[Ron Thompson]

[HD Freak] “So when using the MCU with your Mackie mixer what kind of setup is that?
Mackie to MCU to Lhe?? or do you use the Mackie mixer at all when using the MCU?”

Nope. MCU is ALL data. USB to MIDI. It controls the mix inside of FCP. There are only 3 wires pluged into the MCU: power, MIDI IN and MIDI OUT. That goes into a converter and the USB is plugged into the Mac.

The 1402 handles all of the analog audio in and out of the LHe.

While related, these are really two different mixers that have nothing to do with each other.

Check out https://www.mackie.com/products/mcu/ for more info.

[Ron Thompson]

I use the Mackie Control Universal. One of the best additions to my edit suite to date. It works with FCP, Soundtrack and Logic….and if you configure it right, it works with Motion too (but I haven’t tried that yet).
There are other options out there though. I believe Tascam has a Control Surface/Mixer combo that works via firewire. Mackie uses MIDI — and you’ll need a USB to MIDI converter by Edirol.

I can’t recommend it enough. I work on a TV series, utilizing 12-16 tracks of audio per show. The ability to mix on the fly while editing is a tremendous workflow improvement.

The MCU is very powerful when used with LogicPro…I can only hope Apple expands the protocol in FCP6 to include more control surface control like Plug-In parameters. For now you get realtime TC display feedback, jog/shuttle, save, undo, enter, transport controls, pan, solo, mute, and flying faders. I’d love to see EQ or plugin control, assignable buttons for audio in the timeline (waveform, track height, etc…), and, my request since FCP3, the ability to name tracks.

Ron

RIOT Productions
G5, Kona LH, Atto UL4D, FCP5, QT 7.

[Ron Thompson]

[HD Freak] “What are the advantages of doing that over a direct connection from Lhe to the speakers?”

There isn’t so much of an advantage as much as it is a convienence. The volume controls are behind the speakers.
Every time you want to adjust the volume, you need to get up, reach behind the speaker and adjust. Its also a pain in the booty if you need to do analog audio output. The LH only has those 2 XLRs (RCA if you have the BOB). It can be done, but its not the greatest setup. (I would also think you could control the volume using the system volume in OSX).

Here’s my setup: LH output into Mackie Channel 1/2 — AUX 1 and 2 out to LH — Control Room 1/2 to Alesis RA150 — Main Out to analog decks — AUX 3/4 out to VHS/DVD. Ch. 3-6 have XLR inputs–which I use for VO mics and ext. decks. Ch. 7-14 are 1/4″ which I use for VHS/DVD decks, iPods, and other sources. ALL channels can feed the LH via AUX SEND 1 and 2… ALL channels can be sent to decks via MAIN OUT or AUX 3/4 for VHS/DVD dubs.

A very user-friendly piece of gear. I can record show masters for network to DigiBeta via SDI, monitor the deck, and use the Kona on Channel 1/2 and send the signal to AUX 3/4 and do client dubs at the same time.
And if the phone rings…I just lower the control room volume… and I don’t affect the mix. 🙂 That’s the long answer as to why you wouldn’t plug the LH into your speakers.

Peace
Ron

[Ron Thompson]

I definitely didn’t mean to imply that you didn’t have money…sorry that you took it that way.
I’m always careful on these forums NOT to spend other people’s money, because everyone is working with different budgets. But now that you went from spending $350 to now $750 (plus or minus $100)…I just wanted to be honest that this is probably more than you expected from your original post.

By “overkill”…. I was referring to my Mackie setup. Most people on this forum use mixers as a way to monitor sources… I use it more as a router or patch bay. I definitely take advantage of its capabilities in my workflow.

No worries….any more questions, let us know.

Like Bob said….unfortunately, you will never stop spending money in this business.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

What Bob said…. 🙂

Seriously….probably a little more costly than you expected, but well worth doing it right.
With monitors, mixer and cables, I would say $700 is a pretty good investment. (meaning, you shouldn’t spend more than that to get it all hooked up).
markertek.com is a good resource for cables and adapters (RCA to 1/4″ will come in handy!).

[HD Freak] “so are you saying there is no way I can capture the audio directly without a mixer? The only audio out on the camera (Sony Z1) is the composite cables?”

I assume you mean RCA? Yes, all the more reason to add a mixer in the mix. An RCA to 1/4″ cable or adapter would make this a simple hookup….XLR (aux or main output) would take the signal into the LHe.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

To follow up on your question and Bob’s mixer advice:
Buying a mixer like the Mackie 1402 or 1202 will allow you to plug any and everything into your LHe and monitor levels.

For something like camera audio, I maintain a permanent connection from my Mackie to the LH via Aux out, and use either XLR or 1/4″ connections for input… now you have gain controls, EQ, pots, and Aux levels into the LH–not to mention the ability to solo the LH output.

Overkill?? maybe, but at least you know and can hear what you’re recording.

By the way, I own two Alesis RA150’s/M1 MKII combos.

Good Luck

[Ron Thompson]

[uncompressed] “the mac pros will be complete when 10.5 ships. cant wait for that!”

Then you’ll get to start AALLLLLL over again. 🙂
I guess I’ll keep waiting.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

I’m a big fan of Alesis monitors. I have an amp/monitor combo, but their M1 MK2 Active monitors are great and will run you around $350 US for the pair. They have the XLR connection you need to.

Personally, I like to have control over routing, so I route all of my audio into a Mackie mixer. You’ll also have better control room volume control.

Ron

[Ron Thompson]

I’m a litttle late on this…crazy busy, plus 2 vacations. Anyway, CalDigit is great! I built a second edit system (KonaLH) and installed a S2VR HD. Delivered 5 shows for network, loaded 20+ hours of DVCPRO50 and ran the system for about 3 weeks straight–in some cases day and night with multiple editors. The drives are a work horse…dare I say right up there with the Medea and Huge.

I have uncompressed HD footage that I ran a loop test with, and the drives had no problem with them.

Excellent price, solid product. I’ve had it for a little over 2 months now.

Ron

RIOT Productions
G5, Kona LH, Atto UL4D, FCP5, QT 7.

[Ron Thompson]

Also keep in mind, If you’re going back and forth from FCP to Motion, or any other effects app that uses external monitors, you may also need to toggle the external view option for FCP to regain control of the monitor— FYI.

Ron