ibook and dac2

If your iBook is a G4 model, then it would function as a music server given a few extras. If you have one of the earlier G3 models I would give it up as a bad idea before you start.

First you'll need to add an external HDD to store the files and second will need some method to connect the iBook to the DAC. Given your use of an iBook you presumably don't want to spend significant amounts so looking at the lower end you could get an Edirol FA66 or TC Konnekt 8 (discontinued but some still available last time I looked) both of which connect to the FireWire port of the iBook. You should then be able to daisy chain a FireWire connected external HDD. Given that (IIRC) the iBook only has USB1.1 I wouldn't look to connect audio interface or HDD using this route.

In the long run you may find it a better idea to save the money from buying an interface and consider a more powerful PC. Ideally Mac but Windows can work well too (see Chris's articles on the C.A.P.Server and J.River).

Eloise

eloise:

thank you for very much your comments. yes, it is a g4 unit.

would this device work as the firewire to sdif interface, or am i off the mark?:

M-Audio FireWire Solo

specs:

Features:

6 x 4 24 bit/96kHz audio interface
front panel microphone in (XLR) with: phantom power, gain control, clip LED
front panel guitar input (¼" unbalanced) with: gain control, clip LED
2 line inputs (¼" unbalanced) on rear panel
front panel switch toggles front/rear inputs
2 line outputs (¼" TRS balanced/unbalanced)
S/PDIF digital I/O (coax) with 2 channel PCM
digital I/O also supports pass through of AC 3/DTS surround encoded content
stereo head hone output (¼" TRS) with level control
flexible software based routing/mixing with near zero latency monitoring
dual FireWire ports for each device chaining
FireWire bus powered (+12VDC power supply optional)
ASIO2, WDM, GSIF2, MME and Core Audio compatibility
rack mountable metal chassis
Kensington lock port
Mac and Windows compatible
FireWire cables included
Specifications:

General
Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96kHz
Line Inputs
Max Input +2.2dBV (1.3Vrms)
Signal to Noise Ratio 102dB @ 48kHz (a weighted)
Dynamic Range 102dB @ 48kHz (a weighted)
THD + N 0.0061% ( 84 dB), 1kHz, 1dBFS @ 48kHz
Frequency Response ±0.2dB, 20Hz to 20kHz @ 48kHz, ±0.3dB, 20Hz to 40kHz @ 96kHz
Crosstalk 116dB, 1kHz, channel to channel
Impedance 14k ohms
Microphone Input
Available Gain 40dB
Input Range 42 to 2dBu (0.01 to 0.6Vrms)
Signal to Noise Ratio (min gain) 101dB @ 48kHz (a weighted)
Dynamic Range (min gain) 101dB @ 48kHz (a weighted)
THD+N (min gain) 0.0049% ( 86 dB), 1kHz, 1dBFS @ 48kHz
Frequency response (min gain) ±0.25dB, 20Hz to 20kHz @ 48kHz, ±0.3dB, 20Hz to 40kHz @ 96kHz
Impedance 1.5k ohms
Instrument Input
Available Gain 40dB
Input Range 28 to +12dBV (0.04 to 4.0Vrms)
Signal to Noise Ratio (min gain) 101dB @ 48kHz (a weighted)
Dynamic Range (min gain) 101dB @ 48kHz (a weighted)
THD+N (min gain) 0.0079% ( 82 dB), 1kHz, 1dBFS @ 48kHz
Frequency response (min gain) ±0.25dB, 20Hz to 20kHz @ 48kHz, ±0.3dB, 20Hz to 40kHz @ 96kHz
Impedance 270k ohms
Line Outputs
Max Output (balanced) +10.2dBu (2.5Vrms)
Max Output (unbalanced) +2.0dBV (1.26Vrms)
Signal to Noise Ratio 10 dB @ 48kHz (a weighted)
Dynamic Range 107dB @ 48kHz (a weighted)
THD + N 0.0024% ( 92.5 dB), 1kHz, 1dBFS @ 48kHz
Frequency Response ±0.2dB, 20Hz to 20kHz @ 48kHz, ±0.3dB, 20Hz to 40kHz @ 96kHz
Crosstalk 118 dB, 1kHz, channel to channel
Impedance (balanced) 300 ohms
Impedance (unbalanced) 150 ohms
Headphone Outputs
Max Output 2.0dBV (0.8Vrms) into 32 ohms
Signal to Noise Ratio 106dB @ 48kHz (a weighted)
Dynamic Range 105dB @ 48kHz (a weighted)
Frequency Response ±0.2dB, 20Hz to 20kHz @ 48kHz, ±0.3dB, 20Hz to 40kHz @ 96kHz
Crosstalk 86dB, 1kHz, channel to channel
Output Impedance 75 ohms
Working Headphone Impedance 32 to 600 ohms
Windows

Pentium III 500 MHz
128 MB RAM
Windows XP (SP2) with DirectX 9.0c
Onboard FireWire connection or installed IEEE1394 PCI card
The FireWire Solo is not supported under Windows 98, Windows ME or Windows 2000
MacOS
Macintosh G3/G4* 500 MHz
OS X 10.2.8, 256 MB RAM or OS X 10.3.5, 512 MB RAM
Onboard FireWire connection or installed IEEE1394 PCI card
*G3/G4 accelerator cards not supported
OS X 10.3.5 or later required for Dolby
Digital and DTS pass through with Apple DVD player

best, artie

The M-Audio FireWire Solo you posted the specs for should work fine... No guarantees offered on compatibility with OS X 10.4 or 10.5 you may be running.

Eloise