Q: Monitoring in surround sound
Discussion
Hello chap,
It all depends on budget & what sort of results you are looking for... As I understand it, you basically have a few choices which vary in cost & simplicity, if you have a G5, 5.1 information is output through the optical port, so, you can either;
a) Hook up an active speaker system with built in decoder & bob's yer uncle. For cheapo solutions have a look at Altec or any of the standard kit a-la PC World. For something a little better look to the likes of Digital Village, Dolphin Music or Studio Spares for some of the studio kit on offer. The Blue Sky Media Desk 5.1 being one of the better budget pro audio solutions.
b) Optical out into any regular home surround sound receiver, receiver into speakers. OK for games & films etc.
c) Optical out into a D/A interface, D/A interface to surround processor, processor to amps, amps to speakers. This is my chosen route, simply because I started with an analogue system & worked my way up from there, it was easier & cheaper than getting rid of my existing kit & starting again. It was also one of the cheapest routes for a pro audio solution.
d) Buy a surround sound card/external processor to go inside/connect to your Mac (A sound card must have at least 6 discreet (real) outputs to monitor 5.1). Budget options include something like the M-Audio Revolution, or the Griffin FireWave (external firewire). If you want something a bit more 'Pro' look at RME Hammerfall, Korg 1212, or some of the Motu solutions (MOTU 324 feeding a MOTU 1296 for eg.) this route gets spendy though, it all depends at what level you need to be monitoring.
Here's a connectivity diagram from M-Audio's website, probably makes things a little clearer than I can explain them:- http://www.maudio.co.uk/images/en/connectivity/big...
HTH.
It all depends on budget & what sort of results you are looking for... As I understand it, you basically have a few choices which vary in cost & simplicity, if you have a G5, 5.1 information is output through the optical port, so, you can either;
a) Hook up an active speaker system with built in decoder & bob's yer uncle. For cheapo solutions have a look at Altec or any of the standard kit a-la PC World. For something a little better look to the likes of Digital Village, Dolphin Music or Studio Spares for some of the studio kit on offer. The Blue Sky Media Desk 5.1 being one of the better budget pro audio solutions.
b) Optical out into any regular home surround sound receiver, receiver into speakers. OK for games & films etc.
c) Optical out into a D/A interface, D/A interface to surround processor, processor to amps, amps to speakers. This is my chosen route, simply because I started with an analogue system & worked my way up from there, it was easier & cheaper than getting rid of my existing kit & starting again. It was also one of the cheapest routes for a pro audio solution.
d) Buy a surround sound card/external processor to go inside/connect to your Mac (A sound card must have at least 6 discreet (real) outputs to monitor 5.1). Budget options include something like the M-Audio Revolution, or the Griffin FireWave (external firewire). If you want something a bit more 'Pro' look at RME Hammerfall, Korg 1212, or some of the Motu solutions (MOTU 324 feeding a MOTU 1296 for eg.) this route gets spendy though, it all depends at what level you need to be monitoring.
Here's a connectivity diagram from M-Audio's website, probably makes things a little clearer than I can explain them:- http://www.maudio.co.uk/images/en/connectivity/big...
HTH.
Edited by Mr Heathen on Saturday 24th November 13:15
Edited by Mr Heathen on Saturday 24th November 13:15
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