I hope you, too, are super-excited to get recording again!!!
I'm having a bit of trouble recording into my fancy new MacBook...which is kind of frustrating. You'd think if you get a fancy laptop you could easily record fancy audio...
However, I'm having trouble. See, my MBox doesn't work ('cause DigiDesign isn't compatible with Leopard yet, very frustrating), so I tried two things: a Griffin iMic and a Griffin iCable. When used separately, or together, I'm able to record moderately well (I don't need super-hi-fi or anything), but it records a very, very low levels.
The moment I turn up the gain on the mic, there's a LOT of hiss. And I don't want a lot of hiss.
All I need is to be able to use a Shure 58, and record sounds of all levels from that mic into my computer (a MacBook Pro).
I've mentioned what I have for gear...I don't want to spend a whole lot more, but I realize that's the easiest solution. I'm willing to spend a bit more, however, if it means I'll be able to EASILY record into my computer (where I'll use Garageband).
Again - not trying to be all hi-fi nerd here, I know using GB and this stuff I won't get very high quality - but I feel like the level of hiss isn't appropriate. Thoughts, ya'll?
Thanks!
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agedmachine
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Re:recording in Garageband that doesn't suck - 2008/01/08 22:02Well, my vocalist for another project uses a Macbook Pro with Garageband to put her vocals and such over the top of the music I send her -- and she ended up going with an m-audio box. The onboard audio was way too noisy, and there were some latency issues, etc.
I think she has an Oxygen, which is a USB-based interface. I'm not sure what your budget is, but it's something to look into.
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mick
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Re:recording in Garageband that doesn't suck - 2008/01/08 22:13I lot of audio systems have an option for a mic amp on the sound hardware. This adds liek +2-4dB but is a very noisy amp. If it has that, turn it off, but you'll probably need an external preamp of some sort then.
Sometimes you just can't win.
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tangmo
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Re:recording in Garageband that doesn't suck - 2008/01/08 23:41Mic to analog mixer/pre-amp to soundcard worked for me. Should work feeding into your interface, although I'm not familiar with it. I think you need at least a pre-amp in the chain. Behringer has some very affordable little mixers with phantom power. Cost of mixer and cables could be around $50.
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Gumbo
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Re:recording in Garageband that doesn't suck - 2008/01/09 11:18I used (and still do) an M-Audio FastTrack to record vocals and acoustic or electric guitar (percussion, harmonica etc) into GarageBand via a dynamic mic for last years RPM Challenge. I've been pretty happy with it.
The iMic didn't do it for me either.
If you're just recording one track at a time then you don't don't need more than it's two inputs (mic/guitar jack) and with a Macbook you have the advantage that it's usb bus powered so you can actually use it away from a power source.
OK it's also 24-bit!
I imagine you could find one on eBay but it currently goes for $100 at the Apple Store. Just noting the reviews there say it won't work with condenser micss due to the lack of phantom power.
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thel1195
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Re:recording in Garageband that doesn't suck - 2008/01/10 04:40Not real Mac savvy, but I can only say good thing about my M-Audio setup. I have 3 different setups and they have all been trouble free. I'm running a Mini box with a Pro Tool LE setup. 16 or 24 bit for everything.
Avoid the M-Audio speakers though...well unless you like the sound of AM radio.
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pocketgirlfriend
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Re:recording in Garageband that doesn't suck - 2008/01/11 05:26We did our album in Garage band last year, on a Mac mini. I used condenser mics for the vocals, so level wasn't a problem because I had to use a mic preamp. However, a couple things I realized:
Garage band is pretty good in picking up whatever goes into it. I was used to recording analog, where you almost try to push things a bit into the 'yellow' to get a warm, compressed sound. With digital, you don't want to do that. Stay in the green if you can! Otherwise you may pick up background noise (which may be your 'hiss' as much as your input device. I had to deal with a couple digital artifacts due to pushing it too high.
You can always boost the level of the track once recorded, so as long as you get a good clean signal originally, it should be fine.
I used a decent analog to digital (AD/DA) converter, though, and that helped a ton. It is a PreSonus Inspire, and you can either connect XLR or 1/4" jacks into it with up to 4 tracks at a time. I did all my guitars, bass and vox through that box and I think it came out pretty good. They start at under $200 on the online music stores IIRC.
Good luck in '08!
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If you have the budget (a big IF - $495) and if you're really committed to making music (another big IF), you really need to check out the Apogee Duet:
The interface is actually designed to be used with a Mac, with full integration with Garageband and/or Logic - so you know it'll serve you well - but you can use it with any Mac music software (we use it with CubaseSX, Live, and Reason).
We used to own an RME Fireface800 - until we had to sell it just prior to doing the RPM Challenge last year - so we ended up recording our '07 RPM disc with only the internal card in our G5; and quite frankly, the sonic quality of that recording absolutely blew the Big One.
Late last year, after we'd just finished a soundtrack (made possible by participating in the '07 Challenge, BTW), we plunked down some of the money we earned from doing the work on a Duet, plugged it in - and it just plain blew us away... so much so, that we just went back & rerecorded all the music for the soundtrack - plus we redid the entire sound mix of the film through the device. What a difference: the A/D/D/A converters are far better than the $1500 RME interface, and nothing in the Duet's price range can match it.
Again, the price is a serious consideration - but think of it as an investment in your music. If you can handle that - man, it's well worth the expense.
kirk & wendy, aka acl, aka another cultural landslide
Post edited by: ACL, at: 2008/01/13 06:09
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Oh - btw, the quality you can get out of Garageband can be quite surprising - it's not really a Lo-Fi app... it's all in how you use it.
Post edited by: ACL, at: 2008/01/13 05:03
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Floppy Jalopy
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Re:recording in Garageband that doesn't suck - 2008/01/13 05:06I used Garageband on a MacBook for my last 2 RPM albums (OK 1st year Powerbook last year MacBook) Anyway, I used a beat-up fourtrack for the line into Garageband.
Not a gearhead but here is how I did it, Mic into a Fourtrack,( my frined grabbed this ata yard sale for 5 bucks, only two channels worked, but for me ti worked as a pre-amp perfect) then I used a 1/4" to mini adapter cord out of the four track and plugged that into the audio input jack on my Mac.
This way I could control levels on the fourtrack and get rid of hiss etc... ' I am cheap, but love finding workarounds.
Post edited by: Floppy Jalopy, at: 2008/01/13 05:09
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