Audio Input

Behringer has announced the easily remembered U-Control UCA202. It's basically a USB cord sticking out of a box that allows audio input and output from your Mac or "other". Seems neat and could solve some problems for some smaller editing setups I guess. I'd love to try one hint.

With this ultra-compact, bus-powered interface, you can link your Windows® and Mac® computer with any audio gear. There is no setup or special drivers needed—simply plug the interface in a free USB port on your computer and get into the groove.

The UCA202 provides 2 analog inputs and outputs, as well as an additional S/PDIF optical output for direct digital conversion. The stereo headphone output with dedicated level control lets you monitor both input and output. And the cherry on top is that the U-CONTROL download area offers a huge software package for recording and editing.

All in all, this interface is a complete audio solution which provides a connection between the analog and digital domain.

ratDVD

Here's a tip: When a client hands you a disc with "footage" on it for the project and it's a .ratDVD file burned to a DVD-R...just walk away. Or laugh quite loudly and ask for something you can use. It's not worth it. .ratDVD is lossy, HIGHLY compressed and just about useless.

Toast 9.0.1 & Converting Audio

For some insane reason I've been getting audio files from a client in .FLAC format. Yeah, I know. So I decided to try another method to convert them en masse today. Earlier today I installed Toast 9.0.1 and decided to try it to convert the flac things to something I could use.

Playing around with different setttings in Toast 9.0.1 I noticed one got'cha: The Sound Settings window will revert to it's defaults every time you close and open it by hitting the BIG RED BUTTON. You'll see it revert back to "Average Bit Rate" and a Quality of "Normal".

Other than that, Toast 9.0.1 is fine for converting stuff it seems. A little slow but usable.