optical out to amplified monitors
Both the Mac Pro and the JBL 4326 have S/PDIF optical, but how would you feel R/L channels from the Mac to the speakers?
Or would you have go to through an external device or internal card? |
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Are your JBLs connected to a Mac?
I was thinking of using a mini-stereo to 2-XLR cable. Is there a digital option that wouldn't be too expensive? |
I would get an optical to AES converter and run to the left loudspeaker as AES - The loudspeaker has an AES output which you then link to the input of the right loudspeaker.
Theer should be a switches to set which channel the loudspeaker "listens" to as you are sending both left and right to both loudspeakers. I think you can do the same in S-DIF by the looks of it, if you prefer. |
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Philip, I know from your other thread that you are searching for a pair of monitors.
And I can see by this thread, that you are a bit green on the subject. Let me ask a few questions that might help you in the long run. Were you planning to just somehow just hook-up your new monitors to the digital/optical output of your Mac, or do you in fact have a professional style sound card or input/output device? How were you intending to control the volume of the monitors? Do you have a mixing console or Master section? Have you set a budget for this project, which factors in things like monitor stands, xlr cable, volume control device and such, as well as the price of the monitors? Are you trying to match the mix sound from another already established room? Be weary about some of the answers you might get on internet boards. While there are many people out there like Steve House, who are pros & know what they are doing, there are also just as many 14 year olds without the experience who post like they are pros. Good Luck! |
David,
Good questions. I have about 4 years of experience doing independent video projects (corporate and documentary). Until now, I have gotten by with a good pair of headphones. They're plugged directly into the computer, and I don't have other audio equipment. There's really nothing to connect. Audio tracks, music I might add, etc. are all on the Mac and combined in Final Cut. My main reason for considering any investment is that I find it very difficult to anticipate results from speakers by using headphones. If the cost of decent speakers is really just the "down payment" on what I'd need, I'll drop the idea and bungle along as best I can. BTW, I could only wish for the hearing of a 14 y.o. instead of someone in his mid-50s! |
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Nope - I take an analog out from my interface and send it to a Mackie 1642 Aux input. The speakers are connected to the control room outputs of the Mackie desk. The speakers have both XLR and 1/4" analog inputs. A "Y" cable taking a stereo mini and sending it to a pair of 1/4" TS L&R channels would work fine. |
Steve, any reason to prefer 1/4 over XLR?
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David Jones, in his post after your one I quoted above, says some very sensible things there. The main problem with sending digits to the loudspeakers is setting the volume level, as many units have the level control on the back. Although I do have monitors with digital inputs (K+H O110D) I tend to send an analogue signal to them and control via my Grace m902b. (PS - I'm not 14 and have almost 40 years recording experience) ;-) |
Is this an unusual problem? I find it especially difficult with headphones to judge the levels of voice vs background or transitional music. I really speakers to know if the relative sound volumes seem right.
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Getting it right can be a problem. Was watching Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" Columbia episode last night on the Discovery Channel and it was virtually unwatchable because the sound mix was so screwed up - dialog and VO totally lost in the music and FX tracks. |
OK, but is it a common to have more trouble getting the levels right with headphones than speakers?
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