I use the computer's headphone port
Its better if you use a dedicated audio interface.
I highly recommend investing in a proper interface, especially with running those bigger libraries you have.
Not necessarily. The fidelity will be better & you can record, but the MBP's headphone jack isn't just fine if you want something you can throw in a bag, it's super stable, and the latency is pretty good... I've personally always used the headphone jack as my default audio device because I'm most likely to just throw it in a bag and take it to a coffee shop, or similar...
It certainly did on my MacBook, especially with playback. Running libraries like HS Diamond and BS were an issue without an interface….and of course, latency. Perhaps things are different with newer setups, but on my 213 MacBook the interface was essential for handling demanding orchestra libraries.
Might be different on Windows? I sometimes swap from my ASIO driver (256 samples buffer, around 12 ms latency) to WaveOut (more than 100 ms latency, big buffer size) to screencap the DAW and there's no notable difference except the latency of course, however it doesn't really matter when not recording.
Yeah, of course if there's a problem with the CPU, an audio interface won't magically solve anything. But OP should use one anyways. In mi case, with a decent Windows laptop (and working in the past with a mediocre PC), not using a dedicated audio interface is a bottleneck for the amount of voices that I could handle. As well as the latency. There's definitely an issue with OP's Mac but he should get an audio interface as well.
I don’t believe audio interfaces makes as much of a difference on a Mac as on a PC. I always had to use them when I was on a PC, but since switching to Macs they simply don’t seem to make a valuable enough difference, if any at all, to warrant them unless you need the inputs and outputs. For working within the box and with headphones the headphone jack works just great.
I guess that's a plus for MAC. If only they weren't so expensive and so little customizable.I don’t believe audio interfaces makes as much of a difference on a Mac as on a PC. I always had to use them when I was on a PC, but since switching to Macs they simply don’t seem to make a valuable enough difference, if any at all, to warrant them unless you need the inputs and outputs. For working within the box and with headphones the headphone jack works just great.
On macos it doesn't, Core Audio is typically used to handle audio throughout the OS. In Windows it may very well be a different case... I frequently see people say that specific ASIO drivers make a big difference, and I'm sure that's true... That being said, that comes down to being an issue with the the efficiency of a software layer, not the hardware itself... It also speaks to the tradeoffs with one OS or another... PCs have their own advantages, but you're also have to rely on 3rd party drivers that can vary in stability, performance, etc...I don’t believe audio interfaces makes as much of a difference on a Mac as on a PC. I always had to use them when I was on a PC, but since switching to Macs they simply don’t seem to make a valuable enough difference, if any at all, to warrant them unless you need the inputs and outputs. For working within the box and with headphones the headphone jack works just great.
Curious as to your reason for Horns 2 and 4 here - which are both stronger in the low range. Why not 1 or 3 or even JXL solo?
They have the best staccatissimos. JXL solo horn has an awful staccatissimo surprisingly. Same reason Berlin Brass Trumpet 2 doesn’t make the cut in my projects.
