much of an issue).
JubileeMan 2555
09-10-2007, 12:23 PM
Before you go out spending an arm and a leg, make sure everything is compatable with your system...G5 is a little out dated, although I have seen them work in recording situations (granted, it was on a ProTools HD rig, so the memory and processing wasn't as much of an issue).

How can a Power Mac G5 be out dated? I can understand maybe a g3 or g4, but seriously how can a G5 not be compatible with anything right now?
Mondoslug
09-10-2007, 12:31 PM
I just bought a PreSonus Firebox for my new iMac. I have only "just" started with it, so the learning curve is a bit steep. I can't really recomend it yet, as I have only a few hours with it, but it was easy to get going with the mac..

I have a SM58 beta, a SM57, and an e609 silver to work with so far. I hope I can get some results in a few weeks.
What he said...the Firebox would probably do ya. You could use the onboard pres or put your RNP in the line inputs in back. It probably comes with an LE version of Cubase or something.
thesedaze
09-10-2007, 12:52 PM
How can a Power Mac G5 be out dated? I can understand maybe a g3 or g4, but seriously how can a G5 not be compatible with anything right now?

I suppose it depends on the Frontside Bus speed, processor, and memory, but they were retired in '06...

A beefed up one would suffice, but I'm not sure about anything stock. Make sure your software is up to date.
ReddRanger
09-11-2007, 02:56 PM
I suppose it depends on the Frontside Bus speed, processor, and memory, but they were retired in '06...

A beefed up one would suffice, but I'm not sure about anything stock. Make sure your software is up to date.

It's not so much the speed to watch out for, it's the jump to Intel processors. The G5 was replaced with the new Intel based Mac Pro. So just keep compatibility in mind.

Really though, a nicely set up G5 is a great machine and will last you forever. Once you get a good set up, leave it alone and don't upgrade it all the time. I still use my G4 from 2001 (upgraded to 10.3...) with Pro Tools and it runs great.