Smart SDR for mac

GM4WCE

A few years ago I used a 6300 with a windows PC which I loved. Then a house move forced QRT for a while so I sold the 6300. After another move and retirement form work I now plan to buy a Flex8400. I will be using this with an imac rather than a PC and I was hoping for advice on a couple of points. First, is it better to connect my paddle key and headphones directly to the 8400 or to the imac?

Secondly, with my 6300 I used a Flex Control which worked great with the PC. Is this the same with the imac? I see in Marcus' documentation for Smart SDR for mac I can use a MIDI controller - would this be in addition to the Flex Control, and if so any recommendations on which MIDI controller would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Peter

KD0RC

Hi Peter, where you plug your paddles and headphones depends on how you operate. If you will normally be right at the radio, I recommend plugging both into the back of the radio. This eliminates some latency as well as additional set up and interfacing.

On the other hand, if you will typically use the computer away from the radio (even if it is just in an adjacent room), then you will be better served to connect your paddles and phones to the computer.

Lynn, KU7Q has a line of MIDI controllers for the Flex (and other radios) that you might want to look into. His company has a web presence at Lynnovation.com. He has built some very high-quality devices.

If you want something bigger (more knobs and a display), check out the TeensyMaestro thread here on the Flex Community. Neil, G7UFO has a kit available and Bill K9HZ is planning to make a kit available sometime in November. He currently has very inexpensive boards available if you are willing to buy your own parts. Proximity to Neil could be a deciding factor!

K3CDY

Hi Peter -

I'm running an 8400 on my Mac M2 Studio, using Mac SmartSDR. For my CW paddle connection, I use the excellent "Halikey" by Halibut Electronics, available here. This allows a USB connection between your paddle and Mac SmartSDR, and the app-generated sidetone latency is barely perceptible.

For audio (headphones/mic), I use a USB audio interface connected to my Mac. Mine is the Universal Audio Volt 2, and use some traditional Audio-Technica studio headphones, and a Røde "Pod Mic." I also use two software packages from Rogue Amoeba called "Audio Hijack" and "Loopback." Audio Hijack permits real-time audio processing (compression & parametric EQ in my case), and can help perfect your sideband signal. Loopback is a popular app for routing DAX audio easily to other apps like FreeDV, and WSJT-X. You can get a discount code for Loopback from Marcus (author of Mac SmartSDR) by sending him an email from the app's Help menu.

With regard to MIDI controllers, I use a Stream Deck+. I published a document on this forum describing how I put it all together. You can download the document here.

I also use the awesome TeensyMaestro that Len mentions above. I built "serial #3" using the PCB, front panel and instructions that Len and Simon (KV0E) put together (see my build on the TeensyMaestro thread here). It's not a "true" Maestro, but it was exactly what I needed at roughly 1/3 the cost.

Good luck with all this! You will love your 8400.