On this page i will attempt to detail the options for those who have a powermac g5 and need to find an audio interface. This is a somewhat complicated subject... lets first discuss some important factors in finding a compatible interface... there can be complications if you aren't careful!
**All PowerMac G5's support firewire
**All PowerMac G5's support usb 2.0
re: pci slot interfaces -- the PCI slots in a powermac g5 depend on your model; there are 3 different types
and your specific powermac G5 will only support one of the following:
- standard PCI
- PCI-X
- PCI-Express
please note:
if you choose a pci connecting interface, you must ensure that the card will work with the slots in your specific powermac g5!
usually this can be visually identified by checking if there is more than 1 notch in the pci connectors.. if theres 2 notches this means the card is 3.3v compatible + it should work. also i believe you can tell which models support pci-x by counting the amount of ram slots inside the g5.. if there are only 4 memory slots (max ram 4gb) the g5 is standard pci.. if the g5 has 8 memory slots (max ram 8gb), it is pci-x (for more information see this page : http://www.everymac.com/actual-maximum-mac-ram/actual-maximum-power-mac-g5-ram-capacity.html)
then there is the issue of OS compatibility..
PowerMac G5's can run 4 different versions of Operating sytems:
-Mac os X Jaguar 10.2 - (final version 10.2.8 )
-Mac os X Panther 10.3 - (final version 10.3.9 )
-Mac os X Tiger 10.4 - (final version 10.4.11 )
-Mac os X Leopard 10.5 - (final version 10.5.8 )
you must also ensure that the interface you choose has working drivers + is compatible with the version of mac os x that your g5 is running!
in general, most interfaces compatible with g5's are going to have been made between 2003 and 2011. but there are some exceptions to that, a few produced even early were updated with drivers, and a good number of interfaces that claim to not be compatible (ie claim to require 10.6, 10.7+) in the 'system requirements' put forth by the manufacturers, actually are able to be used... but in general its advisable to take the system requirements as law.
here is a general article from 2008 on how to make the decision of choosing an interface
this details the things you want to pay attention to, different types of connections, manufacturers etc
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/audiointerfaces.htmThe vast majority of computer-based musicians will need an audio interface, but with so many on the market, it can feel like an impossible task to decide which to buy. You can narrow down the choices significantly with the help of our essential guide.
List of PowerMac G5 Compatible Audio Interfaces(alot of these interfaces will also support g4's running mac os x aswell)
(if you know of an addition, please just reply to the thread)
Zoom R8
www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr12/articles/zoom-r8.htm Zoom R16
www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep09/articles/zoomr16.htm Prism Sound Orpheus (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/prismorpheus.htm Lexicon Alpha (usb)
http://www.lexiconpro.com/en/products/alphaLexicon Omega (usb)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar04/articles/lexiconomega.htm Lexicon Ionix FW810S (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun09/articles/lexiconionixfw810s.htm Lexicon Ionix U82S
www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct09/articles/lexiconionixus82s.htm Phonic Firefly 808 Universal (firewire/usb)
ESI Duafire
www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul08/articles/esiduafire.htm ESI ESU1808
www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug08/articles/esiesu1808.htm Allen & Heath ZED R16
www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov08/articles/allenandheathzedr16.htm Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1 (usb)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar07/articles/niaudiokontrol.htm Emu 0404 USB (usb)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan07/articles/emu0404.htm Alesis Master Control
www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr09/articles/alesismastercontrol.htm Alesis MultiMix16 USB 2.0
www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug08/articles/alesisMultimixUSB16.htm Alesis I/O14
http://www.alesis.com/io14Alesis I/O26
www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun07/articles/alesisio26.htm Alesis MultiMix Firewire 16
www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb06/articles/alesismultimix16.htm Roland V-Studio 100 (usb)
http://www.roland.com/products/v-studio_100/specifications/site claims it supports 10.4.11 but requires an intel processor, earlier reviews claim g4 400mhz compatibility
Edirol UR80 (usb)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec03/articles/edirolur80.htm Edirol UA20
www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb03/articles/edirolua20.aspEdirol UA25EX (usb)
www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=10185 Edirol UA-1000
http://www.roland.com/products/ua-1000/Edirol UA101 (usb)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may05/articles/edirolua101.htm Edirol FA101 (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep04/articles/edirolfa101.htm Presonus Audiobox
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxUSBmac os support: 10.4.11+
Presonus Firestudio Project
www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct08/articles/firestudioproject.htm Presonus FireStudio
www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec07/articles/presonusfirestudio.htm Presonus Firepod (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb05/articles/firepod.htm mac os support: 10.3.5+
Presonus Firebox (firewire)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul05/articles/firebox.htmM-Audio Audiophile USB (usb)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep03/articles/maudioaphile.htm M-Audio firewire Audiophile (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may04/articles/maudiofirewireap.htm M-audio/Avid Mobile pre (usb)
http://web.archive.org/web/20120207000706/http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MobilePre.html M-audio profire 610
http://web.archive.org/web/20120207115742/http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/ProFire610.html Fast Track Pro
http://web.archive.org/web/20120206104734/http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro.html M-audio/Avid Fast Track Ultra 8R
http://web.archive.org/web/20120208090710/http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUltra8R.html M-Audio Project Mix I/O
www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan06/articles/maudiopmio.htmM-Audio NRV10
www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar07/articles/maudionrv10.htm M-audio/Avid Fast Track Ultra
www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=9483 M-audio Audiophile 2496 (pci)
http://www.m-audio.ca/products/view/audiophile-2496#.VMtSFoegJKMM-audio Delta1010LT (pci)
http://www.m-audio.com/products/view/delta-1010lt#.VMoUDy4YHao***please note: only compatible with powermac g5's that have pci-x slots, aswell as 8 ram slots inside, if your g5 has only 4 ram slots, it is not compatible with this interface ***
M-audio Audiophile 192 (pci)
http://www.m-audio.ca/products/view/audiophile-192Mackie Satellite
www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec07/articles/mackiesatellite.htm Mackie Onyx 400F (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan06/articles/mackieonyx400f.htm Mackie Onyx Blackbird (firewire)
http://www.mackie.com/products/onyxblackbird Mackie 1620i Onyx Mixer (firewire)
http://www.mackie.com/products/onyx1620i/RME Fireface 400 (firewire)
www.rme-audio.de/en_products_fireface_400.phphttp://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul07/articles/rmefireface400.htmMac os support: 10.3.9+
RME Fireface 800 (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec04/articles/fireface.htm RME Fireface UC
www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=11627 RME Digiface (pci)
http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_digiface.phpFocusrite Saffire (original)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep05/articles/saffire.htm Focusrite Saffire LE
Focusrite Saffire 6 USB (usb)
http://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/saffire-6-usb ***Only USB 1.1 variants of the Saffire 6 USB are compatible with OSX 10.5 Leopard. USB 2 variants will not be compatible. USB 1.1 variants' serial numbers begin with 'SU'. USB 2 variants' serial begin with 'S2'.
Focusrite Saffire Pro 10 i/o
Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP
www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov09/articles/focusritesaffirepro24dsp.htm Focusrite Saffire Pro 26 i/o
http://www.soundonsound.com/news?NewsID=8104Focusrite Saffire Pro 26
Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan09/articles/focusritesaffirepro40.htm Steinberg MR816csx & Steinberg MR816x
Mac os support: 10.5.8+
Motu 24i (pci)
http://web.archive.org/web/20080218231423/http://www.motu.com/products/pciaudio/24IO/Motu 308 (pci)
http://web.archive.org/web/20020602115023/http://www.motu.com/english/motuaudio/308/body.htmlMotu 1224 (pci)
http://web.archive.org/web/20020602115023/http://www.motu.com/english/motuaudio/1224/body.htmlMotu 1296 (pci)
http://web.archive.org/web/20020602115023/http://www.motu.com/english/motuaudio/1296/body.htmlMotu 2408 mk2 (pci)
http://web.archive.org/web/20020602111356/http://www.motu.com/english/motuaudio/2408/body.htmlMotu 2408 mk3 (pci)
http://web.archive.org/web/20080218221626/http://www.motu.com/products/pciaudio/2408/Motu 828 (firewire)
http://web.archive.org/web/20030417140727/http://www.motu.com/english/motuaudio/828/body.htmlMotu 828mk2 (firewire)
http://web.archive.org/web/20080207130649/http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/828mkIIMotu 828mk3 (firewire)
http://web.archive.org/web/20100308073054/http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/828mk3Motu 896 (firewire)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul02/articles/motu896.aspMotu 896HD (firewire)
http://www.futurestyle.org/archives/m/motu896hd.htmMotu 896mk3 (firewire)
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/896mk3Motu Traveler (firewire)
http://web.archive.org/web/20080209010525/http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/traveler/Motu Traveler-mk3 (firewire/usb)
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/traveler-mk3Motu UltraLite (firewire)
http://web.archive.org/web/20080209010530/http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/ultralite/Motu UltraLite-mk3 (firewire/usb)
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/ultralite-mk3Motu 8pre (original) (usb)
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/8preMotu 4pre (firewire/usb)
http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/4pre/specs.htmlMotu Audio Express (firewire/usb)
www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/audio-express mac os support: 10.5.8+
M-Audio Profire 2626 (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/maudioprofire2626.htm RME 9652 (pci)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul03/articles/rmehammerfall.aspTascam FW1884 (firewire)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov03/articles/tascamfw1884.htmDigidesign MBOX2 (usb)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov05/articles/mbox2.htmDigidesign mbox mini (usb)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb07/articles/mbox2mini.htm Digidesign Digi 002 Console (firewire)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec02/articles/digi002.aspDigidesign Digi 002 Rack (firewire)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct03/articles/digi002rack.htmDigidesign Digi 003 (firewire)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may07/articles/digi3.htmDigi 003 Rack (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may07/articles/digi3.htm Echo Audiofire 4
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may07/articles/echoaudiofire4.htm Echo Audiofire 8 (firewire)
Echo Audiofire 12 (firewire)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/oct05/articles/echoaudiofire.htm mac os support: 10.3.9+
Echo Gina 34g (pci)
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ECHGINA3GEcho Layla 3g (pci)
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan05/articles/layla.htmTascam US-100 (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/us-100/mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam US-125M (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/us-125m/mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam US-122MKII (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/us-122mkii/mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam US-144MKII (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/us-144mkii/mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam US-200 (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/us-200/mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam US-600 (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/us-600/mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam US-800 (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/us-800/mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam US1641 (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/us-1641/ mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam US-1800 (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/us-1800/mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam US-2000 (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/us-2000/mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam M-164UF (usb)
http://tascam.com/product/m-164uf/mac os support: 10.4.11+
Tascam FW1082 (firewire)
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may05/articles/tascam1082.htm