Mac recording ?

[iplaybassguitar]

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?

[thehurlatron]

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

[iplaybassguitar]

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

[PB+J]

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

[PB+J]

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.

[PB+J]

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

[WillPlay4Food]

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.

[LowMiller]

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.