Apple Logic Pro 8 - Manual (Page 88)

88 Chapter 4 Setting Up Your System
Connecting Your Audio and MIDI Devices
You need to connect your external audio and MIDI devices to your computer to allow
communication between Logic Pro 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.
There are two kinds of FireWire connectors: a 4-pin connector (typically found on
video equipment, such as camcorders) and a 6-pin connector (used for computer and
audio equipment).
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
USB is a consumer standard used for computer peripherals and other devices. USB 1.1
offers a much lower data-transfer rate than FireWire (11 Mbits per second). USB 2.0,
however, transfers data at 480 MBits per second. It supports plug-and-play operation
and the ability to connect several devices in sequence (daisy-chaining). Some USB
devices draw their power over the USB cable, while others require a separate power
connection. USB 2.0 ports are included on all current Macintosh computers.
FireWire 400 (6-pin)
(Sometimes labeled iLINK)
FireWire 400 (4-pin)