Mac newbie question

[tjclem]

I just bought my first Mac an I-Mac. I record sound clips with a zoom H-2. Is there something on the stock computer that I can use to edit and adjust levels of recordings? I am not looking for anything fancy. I used to use the free version of wavepad on my widows computer. I don't want to add anything to this machine unless I have to I want to keep it lean and mean. Thanks..tom

[project_c]

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

[MakiSupaStar]

GarageBand should take care of that for you. It comes free with the OS.

[tjclem]

I looked at the tutorials and cant see how you can take a live recording of a band and do anything with it. As far as I can see it helps you create music not adjust already created music. Possibly I am not seeing the right area to look at?

[JulienJeff]

you may import audio files in garage band and then you may adjust the level of the file, EQ it, etc.

[skwee]

+1 on audacity, but I use both garageband and that to do light editing.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by tjclem

I looked at the tutorials and cant see how you can take a live recording of a band and do anything with it. As far as I can see it helps you create music not adjust already created music. Possibly I am not seeing the right area to look at?

Import your audio file into a new instrument track. In many cases it's as simple as creating the track and literally dragging the file onto it.

[tjclem]

So I tell the mac it is a guitar for instance and drag and drop?

Thanks for the assist by the way.t

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by tjclem

So I tell the mac it is a guitar for instance and drag and drop?

Thanks for the assist by the way.t

Yep. Don't get hung up on what you define the track as. It doesn't really matter. It's not like it's going to set eq's or anything for you. It simply defines the picture you have there. I believe (this is off the top of my head) that there's a blank audio track option or something similarly named in the insert menu. I used to use that. There might even be a keystroke associated with it like cmnd+t or something like that. From there it's drag and drop. Make sure you line your audio up to the '1'. It will make things easier for you when editing.

[jkramer5]

You're getting good advice here, but it's even easier than posted in one aspect, you don't have to crate a track to add pre recorded audio to your project. Just navigate to where your file is stored, and drag and drop the track or tracks you want to add to the project. GB will create new tracks after you drop them.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by jkramer5

You're getting good advice here, but it's even easier than posted in one aspect, you don't have to crate a track to add pre recorded audio to your project. Just navigate to where your file is stored, and drag and drop the track or tracks you want to add to the project. GB will create new tracks after you drop them.

Yep. You can do it this way too. I just like to define things first before dragging them in. You can define them afterwards too though.

[tjclem]

Well i did create and adjust one tune sent it to my wifes windows computer and all the goodness stopped there. It states it is a compressed file and won't open it any clues guys?

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by tjclem

Well i did create and adjust one tune sent it to my wifes windows computer and all the goodness stopped there. It states it is a compressed file and won't open it any clues guys?

Depends on the quality you want, but you could export it as an MP3 file, or a lossless .wav file. Depending on the program on your wife's machine, not all programs recognize aif files. It's definitely NOT going to recognize a GarageBand file.

[tjclem]

When I go to save as I don't see an option to save it as an mp3 is there something else I have to do?

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by tjclem

When I go to save as I don't see an option to save it as an mp3 is there something else I have to do?

you're looking to 'export' or perhaps 'share'.

[scowboy]

Audacity or Garage Band. However if you are willing to spend $20 you can get Peak Express from Bias. It's made for what you want to do. I do the same thing and have gone through using both Garage Band and Audacity. Audacity works better for quick and dirty Digital Recorder editing. Bias Peak Express kicks both of them to the curb.

http://www.bias-inc.com/products/peakExpress6/

[tjclem]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

you're looking to 'export' or perhaps 'share'.

You rock

Share

export song to disc

Compress using MP3 encoder!!

Thanks I think we are up and running...t

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by tjclem

You rock

Share

export song to disc

Compress using MP3 encoder!!

Thanks I think we are up and running...t

Cheers.