ISDN FAQ… please?

Mike Cooper · **Voice Talent** Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 3

Hi folks,

My first post in the Geek Place (I think!). Be gentle… Confused

I am in London, and I'm trying to get my head around the cost and equipment needed to get ISDN up and running, in order to make a sensible decision about whether it's worthwhile for me personally. In other words, I'm not asking here for opinions on whether it is or not, or whether AudioTX/SourceConnect/iSpeek or any IP solution might be cheaper or better – I'm only concerned with costs and equipment for ISDN.

First off, I use a MacBook laptop to record onto in my booth (editing later on another Mac elsewhere in the house), and am wondering whether I can connect this laptop as it stands to anything on the market.

If so, then secondly, what exactly would you guys recommend?

Finally, if my Mac laptop isn't going to work for this, then does Windows have any advantage over the Mac when looking for solutions? I could pick up a second-hand Mac for about the price of a new Windows PC and would rather keep all my machines in the Mac fold if possible, but life's not always ideal, is it…

Thanks in advance if you can help with my questions.

In case it makes any odds ( <----- ISDN newbie) I use a Presonus Inspire 1394 Firewire interface to connect my microphone to my Mac.

Mike

Philip Banks · **Voice Talent** Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 404

As a Mac user you will need to buy a hardware (blackbox) codec at a cost of around £3000 new or £1500 second hand, look for prima or LTprima on ebay to give you some idea. BT will install lines in your home for around £250 and the quarterly rental is about £150. If you call the client/studio then you pay the usual BT call costs x 2 as you are technically using two lines. If the client calls you then there are no call charges.

Technically, you would need to route you mic signal into the codec and the incoming signal into your headphones so it's just a case of playing with plugs n sockets.

There is nothing useable with ISDN that will work with your MAC.

Commercially, if what you buy to do down the line sessions with other studios is not being plugged into ISDN lines then it is not worth having and that is likely to remain the case for a few years. It is not that I am anti VOIP technology it's just that no one has bought into it significantly to make it viable.

Feel free to call me to pick my brains further if appropriate.

Frank Frederick · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 29 Dec 2006 Posts: 142

I second Phillips comments.

ISDN codecs are still the mainstay of doing audio in real-time from a remote location. VOIP is still in it's infancy and as yet is not accepted by the masses for our industry.

Prior to purchasing an ISDN codec for your home studio, do some research and determine whether or not the expense has merit. If it does, then determine if there are local studios with ISDN codecs who would allow you the use of theirs until you are established with this technology.

Research the possible codecs available and determine which type of coding scheme (G.722, .mp3, stereo, mono, .mp4, etc.) is used by your clients or potential clients. Purcchase your codec accordingly.

Used codecs are available in obscure places such as eBay, and Musicam, and other locations. Google "used ISDN codec" and begin the research today.

Good luck.

Toodles

Frank Frederick
"The Voice" tm

Esther Law · **Voice Talent** Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 43