k, noob with an imac

[spambot772]

hey guys, sorry this is prolly rly annoying, but ive searched the stickies and the threads, but i still dont know anything.

my question is, how do i record my bass to my imac?

i dont know if it has a sound card.. or if it does, how good it is....

i can get almost any software for free (shhhh) so that shouldnt be a problem, what else do i need to record?

also, what software is good?

im bassically looking for a low cost, bare bones setup to noodle with my bass on my mac. maybe make a cd.

also, what workflow do you guys use? (ie. from what to get ur bass into the comp, to what software, to what finished format?).

any help is greatly appreicated!!

thanks!

[MakiSupaStar]

Buy an interface and record into Garageband. It's built into your OS.

[Ampeg SVT]

Im with Maki on this one, get an interface like a Presonus Audiobox.

You could probably get away with a Line 6 Studio GX, the tone is a bit craptastic but it sounds OK.

[spambot772]

AHH! expensive, isnt there a cord i can buy??

[azureblue]

a mixer, or a high output pedal, to get your bass signal up, then go from that into the sound in jack- it's a stereo mini.

[Charling]

Originally Posted by spambot772

AHH! expensive, isnt there a cord i can buy??

truth be told, you could probably get a jack to min jack adapter and go straight into the line in of your imac. I used to do this back in the day for practicing etc

but it is pretty much the lowest quality, weakest fuzziest sound you can get (within reason!).

as metioned above it will can be helped by putting your bass through something that boosts the signal first such as a mini mixer or some kind of preamp pedal.

you could also use the line out of an amp, NOT the speaker out, that output is WAY to high for a line in socket.

but a soundcard is where you wil start to get ok results, it doesnt have to cost £100, you can get them a lot cheaper and its a necessity if you want to record with any level of quality!

[BAW]

Originally Posted by Charling

truth be told, you could probably get a jack to min jack adapter and go straight into the line in of your imac.

i do this all the time into garage band on my iMac. not the best sound but if its not for anything serious it works fine. it works better if your bass amp has a headphones out jack or a post eq effects send.

also if no ones home i just crank my amp and use the built in microphone.

[spambot772]

Originally Posted by Charling

truth be told, you could probably get a jack to min jack adapter and go straight into the line in of your imac. I used to do this back in the day for practicing etc

but it is pretty much the lowest quality, weakest fuzziest sound you can get (within reason!).

as metioned above it will can be helped by putting your bass through something that boosts the signal first such as a mini mixer or some kind of preamp pedal.

you could also use the line out of an amp, NOT the speaker out, that output is WAY to high for a line in socket.

but a soundcard is where you wil start to get ok results, it doesnt have to cost £100, you can get them a lot cheaper and its a necessity if you want to record with any level of quality!

the only problem is, i cant upgrade the sound card on my imac.

[Charling]

you can, you just need a firewire or usb soundcard rather than an internal pci one!