Topic: Laptop (ibook) Taping.

[Rick]

I was just about to buy a ibook from the apple store, but reading through some of the old post it got me scared I've never used a mac before so all the different OS and file types have me confused. Maybe someone can help me out with a few questions....

1. Is the UA-5 > ibook 800 error free for doing 24/96? or will I have to do 24/48?
2. What file format does not have a file size limitation?
3. Should I do all editing, tracking and flac/shn conversion on the ibook? or can it be done on my desk top PC. (I'm assuming I would have to convert the files to .wav format for the PC?)

Anything else I should know about since I've never used a mac before?

[John Kelly]

1.  I have successfully taped with a UA-5 in 24/96 before. (iBook 700)
2.  SDII and WAV64 do not have the 2 gig limit.
3.  I edit everything on the iBook, although you could move it to a PC if you wanted to.
4.  Make sure you try it out in the store to see if you like it at all.  Don't just buy one and find out later you don't like it.

[Chris K]

get a refurb from the apple store or check out www.dealmac.com for newer old stock apples. many good deals there!

if using the ua-5, you will probably be using a usb cable, and some people have success with 24/96...others don't. usb has not been proven reliable for 24/96.

aif (audio information file) is the standard audio file for macintosh, and it has a 2gb limit, as does wav. this 2gb limit is a problem if trying to record 24/96 as an hour show/set will probably bring you over 2gb. i believe only the discontinued tcelectronics/works spark xl 2.8 (and above) has a file format that will allow recorded files over 2gb...i think its wav64 or SDII.

you can do all the editing, tracking, and flac/shn conversion on the mac, and all the audio editing programs that i have used have an option to save in aif or wav. get xAct and you can convert aif to shn or flac without having to save to wav.

anyything else to know about owning a mac...yeah...once you go mac you never go back! you will be pleased!

[Rick]

Yeah I'm going to head over to my local mac store to try them out

How do you go from SDII/WAV64 to FLAC/SHN ?

[Chris K]

Yeah I'm going to head over to my local mac store to try them out

good idea!!! kick the tires around!

How do you go from SDII/WAV64 to FLAC/SHN ?

i've never done it, but assume you would first separate into tracks and then batch convert to aif/wav for conversion to shn/flac.

john kelly may be able to help you out better...but that's how i would do it

[Rick]

Thanks for all the help... Ok things are clearing up...

do you think 128 ram is enough? I saw a good deal on a 700/128/20GB/CD-RW-DVD refurb.

[kindms]

If you are running a Mac I would suggest the Metric halo ULN vs. the UA-5. I have been wanting to run 1 butthey are Mac only. It has all the bells and wistles that the UA-% with the addition of AES in. So you could run the AES out of a V3 right in to the thing (drool)

It really seems like a solid unit. I just wish they would make PC drivers for it

[Rick]

If you are running a Mac I would suggest the Metric halo ULN vs. the UA-5. I have been wanting to run 1 butthey are Mac only. It has all the bells and wistles that the UA-% with the addition of AES in. So you could run the AES out of a V3 right in to the thing (drool)

It really seems like a solid unit. I just wish they would make PC drivers for it

I already have the UA-5 though. I'll keep it in mind for an upgrade though! Thanks!

[John Kelly]

If you are running a Mac I would suggest the Metric halo ULN vs. the UA-5. I have been wanting to run 1 butthey are Mac only. It has all the bells and wistles that the UA-% with the addition of AES in. So you could run the AES out of a V3 right in to the thing (drool)

It really seems like a solid unit. I just wish they would make PC drivers for it

Yeah, if you want an oversized unit that is 5x the price.

If you're spending that much you may as well get a V3 and a Firewire Audiophile.

[scb]

get more than 128 megs.  buy a 512 stick for under 100 bucks from a 3rd party and you're golden

[MattD]

Yeah, if you want an oversized unit that is 5x the price.

Hehe ... of course, for the guinea pigs (me, for one), it was probably less than the mod UA-5. What do they go for now? I've had 24/96 success since I started using it. I do agree that it's too big ... but it's also a pretty good D/A converter and headphone amp, so I can also use it in my playback system.

[John Kelly]

I thought the ULN-2s were around $1200 or so.  I could be wrong though...

[MattD]

As an original MIO owner, I got an offer from Metric Halo to preorder the ULN-2 when it was first announced. All who owned an MIO and ordered by a certain date were allowed to purchase the ULN-2 at $500. The only stipulation was that it cannot be sold for another 2 years. Still, I have heard of people selling theirs as "long-term borrowing arrangements with deposits."

[nic]

SDII *DOES* have the 2gb size limit.
SDII(extended) does not.

you will definately want more than 128 ram. dont buy memory from Apple...buy from 3rd party such as crucual, etc...exact same memory for half the price

[John Kelly]

SDII *DOES* have the 2gb size limit.
SDII(extended) does not.

you will definately want more than 128 ram. dont buy memory from Apple...buy from 3rd party such as crucual, etc...exact same memory for half the price

Well the SDII in Spark doesn't have the limit.  It must be "extended" but it is not labeled as such.