OT: External sound card for MAC
Moderators: Peter Thomsen, miker
- gogreen
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2016 12:50 am
- Finale Version: Finale 27.4.1.146
- Operating System: Mac
In the next 2-3 months, I will be changing from a Windows environment to Mac--mainly an iMac and a MacBook Pro. I'm looking for suggestions for an external sound card that I'll use mainly for playback in Finale with Garritan libraries. In Windows I've been using an M-Audio 2496 sound card, which has served me well for years. I'm looking for something akin to that or better. Thanks.
Art
Finale 27
NotePerformer, GPO5, COMB2
MacOS Ventura 13.6.6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRHBTHT/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=%22Arthur+J.+Michaels%22&qid=1593016536&sr=8-2
Finale 27
NotePerformer, GPO5, COMB2
MacOS Ventura 13.6.6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRHBTHT/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=%22Arthur+J.+Michaels%22&qid=1593016536&sr=8-2
-
- Posts: 1307
- Joined: Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:59 am
- Finale Version: Finale 27
- Operating System: Mac
I like Roland / Edirol stuff. The Focusrite Scarlett range gets good press, too. I've found M-Audio to be slow to update drivers and not great hardware quality.
What sort of usage are you looking for: just external output to an amp and speakers, or something more?
You can buy 'direct' USB (or even Bluetooth) speakers, which might be cheaper and offer an all-in-one package. You can also configure MacOS to use multiple sound outputs at once!
What sort of usage are you looking for: just external output to an amp and speakers, or something more?
You can buy 'direct' USB (or even Bluetooth) speakers, which might be cheaper and offer an all-in-one package. You can also configure MacOS to use multiple sound outputs at once!
- gogreen
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2016 12:50 am
- Finale Version: Finale 27.4.1.146
- Operating System: Mac
Just direct output to my M-Audio AV-40 monitors.What sort of usage are you looking for: just external output to an amp and speakers, or something more?
Art
Finale 27
NotePerformer, GPO5, COMB2
MacOS Ventura 13.6.6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRHBTHT/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=%22Arthur+J.+Michaels%22&qid=1593016536&sr=8-2
Finale 27
NotePerformer, GPO5, COMB2
MacOS Ventura 13.6.6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BRHBTHT/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=%22Arthur+J.+Michaels%22&qid=1593016536&sr=8-2
- MikeHalloran
- Posts: 711
- Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 2:56 am
- Finale Version: 27
- Operating System: Mac
If you’re not also doing input, a simple monitor controller will work.
https://www.sweetwater.com/c417--Studio ... anagement/
The powered units are more flexible and have a hotter output but the passive units get the job done. I use the Radial MC3 but the new Mackies are great.
If working in a DAW, you need an interface. I like the MOTU units but you have a ton of choices.
Working with a monitor controller is still a good idea for checking mono compatibility and having a volume knob and a dim switch without messing with your mix.
https://www.sweetwater.com/c417--Studio ... anagement/
The powered units are more flexible and have a hotter output but the passive units get the job done. I use the Radial MC3 but the new Mackies are great.
If working in a DAW, you need an interface. I like the MOTU units but you have a ton of choices.
Working with a monitor controller is still a good idea for checking mono compatibility and having a volume knob and a dim switch without messing with your mix.
Mike Halloran
Finale 27.4.1, SmartScore X2 Pro, GPO5 & World Instruments
MacOS Ventura 14.5 (public beta); 2023 Studio M2 Ultra, 192G RAM, 8TB; 2021 MBAir M1
NotePerformer4, Dorico 5, Overture, Notion 6, DP 11, Logic Pro
Finale 27.4.1, SmartScore X2 Pro, GPO5 & World Instruments
MacOS Ventura 14.5 (public beta); 2023 Studio M2 Ultra, 192G RAM, 8TB; 2021 MBAir M1
NotePerformer4, Dorico 5, Overture, Notion 6, DP 11, Logic Pro