[Andy Evans]

I bought a FA101 on ebay. Came just by itself - no extras supplied.
I've connected it with firewire 400 to my Power Mac G5, 6 way each
end. Lights comes on on the Edirol - firewire and power. FA101 comes
up in system preferences. So they seem to be talking to each other.
Apparently no software download is necessary for my OSX 10.4.11

Anyway, I've set input and output to the FA101. But no sound in
headphones even though sample is set to 48k which is apparently
correct. Also can't get mic output to register on the Mac. So doesn't
work for me.

I'm getting very frustrated - I've read through the manual. I need
this to work.

Where can I get help with this? My gratitude is assured!!

andy evans

[dwgriffi]

Andy,

Are you using an application or wanting to use it as the Mac's
output? Since you're wanting to input with a mic let's assume the
former for starters. In that case, even though you've selected the
Edirol input in the Mac's prefs you'd still have to do it in the
app's. In fact, even if you weren't doing so, fire up any old audio
app, GarageBand or Audacity, and find it in the input and output
choices there and see what happens.

Also, when you say there's no sound in the headphones, is there any
meter activity happening on the FA101? If so, put the output mix knob
in the middle, in case it was all the way over to output or monitor.

On those kinds of many-featured units there are unfortunately several
ways to get tripped up. You've probably checked, but check again that
the digital input button isn't pushed, and that the Hi-Z/Low-Z button
is right for line or mic input.

If a manual didn't come with it, grab it from the Roland site.

Also, don't resist running a permissions repair on the system drive
via Disk Utility or however you like.

Restarting never hurts, either : )


DW

[Andy Evans]

On 26 June, 03:27, dwgriffi wrote:
Andy,

* Are you using an application or wanting to use it as the Mac's
output? *Since you're wanting to input with a mic let's assume the
former for starters. *In that case, even though you've selected the
Edirol input in the Mac's prefs you'd still have to do it in the
app's. *In fact, even if you weren't doing so, fire up any old audio
app, GarageBand or Audacity, and find it in the input and output
choices there and see what happens.

Also, when you say there's no sound in the headphones, is there any
meter activity happening on the FA101? *If so, put the output mix knob
in the middle, in case it was all the way over to output or monitor.

On those kinds of many-featured units there are unfortunately several
ways to get tripped up. *You've probably checked, but check again that
the digital input button isn't pushed, and that the Hi-Z/Low-Z button
is right for line or mic input.

If a manual didn't come with it, grab it from the Roland site.

Also, don't resist running a permissions repair on the system drive
via Disk Utility or however you like.

Restarting never hurts, either *: )

DW

Restarting did it, in fact. I still probably have loads of questions
even though it basically seems to work. My first is why the sound on
the headphones is so poor when inputting itunes? I't strident and
overloads - there's no apparent input sesitivity, only the headphone
volume.

the manual doesn't say much about microphones either - I have a pair
of AKG D190C mics, for instance. will those work? I don't know if they
need powering and if the Edirol supplies the right voltage - I
couldn't find any of this when googling D190, even though these mics
were widely used.

I've been using battery powered condenser mics - again I'm not sure
whether to use High or low Z for those - doesn't seem to sound much
different.

The manual; only goes so far - loads more to get to learn. At some
point I want really good sound out of my Mac. Maybe something better
than the Edirol that I feed with the MAC's optical output.

For now the problem I have with the sound is that, coming from the
headphone out socket into an amplifier, there's a lot of hissing and
buzzing noises overlaid on the signal. any idea what all that's about?
I don't seem to hear it in the headphones, and it isn't in the amp -
noise goes away when you take the connection out.

andy

[Laurence Payne[_2_]]

On Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:33:23 -0700 (PDT), Andy Evans
wrote:

Restarting did it, in fact. I still probably have loads of questions
even though it basically seems to work. My first is why the sound on
the headphones is so poor when inputting itunes? I't strident and
overloads - there's no apparent input sesitivity, only the headphone
volume.

the manual doesn't say much about microphones either - I have a pair
of AKG D190C mics, for instance. will those work? I don't know if they
need powering and if the Edirol supplies the right voltage - I
couldn't find any of this when googling D190, even though these mics
were widely used.

It's a dynamic mic. Low impedence. No powering required.


I've been using battery powered condenser mics - again I'm not sure
whether to use High or low Z for those - doesn't seem to sound much
different.

The manual; only goes so far - loads more to get to learn. At some
point I want really good sound out of my Mac. Maybe something better
than the Edirol that I feed with the MAC's optical output.

That's just an alternative output from the Mac's onboard sound system.
It's not something you can attach an alternative sound card to.


For now the problem I have with the sound is that, coming from the
headphone out socket into an amplifier, there's a lot of hissing and
buzzing noises overlaid on the signal. any idea what all that's about?
I don't seem to hear it in the headphones, and it isn't in the amp -
noise goes away when you take the connection out.

Why are you feeding an amplifier from the headphone output? The FA101
has a fine selection of Line Out sockets on the back panel!

[Jon]

Andy Evans wrote:

Apparently no software download is necessary for my OSX 10.4.11

There were, though, some versions of 10.4 where Firewire support was
broken.

I had a Firewire interface which wouldn't work under 10.4.11 which works
fine with 10.5.7.

--
"Coloured and animated, the concerts and spectacles are as many
invitations to discover the universes of musicians and artists
who tint with happiness our reality."

[Andy Evans]

I've listened through the line out settings, fuelled by itunes, and
the sound is really nothing special at all. I was expecting something
much better for the money. Sure it has loads of functions but what
about the actual sound quality?

andy

[dwgriffi]

On Jun 28, 6:28*pm, Andy Evans wrote:
I've listened through the line out settings, fuelled by itunes, and
the sound is really nothing special at all. I was expecting something
much better for the money. Sure it has loads of functions but what
about the actual sound quality?



Hmmm. Well, the only way to know know is if you feed it something
that sounds awesome through your stereo and the exact same thing
played through the Edirol (and the same speakers) sounds worse. If
you have to use iTunes make sure all the goofy soundhancing features
are turned off and the EQ is off. You're better off importing a CD
track (that you've listened to and have already determined sounds
great) and playing it as an AIFF file directly via the QuickTime
Player. No mp3s, no downloaded music.

Actually, a sound that's "nothing special" isn't the dealkiller that
"not good" is, unless it's different than what the music should sound
like. I doubt the outputs of any sub $750 boxes sound different
enough from each other to take issue with (except for some horrible
$100 stuff that's off the radar for people with any discerning ears).

[Laurence Payne[_2_]]

On Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:28:50 -0700 (PDT), Andy Evans
wrote:

I've listened through the line out settings, fuelled by itunes, and
the sound is really nothing special at all. I was expecting something
much better for the money. Sure it has loads of functions but what
about the actual sound quality?

Are you complaining about poor sound quality, or that there's no
particular improvement? What were you expecting? Onboard sound of a
modern computer is perfectly competent for simple playback. There are
other reasons for adding a quality soundcard.

What amp/speakers were you using? What was the source? If an MP3,
there's a lot of quality lost already, which I suppose might be even
more audible on a better system.