Mackie 1202 To G5 Tower, Hook-up Options

[Macdicker]

I am a graphic designer by trade and dabble in music on the side... I just purchased a new G5.. what is the best way to hookup a Mackie 1202 to the G5.. I see there is a 1/8" audio and Optical audio in... please help me before I waste alot of time and money... thanks in advance... Macdicker

[CanadaRAM]

It would help to know what you intend to do and what other gear and software you may have, other than a mixer and a G5.

Broadly speaking: You need software for the G5 to record audio. If all you want is to convert, say, a cassette tape to a computer file, the audio input of the G5, plus a bit of shareware (Check www.versiontracker.com) and a 2 RCA to 1 stereo miniplug will work fine.

If you want to start building songs however, you will want some more comprehensive software: Apple Garageband, one of the Apple Logic series or one of the Steinberg Cubase series.

You may also want a higher quality audio interface than the Mac's input jack. Starting with the Griffin iMic at $50, they go up tio a couple of thousand depending on the number of input-output channels, the quality and the features. These come with either USB, Firewire or PCI card connection. Brand names to look at include Edirol, M-Audio, ESI, MOTU, Echo, RME.

Do you have a MIDI keyboard? (MIDI is a control protocol that passes performance information, not audio, between keyboards and computers) Do you want to start sequencing or utilizing sampled or synthesized sounds generated by your computer? Then you'll be wanting a MIDI interface for the computer. Plus perhaps sampler and soft-synthesizer software.

Do you want to create dance music based on loops and samples? You may be looking at more performance oriented software like Reason or Abelton Live.

Get yourself some magazines and start reading. Future Music, Keyboard, Home and Studio Recording, Sound on Sound, Computer Music - all of these titles have reviews, and how-to articles.

Thanks
Trevor
CanadaRAM.com

[Macdicker]

Thanks for your response Trevor...

>>>>It would help to know what you intend to do and what other gear and software you may have, other than a mixer and a G5.<<<<

Well.. Garageband came with this rig .. so I was hoping I could do something with this...I don't have any other *gear* save for the Mackie 1202, some basic mics, etc

Can you get decent results going out of the Mackie with 2 RCA to 1 stereo miniplug.. when you are recording instruments/voices?

thanks again for all your help.. I'll check out some of the magazines you suggested.. Best... Macdicker