Onboard soundchip |
November, 19, 2002 4:53 PM |
lt307 |
What soundchip does Apple use onboard the TNT series (7500,7600, etc.) machines? Can't seem to find this info online anywhere. Do any official OS X supported machines use the same chip? |
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RE: Onboard soundchip |
November, 25, 2002 12:06 PM |
macman |
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I have used the Maudio card to get audio into the mac under X. It works very well under X. I like the ability in the sound manager under x to send alert sounds to the built in speaker and have program sounds (like itunes) go to the card for output. The only wierdness I experienced was that when recording using Sound Studio software, I would have to use the mac (browsing the web was enough) when recording a long passage. If I didn't and let if untouched for 3-4 minutes, there would be a hard freeze. I think that this was a problem with the Sound Studio software. Otherwise, it worked wonderfully for importing and exporting sound. I send sound in/out using a little Mackie 1202 knockoff, so I'm able to hear any problems that might be introduced. No ground loops, no buzzing, just a really low noise floor - very pleasant. When running the card, the audio drivers take up about 1-2 % of the cpu, but that's only when you are displaying their VU/level meters. You *must* do this when importing sound. When you are just passively using it to play computer sound, the hit is lower. I am running a G4, so the OS has lower CPU hit for me overall. I've not tried to run 3d sound or other fun gee-gaws that you see in games, but then I really don't game with my mac. As I noted, my computer is down now, so I can't do much more testing. stephen |
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RE: Onboard soundchip |
November, 23, 2002 3:42 PM |
mjoecups358 |
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Wow that MAudio Audiophile 2496 looks kind of promising! Have you used it to get audio into your 8600 via OSX? If not, do you think you could test this for me? I would love to know if it works... Also, have you played any games with this card? how does it sound, and do you think it frees up the CPU? Marty |
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RE: Onboard soundchip |
November, 23, 2002 4:15 AM |
macman |
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On my rig (8600), I've invested in a MAudio Audiophile 2496 card to handle my audio needs. Minimal CPU hit & great end-user audio product. Midi is nice, but I don't create music. Stephen |
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RE: Onboard soundchip |
November, 23, 2002 3:20 AM |
mjoecups358 |
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Joe, you seem to know plenty about this.... I wonder why the audio in on these macs does not function? This is expecially strange to me, since even if I use a USB mic on a Old world system with a good USB setup, The USB mic is recognized, but no audio get in.... On a B/W works perfectly. Real weird. Seems like it must be a VERY minor parameter/setting that is wrong. Just a hunch though... Like the AWACS needs some bits set to tell it which interface to get audio in from (a/v ,mic,DAV) and OSX doesn't set 'em. Marty |
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RE: Onboard soundchip |
November, 21, 2002 4:59 PM |
joevt |
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It uses the AWACS custom sound IC like the 8500/8600/9500/9600 and most other pre OS X supported Macs. The first G3s use newer sound ICs; either a Screamer custom sound IC or Burgundy custom sound IC. The Screamer is an updated AWACS with extra features. see http://developer.apple.com/techpubs/hardware/hardware2.html OS X sound drivers are located in /System/Library/Extensions/AppleOnboardAudio.kext/Contents/PlugIns/ There are two drivers for awacs/screamer, AppleOWScreamerAudio.kext and AppleScreamerAudio.kext. They both match on devices with names "awacs" and "davbus". AppleBurgundyAudio.kext matches on device names "perch" and "davbus". |
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