[barang]

What sort of audio recording setup would I have to have to take advantage of the new Garageband's multi-channel recording abilities? Would I need a PCI card?

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally posted by barang:
What sort of audio recording setup would I have to have to take advantage of the new Garageband's multi-channel recording abilities? Would I need a PCI card?

No.

There's a number of FireWire and USB audio interfaces out there that should work, seeing as they work with everything else via CoreAudio, and I *hope* all Apple has now is simply enabled access to 8 (IIRC) channels of CoreAudio streams. (It would be kinda hard - and stupid - to specify individual compatible devices.)

How many channels do you need?

Budget?

[barang]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
No.

There's a number of FireWire and USB audio interfaces out there that should work, seeing as they work with everything else via CoreAudio, and I *hope* all Apple has now is simply enabled access to 8 (IIRC) channels of CoreAudio streams. (It would be kinda hard - and stupid - to specify individual compatible devices.)

How many channels do you need?

Budget?

I'd like to use 8 channels for as cheap as possible. I could get along with only 4, though, I guess.

[Spheric Harlot]

For 8 channels, the MotU 828 Mk I is pretty okay. That should be readily available used for around $500, I'd guess. The Mk II will do 24-bit audio, but GarageBand only supports 16 bits, AFAIK.

I don't really like the MotU converters, but they're okay for the price, and a lot of smaller studios use them.

If four channels are enough, the Tascam US-428 is about $450 new (cheaper used, of course) if you shop around - works well (I have one), though the control surface is probably not supported by GarageBand.
This new M-Audio interface looks pretty decent, as well, and is available for $369 MSRP. Four inputs, and does surround out 5+1 as a bonus.
Both of these have MIDI interfaces built-in, as well.

The tascam and m-audio stuff is okay if you're on a budget.

[barang]

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
For 8 channels, the MotU 828 Mk I is pretty okay. That should be readily available used for around $500, I'd guess. The Mk II will do 24-bit audio, but GarageBand only supports 16 bits, AFAIK.

I don't really like the MotU converters, but they're okay for the price, and a lot of smaller studios use them.

If four channels are enough, the Tascam US-428 is about $450 new (cheaper used, of course) if you shop around - works well (I have one), though the control surface is probably not supported by GarageBand.
This new M-Audio interface looks pretty decent, as well, and is available for $369 MSRP. Four inputs, and does surround out 5+1 as a bonus.
Both of these have MIDI interfaces built-in, as well.

The tascam and m-audio stuff is okay if you're on a budget.

Thanks, that's just what I needed.