External Audio devices

[kiyyto]

For anyone wondering about external audio devices, maybe you are going to use logic or another DAW or want to record audio for some reason and would like more than your MB sound...

I tested both the PreSonus 44VSL USB Audiobox and the Focusrite Saffire Pro 14 and they both work flawlessly with the standard Apple audio kext, no fussing with kexts is necessary and you don't have to worry about OS updates because you are using the stock kext.

Of course, both of these solutions cost a couple hundred dollars, but if you are into recording and have a pair of studio monitors then it is a pretty good way to go. I ended up going with the Focusrite because it is firewire vs USB and bus powered.

Also tested the TASCAM US-800 and it did not work with OS X 10.7.3, Apple forums are rife with plenty of complaints about TASCAM audio interfaces so I don't recommend them.

 

[brycv]

That's much appreciated information. It's not in the same league but a Griffin iMic works great for output and is switchable to input as well. I use it instead of the onboard audio exclusively these days.

 

[tombstone]

I found this external USB audio device at my local Fry's Electronics. It was the only one they had that was explicitly Mac compatible.

DIAMOND Xtreme Sound 7.1 USB Audio Device For PC and Mac OS
http://www.diamondmm.com/XS71U.php

It worked right out of the box on my hackintosh, without even having to install drivers. It was actually more of a pain to get working in Windows than it was in Mac, surprisingly enough.

 

[Schmeknicolor]

I have a Topping TP30 connected to a pair of Scythe Kro Craft Speakers and would recommend this setup to anyone on a budget hunting for great audio monitoring for professional work on Video or Audio, just don't forget to buy good speaker cables, the ones that come with the Scythe Speakers are very thin and don't give you the sound they should.

Topping TP30 http://www.amazon.com/Topping-TP30-Digital-Amplifier-USB-DAC/dp/B005D7SKWK, review http://www.audioheuristics.org/markk_wp/?p=163

Scythe Kro Craft Speakers http://www.scythe-usa.com/product/acc/110/scbks1100_detail.html, review http://www.tnt-audio.com/casse/scythe_krocraft_e.html

Van Damme Speaker Cables http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0030BXCKG/?tag=tonymacx86-21

 

[gonegolf]

Hi, I am using the Saffire Pro14 but the connection is unstable. Works for a few days and then totally cannot lock on the firewire and thus cannot be detected. Lucky thing is that my monitors have USB so I am using that. I amusing the Gigabyte Z87X-UD5H and the firewire ports on the motherboard. Pretty odd behavior. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Update: Tried using version 2.4 of the Saffire MixControl, connection is also intermittent and now totally gone.

update: Jan 8
reformatted drive and everything's working perfectly