Hy guys, i just got a mac, and id like to try out the garageband software that comes with it, what better way to do that than by recording myself playing bass?
what do i need to accomplish this feat? i think i read somewhere that all i need is a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter, but im not sure if this is true, and i wanted to check before i made that special trip to get one. any other equipment needed?

that adapter, or the "garageband" adapter will work. ou might not get a perfect sound, but it will work.

yeah i know it work be the best sound ever, i just wanna see what garageband can do.
thank you though.

GarageBand is great--it does 90% of what pro-level software does, and it does it in an amazingly simple way

The simplest way to do it is to get a 1/8 to 1/4 adapter, and then using the adapter plug your bass into the audio input of your mac.

Probably you'll get 2 problems with that method--a very low input signal, and "latency" or a delay between when you hit the notes and when you hear them. But maybe not

Anyway, once your bass is plugged in, go to preferences, choose audio/midi, and set it to "built in input." Then choose "new track" from the track menu and click "real instrument. Then you can choose "bass" and if you want, choose from a bunch of preset models


Here's an example of a simple GarageBand project--a friend asked me to do some music for a podcast. It's all loops except the bass track, which is me on a diingwall five

http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/omalley/podcast.mov

Here's another one, for a little intro movie. It's a recording of an old folk song, plus me on guitar, upright bass and some percussion, along with a keyboard triggering an accordian sample

http://chnm.gmu.edu/temp/hoe.mov

GarageBand is an amazing piece of software.

Ok, last post. GarageBand will work better if you get one of those interface boxes, with mic inputs and line inputs. I have an m-audio Firewire solo. It has an xlr input, a 1/4 input, phantom power to run a condenser mic, and a firewire connection to my mac. It lets you record two tracks at once, like guitar and vocals, or use a good mic, and it gets rid of the latency issue. There are a bunch of different interface boxes like this and they range from under 100 bucks to over 1000

There are software amps built into Garageband that you can use to boost your bass signal. When I run direct from my bass through a 1/8 - 1/4 adapter I have to use the software amp to get a usable signal.

as long as you got a decent mixer (or interface as PB+J said) with the correct I/O you can run it through to get a good signal. i'm spoiled...i recently got a brian moore with a USB & MIDI out, i take my bass to school and between classes plug it straight into my mac and record/practice.