Re: [ARSCLIST] recommendations solicited -- simple analog-to-digital USB setup

[Bob Olhsson <olh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You can record using QuickTime Pro, a $29.99 software upgrade, and burn
disks using I-Tunes which is free.

As far as I know Macs now all come with decent onboard audio so all you'd
need is to find a way to interface an 1/8" stereo miniplug cable adapter.
They also accept optical SPDIF. The 96k issue adds great complexity and will
result in worse sounding CDs unless you drop big bucks on sample rate
conversion.

Bob Olhsson Audio Mastery, Nashville TN
Mastering, Audio for Picture, Mix Evaluation and Quality Control
Over 40 years making people sound better than they ever imagined!
615.385.8051 http://www.hyperback.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 7:13 AM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ARSCLIST] recommendations solicited -- simple analog-to-digital
USB setup

Hi All:

I have a friend, an older person, who is very expert in all things analog --
and has a wonderful 
setup for playing tapes and records. However, he is far from expert on
anything computer and is not 
likely to gain the expertise of a 20-year-old ever. He has an iMac and wants
to transfer some of his 
tapes and records to digital so he can burn CD's for his car.

I live in a PC world, so I'm not sure what's out there for the Mac. I think
he's OK making the CD's 
in Roxio Toast, but what's a good, simple, non-kludged audio recorder/editor
-- in other words is 
there a Mac equiv of Sony Soundforge Audio Studio (ie "lite")?
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/products/product.asp?pid=454

And, what's a good and simple-as-possible USB interface for him? I think he
wants to transfer 96/24, 
but I think almost any A-D interace will do 96/24 these days. I don't think
he has to have balanced 
inputs and outputs, but something that can handle +4 input levels would be
preferable. He has no 
need for mic preamps or any sort of built-in hardware beyond maybe input
trimmers.

So, for the Mac world, does such a simple solution exist? Think the opposite
of what a total 
"engineer type" would want (ie as few useless "features" as possible, as
simple and direct a user 
interface as possible -- think of the phones with big number buttons made
for old folks as a model).

Thanks in advance!

-- Tom Fine