Audio Speakers with Mac Pro at DVinfo.net

Alden Miller · February 13th, 2007, 05:24 PM

I was looking for a pair of good speakers/audio monitors for use with my soon to have Mac Pro. Turns out, options are limited since the sound comes from the board itself and the PCI Slots can't be accessed from the back. What do the hard core editors like your selves do for speaker/audio monitors?

Thanks

Christopher Witz · February 13th, 2007, 05:34 PM

I really like the tapco powered monitors..... anything with a 5" and above woofer will sound great....

http://www.tapcoworld.com/products/s5/index.html

bose sounds a little altered to me.....

and the 2.1 systems just don't seem right either.

Alden Miller · February 13th, 2007, 11:53 PM

really... no 2.1?
Now here's my dumb question, how do you hook that up to the mac. so you need to pass through anything? What cables do you use?

Thanks

Jim Fields · February 14th, 2007, 12:41 AM

I run a Pioneer Dolby Digital amp with 5 Infinity Reference series speakers and a velodine 12 inch sub. All connected by Optic cable.

So, look into an amp, and your choice of speakers.

Christopher Witz · February 14th, 2007, 06:59 AM

there will be 2 mini plugs on the back of the mac.... one has an icon of a circle with triangles pointing in ( looks like speaker cones from the side ).... that's your line out to an amp.... most powered ( self amp'd ) come with cables. the other plug hole is your mic/line in.

2.1's are ok... and may sound big..... but for proper and accurate reference audio for critical use.... they'r not good.

but I guess you could go with some 2.1's and use a good set of headphones like sony v600's for reference.

do a search through the "hear it now" forums here at dvinfo....

Christopher Witz · February 14th, 2007, 06:59 AM

double post mouse click... sorry

A. J. deLange · February 14th, 2007, 12:40 PM

There are several ways to get audio out of the Mac
1. Through the analogue port. Use with any set of powered or unpowered speakers (amplifier required). This is the only option that relies on the D/A converters in the Mac itself. All the others rely on D/A converters which are part of the connected component
2. USB. Many manufacturers make powered speakers which plug into a USB port. Some of these are pretty good.
3. Optical fiber. Connects to any amplifier or set of speakers with a fiber input port
4. Firewire. Requires Firewire compatible hardware and software.

Option 4 is the only way I know to play back multiple independent channels. While the optical fiber option will allow decoding of 5.1 surround if the connectred device contains a decoder the Firewire option will allow 6 (or more) separate, independent channels with appropriate hardware and DAW. Another advantage of this option is that the devices which allow multiple channel output are usually capable of multi channel input as well.

Alden Miller · February 14th, 2007, 01:33 PM

Ok, last question.. otherwise this will get moved to "Now Hear This". Do most indie filmmakers here have or better yet, need an amp for their editing practices? I realize what an amp does (or I think I do :P), but what advantage does it bring with editing, be it video and/or audio.

Thanks a lot for all your help so far guys

Alden

Jim Fields · February 14th, 2007, 02:41 PM

The only reason I have an amp ans speakers is because I bought new stuff for the living room, and decided to put the old stuff to use. I might be the only person I know of that does it this way.

Jonathan Poritsky · February 14th, 2007, 03:41 PM

For some amazingly sweet sound (and I do mean amazing, you won't even believe the aural quality out of these little guys) check out the Genelec 8020APM monitors:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

You're gonna have to mess around a bit because it only takes XLR ins. I have mine running through a Mackie Big Knob (http://www.mackie.com/products/bigknob/index.html) with a handful of conversion cables. But I must say the audio is incredibly sweet. Another advantage of that Big knob there is I have my deck hooked up separately. And of course, for those lonely nights cutting, the cable box is hooked in as well. Law & Order never sounded so sweet. Happy building.

Bill Davis · February 14th, 2007, 11:57 PM

I don't think there's anything wrong with monitoring sound out of the computer - but for the past seven years, all my FCP editing rigs have set up audio monitoring via firewire AT MY RECORDING DECK.

Typical path is Mac via Firewire to a DSR series DVCAM mastering deck. The RCA audio outputs of that deck feed my mixer (Mackie 1642) which in turn feeds the XLR inputs of a pair of Mackie HR824 monitors.

Theory being you want to monitor AUDIO the same as you monitor VIDEO - at the final output point in the system, as it's going to the deck you're mastering on.

That way, what you hear is what's going to the MASTER, not any stage prior to that that might be OK, even if the sound going to the master is NOT.

FWIW.

Andy Tejral · February 15th, 2007, 02:05 AM

re: The Big Knob

That is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. That is exactly what I'm using a Mackie 1202 for. But this does it so much better. I want one!

Why does it have to be so darn expensive?

Jonathan Poritsky · February 15th, 2007, 08:57 AM

It's big and it's a knob. What's not to be expensive?

Andy Tejral · February 19th, 2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Tejral

I want one!

I bought one! Anybody want to buy a 1202?

February 13th, 2007, 05:24 PM	#1
Alden Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 92	Audio Speakers with Mac Pro I was looking for a pair of good speakers/audio monitors for use with my soon to have Mac Pro. Turns out, options are limited since the sound comes from the board itself and the PCI Slots can't be accessed from the back. What do the hard core editors like your selves do for speaker/audio monitors? Thanks

February 15th, 2007, 02:05 AM	#12
Andy Tejral Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 523	re: The Big Knob That is the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. That is exactly what I'm using a Mackie 1202 for. But this does it so much better. I want one! Why does it have to be so darn expensive? __________________ Andy Tejral Railroad Videographer

February 13th, 2007, 05:34 PM	#2
Christopher Witz Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 591	I really like the tapco powered monitors..... anything with a 5" and above woofer will sound great.... http://www.tapcoworld.com/products/s5/index.html bose sounds a little altered to me..... and the 2.1 systems just don't seem right either.

February 13th, 2007, 11:53 PM	#3
Alden Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 92	really... no 2.1? Now here's my dumb question, how do you hook that up to the mac. so you need to pass through anything? What cables do you use? Thanks

February 14th, 2007, 12:41 AM	#4
Jim Fields Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort Worth Texas Posts: 247	I run a Pioneer Dolby Digital amp with 5 Infinity Reference series speakers and a velodine 12 inch sub. All connected by Optic cable. So, look into an amp, and your choice of speakers.

February 14th, 2007, 06:59 AM	#5
Christopher Witz Major Player Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 591	there will be 2 mini plugs on the back of the mac.... one has an icon of a circle with triangles pointing in ( looks like speaker cones from the side ).... that's your line out to an amp.... most powered ( self amp'd ) come with cables. the other plug hole is your mic/line in. 2.1's are ok... and may sound big..... but for proper and accurate reference audio for critical use.... they'r not good. but I guess you could go with some 2.1's and use a good set of headphones like sony v600's for reference. do a search through the "hear it now" forums here at dvinfo....

February 14th, 2007, 12:40 PM	#7
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	There are several ways to get audio out of the Mac 1. Through the analogue port. Use with any set of powered or unpowered speakers (amplifier required). This is the only option that relies on the D/A converters in the Mac itself. All the others rely on D/A converters which are part of the connected component 2. USB. Many manufacturers make powered speakers which plug into a USB port. Some of these are pretty good. 3. Optical fiber. Connects to any amplifier or set of speakers with a fiber input port 4. Firewire. Requires Firewire compatible hardware and software. Option 4 is the only way I know to play back multiple independent channels. While the optical fiber option will allow decoding of 5.1 surround if the connectred device contains a decoder the Firewire option will allow 6 (or more) separate, independent channels with appropriate hardware and DAW. Another advantage of this option is that the devices which allow multiple channel output are usually capable of multi channel input as well.

February 14th, 2007, 01:33 PM	#8
Alden Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 92	Ok, last question.. otherwise this will get moved to "Now Hear This". Do most indie filmmakers here have or better yet, need an amp for their editing practices? I realize what an amp does (or I think I do :P), but what advantage does it bring with editing, be it video and/or audio. Thanks a lot for all your help so far guys Alden

February 14th, 2007, 02:41 PM	#9
Jim Fields Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort Worth Texas Posts: 247	The only reason I have an amp ans speakers is because I bought new stuff for the living room, and decided to put the old stuff to use. I might be the only person I know of that does it this way.

February 14th, 2007, 03:41 PM	#10
Jonathan Poritsky Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 51	For some amazingly sweet sound (and I do mean amazing, you won't even believe the aural quality out of these little guys) check out the Genelec 8020APM monitors: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search You're gonna have to mess around a bit because it only takes XLR ins. I have mine running through a Mackie Big Knob (http://www.mackie.com/products/bigknob/index.html) with a handful of conversion cables. But I must say the audio is incredibly sweet. Another advantage of that Big knob there is I have my deck hooked up separately. And of course, for those lonely nights cutting, the cable box is hooked in as well. Law & Order never sounded so sweet. Happy building.

February 14th, 2007, 11:57 PM	#11
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	I don't think there's anything wrong with monitoring sound out of the computer - but for the past seven years, all my FCP editing rigs have set up audio monitoring via firewire AT MY RECORDING DECK. Typical path is Mac via Firewire to a DSR series DVCAM mastering deck. The RCA audio outputs of that deck feed my mixer (Mackie 1642) which in turn feeds the XLR inputs of a pair of Mackie HR824 monitors. Theory being you want to monitor AUDIO the same as you monitor VIDEO - at the final output point in the system, as it's going to the deck you're mastering on. That way, what you hear is what's going to the MASTER, not any stage prior to that that might be OK, even if the sound going to the master is NOT. FWIW.

February 15th, 2007, 08:57 AM	#13
Jonathan Poritsky Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 51	It's big and it's a knob. What's not to be expensive?