I've not fool with USB audio yet, and I'm about to...

I know HHB as a recorder that outputs its signal through an USB port... and from this I thought that something like this would exist already...

Is there some sort of converter box(either small box or rack mount I really don't care)
That would accept 2 XLR inputs(could also live with unbalanced 1/4" I guess) and outputs it through an USB port so you can hook that to your computer?


I might get into a small pro tools setup on a laptop(MAC) to fool around so I was curious if such a thing existed, as this would be good enough for home fooling around and some projects I could just take home for multi track editing.

Not looking for top of the line, but could consider it.

Thanks for any information you can share

Echo showed 2 news cards at Summer NAMM that will hook up to your laptop with a PCI flash slot like your modem...very cool for laptop land...very cheap....$250??

Thanks,

I'm heading to a canadian trade show in a few days, I'll surely ask for it.

in the meantime I'll check their webpage.

I basically need 2 xlr input to an USB port, 2xlr output would be nice also but not really necessary , a standard headphone out could do. I could also see myself using an optical input instead with my portable DAT for a lot of special fx work.

So it's either optical i/p or 2xlr i/p don't need more features that I won't use anyway.

I'll keep looking... any other infos anyone might have I'll look at.

Ok found something that would be just about right... only drawback it's not out yet!
http://www.M-audio.com/m-audio2.htm

I can find lots of stuff for multiple i/p and o/p but simple quality stereo seems to be a rarity.

Haven't found one yet with only an optical i/p o/p configuration... one like this would be my other option beside the m-audio2 I guess.

I'm probably too much "old school" in wanting a simple box

I have a laptop too, and am having similar problems. I was thinking of getting a stand alone unit like the Korg D12, though getting things in and out of my computer still seems to be a mysterious process. Did anyone ever hear of S/P DIF? I guess this is an "optical" interface. I never heard of this before - is this an old computer interface, or a new standard? Can I convert a notebook to accept it?

The only other thing I can see is to get a 2 RCA to one 1/8'' stereo line-in connector (probably not the best for sound quality) or to burn a CD (seems to involved).

DMT

SPDIF is not really new, it's a digital stereo standard, using rca type connectors with 75ohm wires.

Problems with SPDIF is you gotta watch cable lenght... under 10ft is best to avoid problems.

With Optical, lenght is also a matter.

Both SPDIF and Optical transfer ID(Dat's or CD's/CDR's) information across.

The other digital standard is AES/EBU, wich is you guessed it a standard issuued by the AES (AES.org) The AES standard doesn't pass ID infor thru but uses XLR type connection with no lenght problems.

I work with each and everyone of these formats everyday. I'm myslef considering teh good old standalone units... I've used cakewalk on my PC since 94 and I just hate the computer related problems/headache.

I'm just curious as to if the same goes on the MAC side... I'm willing to try it, but I confess nothing beats standalone, computers just offer more for the editing parts.

Thanks for the info Glorbz. I don't have tose inputs on my notebook, so it looks like I'll have to burn CDs to transfer data between a Korg digital multi-tracker and my notebook. If I go that route.

Back from that trade show... I thought I would share what I've found and learned on the subject of USB audio...

Only solutions have fun that are basic and simple for USB are;
-Edirol products
-M-Media

These 2 company seems to be the one ahead in that technology so far.

After chatting at their booth I discovered that Edirol seems to target more people who do this at home for fun and as a hobby(at least for the basic get 2 analog signal in)
They got a nice little unit, that you can plug a guitar or bass straight in and also a mic with slider volume...

The M-Media folks seems to target more pro people, the quality is there, I was lucky to hear/try one of their unit since the unit isn't out yet... but will be in september or so and should be Mac and PC friendly.

I also found out that there's a lot more for USB Midi than there is for USB Audio... but the interest is there.

I asked around other manufacturers(Roland, WhirlWind, etc) they all said the same thing, its something they might do in the future, but don't now... so we got to wait for the basic "USB direct box"

My 2 cents

Meant M-audio not M-Media sorry.
Both have website by the way.

Glorbz:

Word of caution: the Edirol USB interfaces are incompatible with a lot of music software (on the Mac, anyway), including Cubase and Logic (!). I bought a UA-30 when it first came out, and have never been able to make it work, even after buying third party ASIO drivers for it.

This site has lists of incompatibilities with the USB interfaces they sell: I don't know why they do it, but it's really cool of them.

My personal opinion is that USB audio is pretty sketchy - I'd look into those PCI interfaces if I were you.