Macbook and Garageband and bass guitars

don21480 · #1 12-06-2010, 02:22 PM

So my college student son wants a cheap way to record his bass and guitar onto garageband. He has the newer Mac with 1 1/8th jack that has to be switched from mic to headphone in the control panel - a real pain so we thought about a USB interface. Low budget and only using the garageband as a scratchpad, not trying to record a CD - any suggestions? I've looked at the M-Audio Fast Track for $120 or the pawn shop has a Presonus Audiobox for $75 - but we'd opt for a cheaper solution if there is one.

jgroh · #2 12-06-2010, 02:26 PM

It doesnt have both a headphone jack and another one next to it? I have a brand new MacBook Pro and I just use a Griffin guitar cable. Cant get much easier than that. 1/4" to 1/8" and I plug into the input and use GB. Works flawlessly.

don21480 · #3 12-06-2010, 02:42 PM

weird isn't it the Pro has a headphone and mic jack and the regular Macbook has the dual purpose jack - major pain in the butt

Bread Knife · #4 12-06-2010, 02:43 PM

I have the same computer and no, there are not separate input and output jacks. It wasn't enough of a problem to deter me from buying my macbook. I have not bothered trying to find a recording solution, but I would be interested in knowing if I could do it on the cheap.

mtripper · #5 12-06-2010, 09:42 PM

I would check into the line6 pod studio gx. It's a pretty good interface/sound card, works well with bass or guitar, and comes with pod farm which would be a good step up from some of the garageband sounds and works very well with garageband. You don't have to use pod farm but it would be a nice bonus with the package. I have better interfaces at home but still use this one for when I travel, it turned out to be one of my better purchases.

jkramer5 · #6 12-06-2010, 11:18 PM

Well you said cheap so here goes, the Behringer UCG102

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCG102.aspx

It works better than you might think and it's around $40 bux just about anywhere.

No drivers required to use it with a MAC and it's pretty vanilla, can use it in just about any DAW or software like guitar Rig etc for virtual amps and stomps etc.

Jpeachbass · #7 12-07-2010, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkramer5

Well you said cheap so here goes, the Behringer UCG102

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCG102.aspx

It works better than you might think and it's around $40 bux just about anywhere.

No drivers required to use it with a MAC and it's pretty vanilla, can use it in just about any DAW or software like guitar Rig etc for virtual amps and stomps etc.

I have never used this product. But it states on the items website, ultra low latency drivers for windows. I don't know if there has been any problems with it on a mack. But i have had horrid problems with other interphases like this one. High latency, noise and other problems. You might try it. My personal set up when not using my fire pod, i just plug a mixer into my 1 1/8 inch jack and run some usb head phones or usb monitors. I get great quality like this. And you don't really need the mixer. Hope this helps.

don21480 · #8 12-07-2010, 06:01 AM

I've heard delay (latency) is a problem on USB interfaces. What he wants to do is record and listen to what he is doing on the computer speakers at the same time. Latency would be a major problem with timing. I do this on my older mac because it has 2 jacks - 1 for line in and 1 for line out. With one multi jack that can only perform 1 function at a time either the input or the output must come from USB. Which one would have the least problem with latency?

Bassman18 · #9 12-07-2010, 06:45 AM

What i'd suggest is monitoring via the interface using a decent pair of headphones- for recording and playback. The Headphones will give him a better reference to what his signal sounds like.

You're always going to have some latency (most the time our brain fails to register the delay as it is so short) when using USB interfaces, but on a brand new macbook with a decent interface... i'd say it would be minimal.

The M-Audio interface is a great start for a simple recording set up.
Pros: Simple, easy to use features, +48V phantom power if he decided to use a condenser microphone for recording down the line, inputs for XLR, INST and Headphone on the front panel as opposed to the rear panel, comes with Protools M-powered software.
Cons: Limited to only one XLR and one 1/4" input, No Midi connectivity, phantom power switch on the rear panel.

It will do fine for what he wants to do with it, but is a bit limited if he decides to explore a bit more with home recording.

For $75, the Presonus Audiobox is a bargain.
Pros: its only $75 (the extra cash could be spent on some decent headphones), two XLR or 1/4" inputs, controls on front panel ( including +48v switch), midi inputs if he decides to use a midi controller later on, 1/4" main outputs.
Cons: Second hand is always a little risky, controls could appear daunting/confusing, no RCA outputs, headphone input on rear panel.

I would personally go for this one, its a bit more versatile and its bargain price.

Hope that helps.

don21480 · #10 12-07-2010, 06:55 AM

That's a tremendous help - thanks so much. The pawn shop offered me a 30 day return policy too!

ohskigod · #11 12-07-2010, 07:35 AM

the cool thing about the m audio is that if you buy a bigger m audio interface down the road (in my case the Maudio fast track ultra) you can combine it with the fast track pro via the spdif cables and have 8 inputs total.

you can mic a whole band with that, and while you think doing that with a regular Macbook would be a problem, it actually isnt....I did it and it worked SURPRISINGLY well.

Charling · #12 12-07-2010, 06:23 PM

The difference between firewire and USB interfaces, as regards latency, comes down to a fraction of a millisecond. They are BOTH imperfect for no-expense spared recording, but so close to perfect it will not be a problem in almost any setup. USB will not be a problem! As long as you read the manual and set it correctly.

A USB interface will come as close to instant as possible these days, with the only improvement being gained from hardware monitoring, which is an un-hearable improvement in many cases!

Ivan M · #13 12-07-2010, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohskigod

the cool thing about the m audio is that if you buy a bigger m audio interface down the road (in my case the Maudio fast track ultra) you can combine it with the fast track pro via the spdif cables and have 8 inputs total.

you can mic a whole band with that, and while you think doing that with a regular Macbook would be a problem, it actually isnt....I did it and it worked SURPRISINGLY well.

I have the M-Audio and a MACBOOK PRO and i LOVE this combo, easy to use and it sounds AWESOME, infact i just did a small recording with it.

Here i am shooting my adult air rifles and edited this movie in IMOVIE and threw down a quick bass line and the beat is from GARAGEBAND, turn your speakers up or put your headphones on, M-AUDIO is AWESOME.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc-rNYuefLY

lindseyp · #14 12-08-2010, 06:27 PM

Ivan_M,
I liked it. Good job.

Ivan M · #15 12-09-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindseyp

Ivan_M,
I liked it. Good job.

Thank you kindly, I started playing if you can call it that 6 months ago basically teaching myself and I am hooked, I used my Fender VB Jazz bass in the video, the kid Kwesi on here told me about the M-audio and I am very happy with it, I barely know how to use it to it's full potential but in time I am sure I wil learn more once I get to mess with it more. I got to meet him at the summers GTG that kid can play some serious Bass.

KingJon53 · #16 11-18-2011, 11:00 PM

Why not just buy some USB Speakers? I got a pair for 24.99 and they have a headphone jack on the right speaker... there it is on the cheap

DONZI97 · #17 11-18-2011, 11:08 PM

I have the same Macbook, and this is what i use. Its highly portable, and you can use it with the iPhone /Ipad also. No latency that I notice

Apogee JAM Guitar Input - Apple Store (U.S.)