Best Audio Mixer for Mac Pro

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DP StrangeLove

Well-known member
Can anyone recommend a good audio mixer for the Mac Pro? I primarily use the Mac Pro as my Final Cut Editing system (as well as listening to music), so it would be great to finally get balanced audio. I just got a pair of KRK speakers, which can accept XLR, TRS, and RCA.


Are there any recommended mixers that can work directly with Final Cut Pro?

Here are a couple that I have been curious about...(posted in an earlier thread I started)


http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/duet.php
(looks like a great piece of equipment, but no XLR, or Firewire)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...l_Digital.html
(I would rather have the cheaper 10-channel version, but this has Optical I/O)


http://www.alesis.com/multimix8firewire
(It is looking like this has everything I need, and the biggest bang for the buck)
 
i've been using a mackie 1404 for 8 years.
(no automation/USB interface)

it has plenty of routing options.
(Auxs, Control Room etc)

i just recently started to have some issues with the pots,
but otherwise it has been solid!


shawn
 
Does the Mackie have drivers and mapping? Sorry if this is a newbie question, but does the mapping allow the the mixer to work directly with Soundtrack Pro?

What Mackie mixers would you recommend?
 
Well wait I'm still a little confused here. You want a mixer you can use to keep sources properly routed to your speakers and system or something to actually mix projects in SoundTrack Pro using automation and faders that communicate with the application? And what's the budget. Mackie makes the MCU Pro that works with FCP and STP but it's pricey:

http://www.mackie.com/products/mcupro/index.html

-Noah
 
NoahK said:
Well wait I'm still a little confused here. You want a mixer you can use to keep sources properly routed to your speakers and system or something to actually mix projects in SoundTrack Pro using automation and faders that communicate with the application? And what's the budget. Mackie makes the MCU Pro that works with FCP and STP but it's pricey:

http://www.mackie.com/products/mcupro/index.html

-Noah
Click to expand...
\

Well, previously I just wanted something for my speakers, but then I thought since I am spending $$, I may as well get something that I could have controls with in Soundtrack, but that may be asking too much given a limited budget.

So, If I was just to get something for monitoring, what is the best way to go out from my Mac Pro to a mixer? Should I find something that has firewire, optical, or USB inputs?

And I assume going out from the stock soundcard in the Mac Pro (headphone/speaker Jack) is not the way to go? If I was to use the Mackie 1404 like a previously poster mentioned, wouldn't that be the only option?
 
DP StrangeLove said:
\

Well, previously I just wanted something for my speakers, but then I thought since I am spending $$, I may as well get something that I could have controls with in Soundtrack, but that may be asking too much given a limited budget.

So, If I was just to get something for monitoring, what is the best way to go out from my Mac Pro to a mixer? Should I find something that has firewire, optical, or USB inputs?

And I assume going out from the stock soundcard in the Mac Pro (headphone/speaker Jack) is not the way to go? If I was to use the Mackie 1404 like a previously poster mentioned, wouldn't that be the only option?
Click to expand...

That's actually a nice line level output I would recommend. Then if you have say a firewire camera or an AJA Kona card you use for video editing you would connect to another input on the Mackie. The control surfaces that can drive FCP and STP are not cheap and personally I think you'll rarely use one. Unless you're into 'performing and feeling' a mix live, you can do a much easier and more precise job just drawing rubber band levels with your mouse in STP and FCP. And for that the automated faders are overkill.

-Noah
 
i agree with noah.

unless your are doing ALOT of audio work an automated console isn't really necessary.
(plus they run ALOT more than your standard audio mixer)

it may be more worth-wild to invest in a kick-ass audio or video card.

my 2 cents
: )

shawn
 
NoahK said:
Edirol is fine- but make sure it specifically has drivers and mapping for FCP or you'll be hating life.
...The control surfaces that can drive FCP and STP are not cheap and personally I think you'll rarely use one. Unless you're into 'performing and feeling' a mix live, you can do a much easier and more precise job just drawing rubber band levels with your mouse in STP and FCP. And for that the automated faders are overkill.

Noah
Click to expand...

I agree not needing a mixer to drive the controls in FCP, but then why would I need the mixer to have drivers and mapping? What is Mapping?


NoahK said:
That's actually a nice line level output I would recommend. Then if you have say a firewire camera or an AJA Kona card you use for video editing you would connect to another input on the Mackie.

-Noah
Click to expand...



But if I only have the stock Audio card, not using a camera or Kona (yet) wouldn't it be better to get a mixer that has USB/Firewire/Optical in, then using the 1/8" jack on the Mac Pro?


Also, how is this mixer?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/502483-REG/Yamaha_MW10C_MW10C_10_Channel_USB.html

I found a used one locally.
 
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