Ryan wrote:Can anyone recommend an external sound card for a new MacBook Pro?
EXTERNAL SOUNDS CARDS
I'm just about to buy a MacBook (not Pro) and have the same question regarding that hardware. I've looked around for advice in different threads here on swingdjs (a lot of great input), read reviews around the net, and have though about it the following way.
USB (MacBook, MacBook Pro, or almost any other laptop for that matter)
For extreme portability, low price (around 30 USD), and good enough punch,
Turtle Beach Micro for USB use seems to be a good choice. It has been discussed earlier in this very thread (I know, there are lots of pages to skim through, but it's an interesting read), and also in
another thread on swingdjs.
Very mixed reviews on Comp Usa.
Creative's Xmod for USB use is another one that I've been looking at, but it's a little bulkier than the TB Micro, double the price (60 USD) of that one, and the extra features might not be what you need for swing deejaying, but I'm not the one to answer that, since I haven't tried it out for myself. If the sound is better though, I might go for that. It has been discussed in
another thread on swingdjs. I've read numerous reviews in Sweden and from across the globe that are very positive in general.
Then there's also the
Griffin iMic, which has been around for what seems like ages, and some are happy with it, but others still feel that the output volume is too low, so I've kind of ruled that one out. But it's simple, lightweight, and easy to find in stores everywhere, and priced somewhere inbetween (40 USD) the TB Micro on the cheap and the Xmod on the pricey end. And you could probably get a really cheap used one since it's been around for a while.
I've also looked at the
Edirol UA-1EX for USB use, which sells for a little more than the Xmod (65 USD). I thought it would be a sure shot for good quality, since it's a sub-brand from Roland, a company making gear for musicians, but according to Haydn's account in
this thread, the much cheaper TB Micro is better, so I don't know what to think anymore. Of course, it has RCA pairings out and in, lines for mics and headphones, with separate volume regulators, which the TB Micro doesn't. Still, to me, the most important things are that I get one high quality output for the master (I don't need two outputs, the headphone jack on my MacBook will be quite good enough for previewing), and that the external sound card comes in a really portable package, like the TB Micro.
EXPRESS CARD (MacBook Pro and some other laptops)
With a MacBook Pro, you have the possibility to use express cards, and not only USB as I will be limited to with a MacBook, but I don't know if there are any sound cards out there yet for that "fairly new" card format. (Like 3 years! Come on, where are the sound cards?)
TYPE II CARDBUS/PCMCIA CARD (Not on MacBook or MacBook Pro, but on many other laptops)
On swingdjs, the
Echo Indigo DJ for Type II Cardbus/PCMCIA seems to be the most popular card amongst those who are willing to spend more money (lowest price around 160 USD), but that is not an option for MacBook Pro people until Echo makes an express card version I guess, unless you're willing to
use an adapter, but then you could as well go the USB route.
CONCLUSION
Since I'm getting a MacBook, USB will be my only option. Those that I know of who have tried more than one of the USB sound cards above are
- Haydn, who, if I have interpreted his posts correctly, started with an Edirol, changed to Micro, which he liked better because it gave more boost to the output, and finally tried Xmod, which he found quite on par with or better than the Micro, after finally connecting through the right sockets
- Mary Ann, who, if I have interpreted her posts correctly, started with a Micro and thought it ok, but was blown away by the great sound quality of the Xmod, and won't go back to the Micro
Some time later, are you guys still of the same opinion?
I'll probably get an Xmod because I can buy it with together with my MacBook when I go to the Apple retailer tomorrow. If possible, I might have gotten a Micro because it's so small, cheap, reliable, and still seems to fill my needs in audio quality, but the Micro is nowhere to be found in Europe as far as I can see (my Apple retailer figures Turtle Beach "took down their sings" ages ago in Sweden), and amazon.com and other stores selling it don't seem to ship to Sweden. And I need it now. So Xmod it is. You better be right Mary Ann, he he
Any thoughts from others who have tried a few different solutions? (Bear in mind that I have not used a single one of the cards above, I've just amassed info based upon the opinions of others to come to an informed decision. I am buying a card soon since my new MacBook probably will arrive tomorrow...)
/Jonas
[Edited numerous times for more gathered info on sound cards. This laptop thread really could do with a split into something like ten different threads to make it easier searching. It'd be great to have different ones for "my complete laptop dj setup (hardware, software, accessories, etc), updated for 2007", "external sounds cards, updated for 2007", "dj software, updated for 2007", etc. But attempts have been made to no avail, so I'll just help piling up the pages a little...]