Help choosing audio device

D

dus10

Well-known member
I was just given a pair of Event studio monitors from a friend and didn't realize what they were. I am now looking for the cheapest solution to hook them up to my mac pro to use with final cut. I was told the echo audiofire 2 was the cheapest solution that has balanced outputs and is firewire based. (I was told I need balanced outputs and firewire for optimal sound) Anyone have any suggestions? I believe the monitors are sp8's.

Thanks!
 
Do you not have anything set up for external video monitoring?

Your audio monitors need to take their feed from the same place that your video is being monitored:

- If you're monitoring from the desktop (not recommended), get an adapter cable to feed the Events from your computer's audio output.
- If you have a DV or HDV deck hooked up to your computer, you should have both a video monitor and your Events connected to the deck.
- If you have a Kona or Matrox interface, then your audio and video monitoring should obviously both come from there.

If you are only viewing on your computer desktop and you add a FW-based interface for the Events, you'll notice a latentcy. Audio follows video.
 
I just got my intensity pro card in the mail but have no finished hooking it all up yet. Does this mean I need to send audio out to the LCDtv I am using with that card?
 
Sorry that is not what I meant. The card has hdmi out, as well as rca out for audio. The monitors have xlr and 1/4" in, won't it be innacurate if I just use adapters to make the rca turn into 1/4"? I assumed I needed a peice of audio hardware and couldnt send out through the intensity correctly.
 
dus10 said:
Sorry that is not what I meant. The card has hdmi out, as well as rca out for audio. The monitors have xlr and 1/4" in, won't it be innacurate if I just use adapters to make the rca turn into 1/4"? I assumed I needed a peice of audio hardware and couldnt send out through the intensity correctly.
Click to expand...

The RCA to XLR or 1/4" input is an issue of balanced versus unbalanced circuitry and also the actual signal levels expected by each. RCA is by definition unbalanced, readily adapted to feed the a balanced input such as the XLR. It makes no difference in "accuracy" - the advantage of balanced all the way is relative immunity from electrical noise pickup in the wiring but in most small project studios that's not much of an issue anyway. A more important issue is matching the levels properly. RCA outputs are typically -10dBv consumer line level. XLR inputs are typically +4dBu pro line level inputs. 1/4" could be pro line level or they could be switch selectable - have to read the manual to tell more about that. Which monitors are they?
 
Event sp8 is all I can get off of them. But you are saying I can use the rca out of the card, adapt it to either xlr or 1/4" and then just adjust the levels on the individual monitors to correct the difference in levels? (if I can figure that out that is). This is only going to be used for my final cut editing.
 
The easiest way to make sure that everything is matched cleanly is to get either a monitor management device like the Mackie Big Knob or the Presonus Monitor Station, or to get a small mixer to use for signal routing. That will allow you to connect a -10dBv unbalanced RCA source, then output to your choice of -10dBv u/bal 1/4", or +4dBv balanced 1/4" or XLR. Note that +4dBv balanced 1/4" and XLR are the same signal... only difference is the connector (adapter cables have no impedance-matching issues).

The other benefit to having a small mixer for routing is that the Intensity Pro also has audio inputs, so you can use the mixer to input things like a mic for scratch VO tracks.
 
Ok sounds good. So I can just get a small mixer, plug the rca from the intensity into that, and then go out via 1/4" to each of the monitors. Anything in particular I need to look for in the mixer or avoid? I would like to have the ability to record with this setup, I didnt know that I could go xlr into this and then into the intensity. I wouldnt need any more than 1-2 mic in's and only really the 2 1/4" outs. Anythign above that would be too much for me so if you have any suggestions of lower end mixers that wont cause a problem with my system, it would be greatly appreciated!

thanks so much for your help so far. audio confuses the sh*t out of me
 
dus10 said:
Ok sounds good. So I can just get a small mixer, plug the rca from the intensity into that, and then go out via 1/4" to each of the monitors. Anything in particular I need to look for in the mixer or avoid? I would like to have the ability to record with this setup, I didnt know that I could go xlr into this and then into the intensity. I wouldnt need any more than 1-2 mic in's and only really the 2 1/4" outs. Anythign above that would be too much for me so if you have any suggestions of lower end mixers that wont cause a problem with my system, it would be greatly appreciated!

thanks so much for your help so far. audio confuses the sh*t out of me
Click to expand...

Here's one to consider:
http://www.mackie.com/products/402vlz3/
I have one for my monitor system. Its $99 US

Bernie
 
does anyone out there make a "mackie big knob" style controller for
5.1 surround?
I currently have a digi 003 console, thinking about upgrading protools
to do surround but the 003 is a stereo console.
I do have 8 outputs so I can easily route my channels to the appropriate
outputs and then in turn go to speakers, except the volume knob
on the 003 would only control the 2 stereo speakers and i would have to
manually adjust the others everytime which would of course not be ideal.



C2V said:
The easiest way to make sure that everything is matched cleanly is to get either a monitor management device like the Mackie Big Knob or the Presonus Monitor Station, or to get a small mixer to use for signal routing. That will allow you to connect a -10dBv unbalanced RCA source, then output to your choice of -10dBv u/bal 1/4", or +4dBv balanced 1/4" or XLR. Note that +4dBv balanced 1/4" and XLR are the same signal... only difference is the connector (adapter cables have no impedance-matching issues).

The other benefit to having a small mixer for routing is that the Intensity Pro also has audio inputs, so you can use the mixer to input things like a mic for scratch VO tracks.
Click to expand...
 
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