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What soundcard to use these days with a new MacBook?

  • 04-09-2014 3:28pm
    #1
    parc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 792 ✭✭✭


    Hi, getting back into production after quite a few years away from it

    I have a MacBook with USB 3.0 and Thunderbold connections. Not sure if there's many audio interfaces out there that are compatible with those?

    Is a USB 2.0 one the way to go

    I'm thinking something from m-audio or along those lines? All I'd be using is a guitar (possibly with guitar rig), and a midi keyboard. Cheers

    Actually that's another question. Does USB 3.0 support a midi keyboard?


Comments

  • #2
    Dravokivich
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Music Moderators, Politics Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,360 CMod ✭✭✭✭Dravokivich


    Its more so the device would need an input. Notnthe connection type for it to the laptop.

    Thunderbolt isn't really taking much of a run yet. Anything I've read referred to using adaptors to connect to thunderbolt.


  • #3
    TroutMask
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 743 ✭✭✭TroutMask


    I use Prism but with FW and not with ThunderBolt - though they make a ThunderBolt version too. Thunderbolt seems to be off to a slow start, then FireWire got off to slow start as well back in the day.

    MIDI - USB interfaces should comply with USB 3 (that is, the Mac's USB 3 input should toggle into USB 2 (or 1!!) mode if such a device is connected AFAIK). Certainly had no problems here with USB 3 and MIDI stuff - and I have a lot of it.


  • #4
    jiltloop
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,216 ✭✭✭jiltloop


    All USB3.0 connections on laptops should be backwards compatible with USB1.0 and 2.0, however when I got my laptop (PC not Mac), it had 2 USB3.0 connections and a USB2.0 connection and for some reason my audio interface was buggy with USB3.0 but worked fine with the USB2.00 connection. But again this is with PC and may only be an issue with my particular laptop or interface (AKAI EIE Pro).


  • #5
    parc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 792 ✭✭✭parc


    Cool, but is there any decent external sound cards out there that would be a good option?


  • #6
    keithkk16
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 909 ✭✭✭keithkk16


    What's wrong with the soundcard already built into the macbook? You just looking for more inputs and outputs?


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  • #7
    paulo6891
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 352 ✭✭paulo6891


    keithkk16 wrote: »
    What's wrong with the soundcard already built into the macbook? You just looking for more inputs and outputs?

    It's not professional quality

    Try Apogee (if you want good converters and one very good preamp), the one is cheap, the duet is a bit more expensive, but the Apogee stuff is designed just for macs.


  • #8
    Sham Squire
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 501 ✭✭✭Sham Squire


    I'd recommend the Focusrite Forte. Getting lots of good feedback and is a good bit cheaper than the apogee duet but comes out (slightly) on top in two prominant reviews recently. Sound on Sound and this guy on youtube (who is usually very good and funny too) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZldqcsY_dOo


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