Best $$ I ever spent on my Cube

[jesse v]

1.2ghz PowerLogix 7457 upgrade card
MotU 828mk2 FireWire audio interface
LaCie L2 8x DVD-/+RW
Belkin 6-port FireWire hub

Why?

FCP4, SoundTrack, DVD Studio Pro 2, Digital Performer 4 etc... run like 
a dream.

Audio levels (from the system level to my receiver) are LOUD, crisp, 
and PERECT, not to mention I now have 24bit, 96kHz 24 simultaneous 
tracks in and out, as well as optical and coaxial I/O, midi I/O, and 2 
MIC/Guitar XLR pre's in. The system won't even let me control the audio 
from my volume slider or keys, it's all done with whatever receiver or 
device I'm playing my audio from (and unlike Apple's analog or USB 
audio, with ALL volume sliders at full blast, there's no distortion)

At first when I got the PL upgrade, I was only able to encode CD's at 
7x tops, but with the LaCie DVDR, it rips at 17-20x. The shortcoming 
was in the cubes DVD drive. Not to mention, 24x CD burning, and 8x DVD 
burning and along with the drive ($250) came Toast 6 Ti. The drive has 
no on or off switch, but only engages when it's called on by media or 
software, so it's constantly cool, SILENT, and ready. (Very nice 
aluminum enclosure to boot).

All this plugged into my Cube, and I have 3 firewire ports left to 
hot-swap DV cams, iPods, external HD's, and what not.

All this for less than a new iBook.

I won't be buying a new machine until at least late '05


jesse




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