VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[todd ellis]

my audio rig (2008 hackintosh) has been a rock-solid set up and i am sad to see that support is nil, she won't even open some web pages, and it looks like it's time to set her free.

very simple current set-up:
aforementioned hackintosh
A/D converter: motu 896HD (firewire)
preamp: SP VTB1-V
sennheiser 416

it seems like a lot has happened in technology in the past 12 or 13 years ...

i'm likely going with a mac mini M1 as a replacement and am looking for suggestions for A/D converter & preamp (if i need to change from the SP, which i like).

simple, low-noise chain. i'm not bright enough to make it complicated.


thoughts?
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[FinMac]

Maybe you should get an Audient ID22.

The converters are excellent, and the mic pres are very good. But what is very nice is that you can bypass the micpres and use that micpre that you prefer, and enjoy those great converters.

If your Mac mini is of the right age, you can feed a digital signal using Toslink cable into the Mac mini. That is, if your Mac mini still has the digital input.
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www.scottsvoiceover.com - An American voice in Finland

"If you want to get to the top, you have to get off your bottom". (Unknown)

[Bruce]

This suggestion is not so much for audio as it is for flexibility and compactness. It’s an add on to the Mini that gives you more ports and a spot for an SD built in. There are several brands but here’s the one I’m going to use:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QHN3229/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

[Bish]

Everyone has their favourite... Apogee, UA... some even like Focusrite (although I can't fathom why) but I will echo the love for the Audient iD22 (or the iD14 if you don't need the extensive i/o flexibility). The ability to bypass the preamps is nice (if you need/want to for any reason). The preamps are clean and don't colour anything. The optical input/output is nice to have. I actually have an eight port ADAT expander for when I'm in messing round with music stuff mode.

To be fair, I will add that after about five years mine developed a problem... but the issue was easy to diagnose, and the component itself was simple to identify and replace (a bulging capacitor). Was it bad that it failed... or good that it was repairable at component level? Personally, I hate disposable technology that's all impenetrable surface mount stuff, so I was really happy it was repairable.

416 - iD22 - Mac... simple and quiet. Just like mine, except that I have a Radial GoldDigger (mic selector) between the 416 and the iD22 because I use the same setup for a utility desk mic.

The only issue may be that the software front end for the Audient seems to be a little clunky on a PC (I've been told). It seems that it was written for a Mac (where it is absolutely fine), and ported to the PC, where everything is so dependent on the hodge-podge of Windows, hardware manufacturer, and other third-party drivers etc. (sorry, I couldn't resist).
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

[todd ellis]

thanks guys! bruce, i have a similar gizmo for my powerbook and like it a lot.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[todd ellis]

update:

nearly a year ago i started the hunt for a new rig & i finally pushed the button.

i am replacing a 4 foot rack fullastuff with:

mac studio max
audient iD 14 MKII (per finmac/peter's recommendation)


i already have a blues band buyer for my pair of SP VTB1 preamps & my 4' rolling rack!

Motu 896HD will go on ebay
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Deirdre]

It's a win! Spiffy update.
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DBCooperVO.com
IMDB

[JohnV]

I was gonoa chime in on the M1 mini (did that a year plus ago) and then you post the MAC STUDIO MAX... which either got past me when I dove, or wasnt around ... it has better connectivity...

how goes?
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SoundscenesDC, main talent and production offices just 385k km up the gravity well in LuNoHoCo Center, old satellite studios still bookable at the future site of Johnson City!

[todd ellis]

update: the mac studio max is a BEAST. i have no complaints except for the carefully hidden power button.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[Bish]

Just when I was feeling happy with my setup and not looking to upgrade anything, Todd (who would use an antiquated 1954 John Deere tractor as a recording device if at all possible) extolls the virtues of new tech. Dammit.

My Mac Pro lasted from 2006-2014 (eight years)... my iMac 5K has lasted since 2104 (crap... that's eight years as well).

I shall resist... there's nothing wrong with my iMac (I shall keep saying it until I believe it!)
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Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls.

[todd ellis]

if it makes you feel any better, my last VO machine was a 2008 hackintosh held together largely with sticks & mud.


also, for accuracy --- it's a 1952 McCormick Farmall Super A. audio i/o is on the rear, next to the PTO.


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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[tokyofan]

Suddenly in the same boat:

Current set-up:

mic-->GAP73 pre-->RME ADI-2 (outboard converter)-->USB Phone Plus-->Mac Mini (2018)

The RME just crapped out completely. So now considering getting either an SSL2+ or an Audient id22. I can bypass the pres on the Audient if I wanna keep using the GAP. Tough decisions.
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www.chriskoprowski.com/en

[todd ellis]

FWIW - i've had zero issues with the audient.
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"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?