2. pc-audio
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Nucleus for Digital Media: Windows? Mac? Other?

A recent post on digitizing LPs caught my eye and I checked out the Alesis device that records to redbook CD as well as their own proprietary (?) "CD-24" format.

But if I understand correctly, this would have to then be transcribed from CD to a computer hard drive, as it does not transfer directly.

I find this all a bit confusing and wonder how I can set up a new, hard drive based system for a variety of audio formats including redbook WAV files, MP-3 compressed files etc and be as ready for the future as possible.

Today I looked at the new metal Mac, which looks very cool, but I was disappointed to see chintzy mini jack type outputs on the back.

Is there any agreement on the state of the art for a PC based, multimedia platform?

I want to do EVERYTHING, and not be obsolete in 6 months.

Thank you.
cwlondon
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,242 posts
 
Are you interested in using the computer as a playback device, or will it also have to convert analog signals to digital?

BTW, The G5 Apples have built in optical (Toslink) digital input/output connectors.
cwlondon OP
1,210 posts
 
Onhwy61

I am open to suggestions, but it seems that the super cool high end route would be to use the computer mainly as a transport and to store, organize, manipulate and access files.

Perhpas I could then input and output files from d/c/s converters -- A/D for turntable to computer and D/A for computer to amplifiers?

Would the G5 Toslink be up to Audiogon standards here? Are there pro audio products better suited to this multimedia "nucleus"?

Thanks for any and all suggestions.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,242 posts
 
I use an Apple Mac as a computer music server in two of my systems. One is based on a 450MHz G4 w/ an RME digital I/O card and the other is a 1.8MHz G5 using the built-in optical output to feed a Panasonic XR45 digital receiver. The G4 is a little noisy and must be put in a cabinet, but the G5 is very quiet. The big advantage to using a Mac is the supplied iTunes software and its compatibility with an iPod. It's very slick, easy to use and provides marvelous portability. The downside of iTunes is that it's limited to 16bit/44KHz digital.

My recommendation is to start with a Mac G5 and use the optical digital out to feed an external D/A. Compared to the RME using an Apogee AES/EBU cable the Toslink optical using a Monster cable is slightly more homogenized sounding. A slight loss of overall detail. The G4/RME is sonically equivalent to a high quality transport. One way around the Toslink limitation would be to use something like the Apogee MiniDac which is a very high quality D/A with a USB computer connection. There are other pro oriented options, but they are not 2 channel specific and provide 8 or more I/O, plus numerous other options that most audiophiles won't need.

Overall, using a computer as a hard disk music server is outstanding. It allows near instant access to your music and permits you to organize it into playlist based upon how you really want to listen.
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