Anyone noticed that Mac mini has better audio performance than ibook? I use extenal speakers. The sound from Mac mini is much richer and clearer. The ibook's performance is like those 100 bucks "hi-fi" stereos, but Mac mini has pretty decent sound.
Anyone knows the chips inside and Mac mini and ibook G4?
This is interesting. Both my PowerBooks (15" Ti and Al) have lousy audio, although the newer model is a bit better. It's particularly noticeable in solo piano pieces. I've used the Griffin iMic with these machines too, with no discernible improvement in quality. OTOH, my 12" iBook sounds pretty good to me.
I know there are musicians and DJs who compose and mix using PowerBooks, so I've assumed I've just been unlucky with my machines. I'd be interested to hear some informed comment about this.
I know there are musicians and DJs who compose and mix using PowerBooks, so I've assumed I've just been unlucky with my machines. I'd be interested to hear some informed comment about this.
they would not be using the built in sound hardware for mixing. the PB would be connect using USB/FW/ethernet to a mixing console, this will provide optimum audio quality.
The only way to get good sound out of any computer is to either use a high quality sound card, or an external USB /FW component. Computers were never designed to fit in with high quality audio systems. Having said that, though, most consumers don't have high quality audio equipment, and consumers who do own good equipment, don't use computers as their audio source.
So computer manufacturers don't have to worry about great sound.
Like antirealist, I did expect better from Griffin's iMic.
The sound quality of the Mac Mini (dual and solo core as opposed to the early G4's) is way above that of the iBook G4's.
The iBook uses 16 bit sound through the headphones socket via analog audio.
The intel Mac Mini's (like the intel Macbooks, Macbook pro's and iMac's) use 'combined' (dual purpose) Line inputs and outputs which double as (depending on which cables you use) 'digital optical input/outputs or analog audio input/outputs. both are up to 24bit
The analog input is up to 24-bit stereo 44.1-192kHz sampling rate. The 'digital optical' input is SPDIF format (and uses a standard toslink cable with a toslink mini-plug adapter), up to 24-bit stereo and 44.1 96kHz sampling rate.
The analog output is up to 24-bit, 44.1-192 kHz, the digital output is up to 24-bit stereo and 44.1-192 kHz
But even playing back 16 bit files the hardware in the Intel's is a lot smoother.
The Powerbooks Ti used the same 16 bit audio as the iBooks, and so did most of the PB Al up until the last two batches hen they added the 'Combined (dual purpose) Inputs/outputs.. I think in 2005 , but even then it was only on some models i.e. the 17" one on the first batch (Jan/2005) and the 12", 15" and 17" on the last batch (Oct/2005).
All of them including earlier G4's etc support the use of USB-2 (the ones that USB-2) or firewire 24bit high quality A/D and D/a devices.
Linear Mode
