TechBlog from Sewell

We have some awesome USB to MIDI adapters that are low cost and work great with Garage Band. However, setting up MIDI devices on macintosh computers can be tricky if you’ve never done it before. This is a guide for setting up MIDI devices on your Mac so that you can use them with garage band.

1. Open your Applications folder
2. Open the Utilities folder

3. Look for Audio MIDI Setup
4. Open it up

5. Plug in the USB MIDI interface

6. Click on the Add Device button
7. Another icon should appear below

8. Connect the arrow icons on the two devices

The title of this article suggests that the iQfm is the best FM transmitter on the planet, which is a pretty bold statement. FM transmitters are crucial to many of us that have a 2003 Honda Accord and think that the factory stereo system is too pretty to rip out… because whoever was on the 2003 Honda Accord Factory Stereo Team and decided against Aux-in ports was either an idiot, or invested in a major manufacturer of FM transmitters….

Anyway, I was promised that the iQfm FM Transmitter would out-perform our current best seller, the VRFM9. As you probably have already read on my blog, I have about 4 years of FM Modulator experience, so I compare and contrast the features and performance of different transmitters from the past.

In a nutshell: The iQfm encapsulates all of the features of the VRFM9, giving SD card and USB flash drive support (playing mp3s on-the-fly from your tiny storage devices), but with a stronger FM modulation.

How to Make the iQfm sound like CD Quality

The main point of this article is to help your iQfm sound like you’re listening to CDs. Of course you can’t perfectly do this because occasionally you will pass by sources of interference (like high-voltage power lines or something) and will hear a little static, but so far here in Provo, UT, I’ve been satisfied (and I am more particular than average people).

First you have to find a radio station without any signal… a radio station without even static sounds. Here in Provo 88.5 works all right.

I turn my iPod to about 15/16 the volume. The louder your iPod is, the stronger your FM signal. Just don’t turn it high enough to where the sound becomes distorted.

I turn my stereo’s settings to Treble: +3 (out of -6 to 6) and leave the Bass at 0. This simulates a T:0 B:0 ratio on when listening to CDs for me. The FM transmitter takes some of the treble out.

With these settings, I have been enjoying virtual CD quality sounds without messy installations, and at a great price point.

Yes, Vista drivers for AuzenTech’s audio cards are available.  Now you can enjoy your AuzenTech audio card and Vista at.  AuzenTech has developers working hard to perfect Microsoft Windows Vistaâ„¢ drivers for all of their sound cards for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. 

So far they have drivers for 32-bit and 64bit operating systmes for the following products:

Auzen X-Meridian 7.1 SW-6373 AuzenTech HDA X-Mystique 7.1 Gold  SW-4546 AuzenTech HDA X-Plosion 7.1 DTS  SW-4545

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We’ve just started to carry Audio Technica products at Sewell Direct. I always love to see us get into the high-end audio equipment that I can buy for myself. Here are a couple items that I am eyeing:

The ATH-M30 Monitor Headphones are probably the best value for high-end Monitor Headphones. When recording, you need monitors that will send the sound into your brain without any additives, and these will do the trick, helping you to adjust levels accurately. They are closed back and operate on up to 65 ohms.

The AE5100, although a little up there in price, seems like a great all-around microphone to have. It is dynamic enough to accurately pick up percussion (even cymbals) like a champion, and still capture the delacate and subtle nuances of an acoustic guitar. It features a large diaphragm which will preserve and resonate with the full spectrum of sounds. It is also rugged enough to travel extensively with without any worries.

For a really good value, I was also thinking about picking up the AT2041SP studio set. It is the 20 series, so not the highest end, but probably good enough for me. It includes both the AT2021 instrument mic and the AT2020 vocal microphone which I’m sure will get the job done.

Our wireless PC to TV converter runs on the standard 2.4 GHz frequency, so occasionally we have had customers experience interference problems with other wireless devices like cordlesss phones, or wireless internet.

Jonathan was digging around in the user manual and found how to change the operating channel (within the 2.4 GHz range, there are several channels, which would allow multiple devices to work simultaneously without interfering) On both the sending and recieving units there are dip switches. Switches 1-4 determine the corresponding channel. The sending unit also has two additional switches used for wired connectivity (component vs composite).

If you are experiencing any interference with the PC to TV, try changing to another channel. The switches will all be up, except for the channel that you would like to use. Make sure that both the sending and recieving units are on the same channel.

The other advantage to having the same channel, is that it will allow you to use several units within the wireless range of each other. For example, we have spoken to a lot of schools that have wanted to use these in classrooms, however if two sending units are close enough to a reciever, they will conflict if they are on the same channel. Simply changing the channel they run on will let you run up to 4 within range of each other.

Just a quick heads up to all of those that are serious about Audio gear, we just decided to get really serious. Lewis just landed a huge deal with Audio Technica, supplier of professional audio recording equipment (provider of all the audio equipment for the Grammys); a deal only rivaled by his huge deal with Monster last year that proved to be a huge success.

So, keep watching for new Audio Technica products with great prices in the Audio Category of Sewell Direct.

Whether it be from a microphone, or directly from an instrument such as a guitar or bass, you have several choice when recording audio onto your computer. This article aims to cover the basic options for connecting and recording audio onto your computer and the different hardware solutions available.

1. Sound Card Input/Built in Microphone

Using the sound card input or the built in microphone is not ideal for purposes of quality, but can be an easy and quick way to record ideas. This method is good for when you are trying to keep a musical idea notebook or take voice notes, but not good for production quality tracks. You may need a 3.5mm male to 1/4″ female adapter to hook up your instrument to your sound card’s microphone input. The signal will probably come across on the quiet side - just be sure to use the Microphone input, not the line in on your sound card.

2. USB to Instrument Cable

One of the more recent offerings to musicians looking to record an instrument straight into their computer is a direct USB to Instrument cable. These handy cables plug directly into your USB port on one end and into your computer on the other. Your computer will see the cable as a sort-of virtual sound card with which you can record.

Quality is a lot better than with built in sound cards, and these cables offer a good balance between cost and quality.

3. External Audio Interface

An external audio interface is the best way to get sound from a microphone or instrument into your computer. Audio interfaces can carry a price tag of anywhere from sub $100 to many thousands of dollars and vary in their quality on features. Firewire is the best, but most consumer grade audio interfaces are USB or USB 2.0.

If you are planning on burning CDs of your recorded music, you want to make recordings in better than CD quality. CD’s have a sample rate of 44.1KHz at 16 bits. A good audio interface will have a sample rate of 48KHz at 24 bits, and a great audio interface will have a sample rate of 192KHz at 24 bits. Generally speaking, the more you spend, the more channels you will be able to record at once. If you want to record separate instruments one at a time, you only need a few channels. If you plan on recording a whole band playing, you will need a lot more channels.

4. External Recording Devices

Many standalone recording devices offer a way of transferring their recordings to a computer. You can make recordings on a standalone 2-track, 4-track or 8-track machine for example, and then burn your recordings to a CD, transfer them over USB, or use a memory card to get that audio over to a computer. The method of transfer depends on the feature of your standalone recorder.

Here’s a watered down review of several of our different PC to TV converter solutions. The converters below are organized by functionality and by price. If you have a larger screen TV with High Definition capability, you may want to consider getting an adapter that will use that same functionality. The others will work, they will just look worse. Composite video is the lowest resolution. Component is next up and will have a marked difference in picture. High Def component is about the same as HDMI. Since these are all video converters, you will need to run audio seperately.

PC to TV converters that use Composite

http://sewelldirect.com/pc-to-tv.asp

This converter will go from VGA to Composite Video (Yellow RCA) and S-Video. Since it is not a High Definition component converter it will not be optimum for Wide Screen Televisions.

http://sewelldirect.com/manhattan-pc-to-tv-converter.asp

This converter will go from VGA to Composite Video (Yellow RCA) and S-Video. Since it is not a High Definition component converter it will not be optimum for Wide Screen Televisions.

PC to TV converters that use Composite and Component

http://sewelldirect.com/VGA-to-Component-Video-Converter.asp

This converter will go from VGA to Composite Video (Yellow RCA) and S-Video. It will also convert the image to a component (Red Green and Blue RCA connections). Since it is not a High Definition component converter it will not be optimum for Wide Screen Televisions.

PC to TV converters that use High Definition Component

http://sewelldirect.com/audio-authority-vga-to-component-pc-to-hdtv-converter.asp

This converter will go from VGA to Component Video (Red Green and Blue RCA connections). Since it is a High Definition component converter it will work great with Wide Screen Televisions.

http://sewelldirect.com/VGA-to-HDTV-Converter.asp

This converter will go from VGA to Component Video (Red Green and Blue RCA connections). Since it is a High Definition component converter it will work great with Wide Screen Televisions.

http://sewelldirect.com/vga-to-component-hdtv-clearcolor.asp

This converter will go from VGA to Component Video (Red Green and Blue RCA connections). Since it is a High Definition component converter it will work great with Wide Screen Televisions.

PC to TV converters that use HDMI Discontinued

http://sewelldirect.com/gefen-component-vga-hdmi-adapter.asp

This converter will go from VGA to HDMI. Since HDMI is high definition, it will work great with Wide Screen Televisions.

PC to TV converters that use Composite over a wireless connection

http://sewelldirect.com/wireless-pc-to-tv.asp

This converter will go from VGA to Composite Video (Yellow RCA) and S-Video. Since it is not a High Definition component converter it will not be optimum for Wide Screen Televisions. The wireless connection makes it convenient; however, if wireless devices are already in the house, they may interfere with the signal, causing a distorted picture.

Hello,

Maybe one of you experts can help me out.

I am moving into a new house next month. I would like to burn all my cds to my computer and run all my music through it. Here is the setup that I would like:

Computer in bedroom
Run audio and video through Cat 5 to living room
In living room, run audio to stereo receiver and video to HDTV
Get an RF mouse to select and change music (while viewing options on TV)

This seems very doable. However, I am not sure of the optimal way to do it. When I say “optimal”, I mean “maximize quality of sound and video while minimizing cost”. I already have the computer, audio receiver, TV, and a house wired for Cat 5. Can I establish all the needed connections for uner $200? Do I need a sound card for my computer to ensure the best quality audio in stereo?

Any thoughts/assistance greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Cliff

RME gave you the Fireface 800, the king of FireWire audio interfaces. Now they present the Quadmic 4-Channel Microphone Preamp. This thing is awesome. It’s like stuffing your mic signal through a carwash with all those spinny brushes. Imagine having four channels, each with a low cut filter, phantom power, and a signal to noise ratio so low you’ll have to go down to the basement to find it. Have we made our point yet?

In other preamp news, Terratec’s Hi Jack Studio Guitar Preamp gives you a similar treatment as the Quadmic, only for your guitar. This preamp will give you crystal sound, whether you’re recording or playing live. Check it out.