Truth to computer?

Misifus <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>Would I be better served driving the Truths straight from the computer
>via a Y-chord, through the MobilePre unbalanced outs, or via some other
>interface?

Any of these will work. Try them.

The converters in the MobilePre are nothing to write home about, but they
are probably better than the ones in your computer. But do an A/B comparison
yourself, because it will show you what to be looking for when you are
considering a better converter in the future.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

"Misifus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:6aoui1F38jh7uU1@mid.individual.net...
> I've a Mac G5 twin processor desktop that I'm using as a home DAW with
> Audacity. For monitors, I've purchased a pair of Behringer Truth B2031A
> active monitors. The inputs are either XLR or balanced TRS. The Mac
> has a 1/8 stereo speaker/headphone out. I could just get a Y-chord to
> connect the Truth speakers, but I suspect I may do better with some sort
> of interface. I also have an M-Audio MobilePre USB which I use to
> interface my sound inputs. The M-Audio has two unbalanced 1/4 jacks.
>
> Would I be better served driving the Truths straight from the computer
> via a Y-chord, through the MobilePre unbalanced outs, or via some other
> interface?
>
> -Raf
>

Sure it will work, but I would get a small mixer, perhamps a little bitty
Behringer. Go from Mobile pre to mixer to active speakers... you will be a
happy producer when you can easily adjust the volume.

Tim Perry wrote:
> "Misifus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:6aoui1F38jh7uU1@mid.individual.net...
>> I've a Mac G5 twin processor desktop that I'm using as a home DAW with
>> Audacity. For monitors, I've purchased a pair of Behringer Truth B2031A
>> active monitors. The inputs are either XLR or balanced TRS. The Mac
>> has a 1/8 stereo speaker/headphone out. I could just get a Y-chord to
>> connect the Truth speakers, but I suspect I may do better with some sort
>> of interface. I also have an M-Audio MobilePre USB which I use to
>> interface my sound inputs. The M-Audio has two unbalanced 1/4 jacks.
>>
>> Would I be better served driving the Truths straight from the computer
>> via a Y-chord, through the MobilePre unbalanced outs, or via some other
>> interface?
>>
>> -Raf
>>
>
> Sure it will work, but I would get a small mixer, perhamps a little bitty
> Behringer. Go from Mobile pre to mixer to active speakers... you will be a
> happy producer when you can easily adjust the volume.
>
>
>


As it happens, I've got a Behringer UB802 that might do the trick.
Thanks, I hadn't thought to include that in the chain.

-Raf

--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert
mailto:[email protected]
blog: http://rafsrincon.blogspot.com/
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rafiii
home: http://www.rafandsioux.com

Misifus wrote:

> Would I be better served driving the Truths straight from the computer
> via a Y-chord

I never knew that the notes went that high ! Is that somewhere in the MHz ?

Graham

"Misifus" wrote in ...
> I've a Mac G5 twin processor desktop that I'm using as a home DAW with
> Audacity. For monitors, I've purchased a pair of Behringer Truth B2031A
> active monitors. The inputs are either XLR or balanced TRS. The Mac has
> a 1/8 stereo speaker/headphone out. I could just get a Y-chord to connect
> the Truth speakers, but I suspect I may do better with some sort of
> interface. I also have an M-Audio MobilePre USB which I use to interface
> my sound inputs. The M-Audio has two unbalanced 1/4 jacks.
>
> Would I be better served driving the Truths straight from the computer via
> a Y-chord, through the MobilePre unbalanced outs, or via some other
> interface?

Others have offered good advice. It is quite likely that
most any external sound interface will be better than the
built-in sound stuff in the computer (whether it is Mac
or PC).

If you go looking things up, etc. it might help to know
that a "chord" is a group of musical notes, while a
"cord" is an electrical cable.

Richard Crowley wrote:
>
>
> If you go looking things up, etc. it might help to know
> that a "chord" is a group of musical notes, while a
> "cord" is an electrical cable.
>
>

You know, I know that perfectly well. As an erstwhile English teacher,
I am ashamed.

-Raf

--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert
mailto:[email protected]
blog: http://rafsrincon.blogspot.com/
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rafiii
home: http://www.rafandsioux.com

"Misifus" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]

> I've a Mac G5 twin processor desktop that I'm using as a
> home DAW with Audacity. For monitors, I've purchased a
> pair of Behringer Truth B2031A active monitors. The
> inputs are either XLR or balanced TRS.

Typical production-type I/O.

> The Mac has a 1/8
> stereo speaker/headphone out.

Typical in PC-land.

> I could just get a Y-chord
> to connect the Truth speakers, but I suspect I may do
> better with some sort of interface.

IME the audio interfaces in Macs are not too shabby. IME, they have been
serviceable longer than the ones in PCs which used to be absolutely horrid -
only real world 8 bits, and the like. These days the output side of an I/O
interface in a PC or mac might be within a few dB of being CD quality. IOW
dynamic range in the upper 80s or lower 90s, and frequency response within a
few tenths in the audio range.

The big trick is getting audio out of a PC and into the real world of
production without adding hum. This is complexified by the fact that most
PCs and presumably Macs have grounding-style power plugs.

The simplest-cheapest PC-to-production hook up is probably one of the
classic 1/8" TRS-to-RCA adaptors that everybody who sells cables seems to
have. Add two mono RCA-to-1/4 adaptors, and you have something that can
work. It's so easy that it is worth a try before you go any further. If
there is no audible hum, then you are done. Pudding!

If there is hum, then you are probably destined to have to find a soldering
iron, or something with transformers in it. Interestingly enough, Radio
Shack has a < $20 ground isolator that has good enough trannies in it that
it probably won't hurt the sound. It comes with RCA connectors and I think
even an 1/8" adaptor.

If you don't like transformers, then there is another option - which
involves trying to take advantage of those balanced inputs on the little
Behr speakers. Get two TRS or XLR plugs for the Behr end of the project.
Take a 1/8 TRS - to RCA cable and snip off the RCA plugs and strip back the
conductors about 3/16". Solder the center conductor of each bare cable end
to pin 2 of the XLR or the tip of the TRS. Solder the shield of each bare
end to pin 3 of the XLR or the ring of the TRS.

> I also have an
> M-Audio MobilePre USB which I use to interface my sound
> inputs. The M-Audio has two unbalanced 1/4 jacks.

Might work, might not. I like Scott's advice (as usual) - try it out, and
see if you like the sound.

> Would I be better served driving the Truths straight from
> the computer via a Y-chord, through the MobilePre
> unbalanced outs, or via some other interface?

Hey guy, you tell us that you're in the audio production game. In audio
production, your ears are your most important tools. If you won't trust them
for this, when will you trust them? ;-)