Macbook

Akshat · #1 07-17-2010, 12:37 AM

Im planning on buying a macbook 13"(not macbook pro) and using logic and garage band to record.Will i need anything else aswell to record like ausb interface or a better soundcard or can i make do with out it.I dont really want professional quality recording,just a home recorded version with a good basstone.I have a 5 string fretless so will the mac soundcard be able to handle the low b.

thanx and cheers

Mudfuzz · #2 07-17-2010, 12:45 AM

I use a Apogee Duet with mine with logic. I couldn't be happier. But yes the sound card can handle way below low B.

Akshat · #3 07-17-2010, 01:03 AM

yea i was thinking about getting that i was just wonderiing if i could record without any interface with my bass directly connected with the macbook and still get decent tone.

jacofox · #4 07-17-2010, 01:08 AM

your better off buying an interface if you can afford it...Tascam make some decent ones that are pretty cheap. you will simply have more control over your tone/volume and it does warm the tone a little bit. Also if you buy a cheap interface and mic you can get the tone you want on your amp and just mic it up.

Mudfuzz · #5 07-17-2010, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akshat

yea i was thinking about getting that i was just wonderiing if i could record without any interface with my bass directly connected with the macbook and still get decent tone.

Depends on what you call decent. Converters are really important, the output diff between the apple's card and the apogee are night and day, even something like a Tascam fireone is a step up. I've never tried to do what you ask as to going in [can you do that without a interface? I didn't think you could], but going out of the card never impressed me.

MIJ-VI · #6 07-17-2010, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akshat

Im planning on buying a macbook 13"(not macbook pro) and using logic and garage band to record.Will i need anything else aswell to record like ausb interface or a better soundcard or can i make do with out it.I dont really want professional quality recording,just a home recorded version with a good basstone.I have a 5 string fretless so will the mac soundcard be able to handle the low b.

thanx and cheers

Audio Interfaces for your Mac

odin70 · #7 07-17-2010, 02:21 AM

+1 on the apogee

Nurb · #8 07-17-2010, 02:29 AM

I play through the line-in all the time and the tone is definitely decent. I have an active bass.

cnltb · #9 07-17-2010, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudfuzz

I use a Apogee Duet with mine with logic. I couldn't be happier. But yes the sound card can handle way below low B.

+1
I too use the duet with a macbook (pro)13"
works well.

bigsack · #10 07-17-2010, 02:51 AM

please please don't buy mac!
i got four friends that their macbook died on them many times.
i used to work in a computer shop and all the use we had for the macbook pro was to warm our hands.
that is before it failed...

macs are not what they used to be...
you just pay for the design now.
also in the same price you can get a pc laptop with a usb sound card that will surely bring you better results than the stinky on board soundcard.

cnltb · #11 07-17-2010, 02:55 AM

Well... mine works well so far.

Mudfuzz · #12 07-17-2010, 02:56 AM

I have never had a prob with my macbook in three years.
I have been using mac for almost 15 years.
I like them.

bigsack · #13 07-17-2010, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudfuzz

I have never had a prob with my macbook in three years.
I have been using mac for almost 15 years.
I like them.

so you are the lucky one...

**TheMutt** · #14 07-17-2010, 03:14 AM

I love Macs. I just recently upgraded mine from the late 2007 Macbook Pro 17" to the brand spankin new mid 2010 Macbook Pro 17" Core i7. I used to be hardcore PC until I actually started using a Mac. Now I'll never go back to PC again. My #1 suggestion is to invest the extra money that it costs for the extended warranty. Trust me, it's well worth the cost in the end.

odin70 · #15 07-17-2010, 03:25 AM

i will never go back to pc. Very happy with my mac. But...Apple should have more competition.

MIJ-VI · #16 07-17-2010, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMutt

I love Macs. I just recently upgraded mine from the late 2007 Macbook Pro 17" to the brand spankin new mid 2010 Macbook Pro 17" Core i7. I used to be hardcore PC until I actually started using a Mac. Now I'll never go back to PC again. My #1 suggestion is to invest the extra money that it costs for the extended warranty. Trust me, it's well worth the cost in the end.

Hi TheMutt.

Which FireWire chip does your new MacBook Pro use, which audio interface are you using, and how well do they work together?

Thank you.

Akshat · #17 07-17-2010, 03:47 AM

how is recording different in a macbook and macbook pro...sorry im a total n00b

MIJ-VI · #18 07-17-2010, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akshat

how is recording different in a macbook and macbook pro...sorry im a total n00b

Newer MacBooks don't have a FireWire port, only USB 2.0 ports. Thus one would have to use a USB-based audio interface. This is OK for recording two tracks at a time at an acceptable latency and at a low cost.

MacBook Pros too have USB 2.0 ports but also have a FireWire port which allows for the use of a FireWire-based audio interface. FW audio interfaces allow for recording larger numbers of tracks with lower *latency (*a noticeable slight time delay between when a note is played and when it is heard).

HOWEVER, while older MacBook Pros used FireWire chips made by by Texas Instruments (good for audio), more recent MacBook Pros use chips made by Lucent/Agere which are reportedly not good for audio.

Hopefully this issue has been resolved in the latest MacBook Pros which were released earlier this year.

**TheMutt** · #19 07-17-2010, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

Hi TheMutt.

Which FireWire chip does your new MacBook Pro use, which audio interface are you using, and how well do they work together?

Thank you.

My Macbook only comes with Firewire 800 (but you can connect an 800 cable with a 400 adapter and use it just like a Firewire 400 port), and the sound card is an Intel HD sound card. I don't know the specific details offhand, but I am sure that you could find them online.

Currently I am using a Tascam US-144 which is a USB interface that I have had for a while now, but I will eventually upgrade to a firewire interface. Probably something like the Presonus Firestudio, Apogee Duet, or maybe some monstrous MOTU interface of doom depending on how serious I get. (right now it's mostly for myself)

EDIT: just checked by booting in safe mode which shows the Firewire interface information. It's still made by Lucent, but I have heard that these chips are made to work like the more expensive TI's.

MIJ-VI · #20 07-17-2010, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMutt

My Macbook only comes with Firewire 800 (but you can connect an 800 cable with a 400 adapter and use it just like a Firewire 400 port), and the sound card is an Intel HD sound card. I don't know the specific details offhand, but I am sure that you could find them online.

Currently I am using a Tascam US-144 which is a USB interface that I have had for a while now, but I will eventually upgrade to a firewire interface. Probably something like the Presonus Firestudio, Apogee Duet, or maybe some monstrous MOTU interface of doom depending on how serious I get. (right now it's mostly for myself)

EDIT: just checked by booting in safe mode which shows the Firewire interface information. It's still made by Lucent, but I have heard that these chips are made to work like the more expensive TI's.

It may be an idea to contact prospective audio interface manufacturers and confirm the compatibility of their products with your new MacBook Pro's Lucent FireWire chip before making a purchase.