Apple Logic Express 8 - Manual (Page 90)

90 Chapter 4 Setting Up Your System
Ultimately, either microphone type can be used for any recording job, but each will
offer a distinct advantage—sonically—in different recording situations. To further
clarify, both condenser and dynamic microphones come in a variety of forms, with
many specifically designed for the recording of certain instruments. As such, there’s no
one size fits all microphone for every recording you will make, so purchasing or hiring
several microphones for different projects is advisable.
Note: Condenser microphones require power to function. This can be provided by a
separate pre-amplifier or a phantom powered mixing console.
Connecting Your Audio and MIDI Devices
You need to connect your external audio and MIDI devices to your computer to allow
communication between Logic Express and the devices. The following section
introduces you to Macintosh expansion capabilities, audio and MIDI cabling, and other
things you should consider when connecting audio and MIDI interfaces to your system.
Computer Expansions
Current Macintosh computers offer the following expansion capabilities, which can be
used for audio and MIDI interfaces:
 FireWire
 USB
 PCI
 ExpressCard
Note: Data transfer rates discussed in the following sections are theoretical maximums.
In real-world use, this will be reduced due to system overheads. In general, protocols
with faster theoretical maximums will deliver data more quickly than slower protocols.
FireWire (IEEE 1394)
FireWire is a professional and consumer standard that can be used for both audio and
MIDI devices, plus hard disks and other peripherals. It combines fast data-transfer rates,
high storage capacities, and plug-and-play connection. All current Macintosh
computers offer FireWire connectors, and a number of FireWire audio and MIDI
interfaces are available. FireWire 1.0 transfers data at 400 MBits per second. FireWire 2.0
transfers data at 800 MBits per second.