Date:Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:30:32 -0400
Reply-To:Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:Re: Software for Mac
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Hi Craig:
For stuff that's not music-master grade of sound quality, I have good results with my M-Audio
MicroTrak II. There are now a host of other devices in that price range and some have more features
so you should shop based on current info. Either EQ or Electronic Musician mag did a rundown of a
bunch of the sub-$500 models in a recent issue, it'll turn up in Google or at their website.
A friend of mine and a fellow listmember who usually doesn't post here has a Tascam flash recorder
that he likes a lot. It was more pricey at the time I bought the M-Audio but I think Tascam has a
new model in the sub-$500 space. Also playing there are Korg, Sony, Olympus, Fostex and others. The
best thing to do is check out the marketing materials and reviews on the whole bunch, decide what
features are important to you and then decide from there.
My wife recently used the M-Audio in her classroom, her students recording "podcasts" about their
summer reading material. I set it to record to 128kbps MP3 with the limiter engaged and was pretty
amazed at the results. Much better quality than I expected, no digiswishes and the limiter was very
effective and didn't pump up the background noise. The cheapo freebie mic worked great, too.
Overall, this was far better quality than any little portable cassette recorder I've ever used. I
would expect better still with an external stereo mic like Richard Hess likes to use for oral
histories and interviews. We were also happy with the battery life once it was fully charged. It
only needed two recharges over a 10-day period in which about 2 hours total of audio were recorded.
The kids did very well with the small unit and non-intimidating mic. We both were pleased with all
aspects of the results.
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Breaden" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 5:28 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Software for Mac
I'm using an Apogee Rosetta 200 converter right now, but I'm
interested in the idea of creating workflow around a separate
recorder, as you mentioned, and then just transferring files. Tom
Fine mentioned this in the thread on oral histories not too long ago
and I've been thinking on it. Any standalone recorders besides Sound
Devices you might recommend for this purpose?
Craig
On Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 5:13 PM, Lou Judson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> In all of this computer audio, Mac or other, keep in mind that the analog to
> digital conversion is vital and key to the resulting sound, far more
> important than what DAW software you use to work with it once in the
> computer. General pro audio wisdom says to have the A/D convertor outside of
> the computer, not internal, and almost never use the computer's internal
> soundcard for the conversion. Though there may be no problem with what is
> inside your particular box.
>
> Since I use Protools 7.4LE and Peak Pro XT, I do my conversions outside the
> box with a seriously upgraded Digi 002 box, or a separate Sound Devices
> recorder. Using the external recorder with its excellent A/D leaves the Mac
> free to work with files at the same time. I personally almost never record
> directly into any computer any more, just copy from flash cards. Way more
> efficient and multitasking that way for me.
>
> Just offering one person's work style, as in Bill's great A/D/A mentioned
> below.
>
> Lou
> Lou Judson • Intuitive Audio
> 415-883-2689
>
>
> On Oct 14, 2008, at 12:51 PM, Malcolm Smith wrote:
>
>> Bias Peak and Soap are for Mac. I've used the pro versions of this
>> software and found them to be excellent. They are fairly expensive though
>> the non pro versions would be less. Go to the Bias web site for more
>> information.
>>
>> Malcolm Smith.
>>
>> On Oct 14, 2008, at 11:58 AM, WIlliam McQuay wrote:
>>
>>> HI Craig,
>>>
>>> We are digitizing our audio collection using Sonic Studio's soundBlade
>>> digital editing software and both Sonic and Prism A/D/A's. We find the
>>> quality of the hardware and software to be very high.
>>>
>>> Bill
>>>
>>>
>>> On Oct 14, 2008, at 1:47 PM, Craig Breaden wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> I'm deciding whether or not to move my audio transfer workflow to Mac.
>>>> Pretty much everything else I do is on Mac, particularly since we do
>>>> a lot with video oral histories. Right now I use both SoundForge and
>>>> WaveLab on a Windows machine, and have considered trying Boot Camp and
>>>> Parallels so I can run them on my Mac. My systems guys warned me off
>>>> of Boot Camp, and so that leaves either Parallels ($79), so I can run
>>>> my software, or getting audio software that will run on a Mac. I can
>>>> always stay with my Windows machine for audio, but it drives me a bit
>>>> bonkers with its wonkiness. Any suggestions or sharing of experiences
>>>> using Parallels would be welcome.
>>>>
>>>> Craig
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Craig Breaden
>>>> Head, Media and Oral History
>>>> Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
>>>> Main Library
>>>> University of Georgia
>>>> Athens, GA 30602-1641
>>>> (p) 706-542-5782
>>>> (f) 706-542-4144
>>>
>>> William McQuay
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>> Supervising Audio Engineer
>>> Macaulay Library
>>> Cornell Lab of Ornithology
>>>
>>> Our Mission:
>>> To interpret and conserve the Earth's biological diversity through
>>> research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
>>>
>>
>
--
Craig Breaden
Head, Media and Oral History
Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
Main Library
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1641
(p) 706-542-5782
(f) 706-542-4144
