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Bass, iMac, and Garage Band

phillm47

phillm47

Sep 7, 2001
670
14
Fort Wayne, Indiana - USA
#1
I recently crossed over to the "other side" (no, not that side) and purchased a new iMac computer. The iMac comes bundled with Garage Band software. I would like to try recording my bass into Garage Band, nothing serious or fancy, just fool around some, practice loops, possible demo and some classes at Link Removed.

What's a good, budget way to get my bass plugged into the iMac for recording? Is a 1/8" x 1/4" adapter all I need to get going, with decent results? I do have a newer model SansAmp Bass Driver DI, should this be used with a 1/4" x 1/8" adapter and go into the iMac via "line out"? Is there a better budget ($$$) solution? I'm not looking for pro quality here, just decent enough for some experimentation and fun.

Thanks folks !
 
#2
phillm47 said:
I recently crossed over to the "other side" (no, not that side) and purchased a new iMac computer. The iMac comes bundled with Garage Band software. I would like to try recording my bass into Garage Band, nothing serious or fancy, just fool around some, practice loops, possible demo and some classes at Link Removed.

What's a good, budget way to get my bass plugged into the iMac for recording? Is a 1/8" x 1/4" adapter all I need to get going, with decent results? I do have a newer model SansAmp Bass Driver DI, should this be used with a 1/4" x 1/8" adapter and go into the iMac via "line out"? Is there a better budget ($$$) solution? I'm not looking for pro quality here, just decent enough for some experimentation and fun.

Thanks folks !
Click to expand...

i'l be interested in the responses to this, as i would also like to record onto my imac, at a very low cost!
 
#4
I don't know how budget you are looking for, but I have one of these and it works well:
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There is also this one which is cheaper that should work fine:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I do not know how those "straight into the mic input adaptors" work or if they work.
 
#5
guys-i dont think you can go into the line out, although my mac doesn't even have one so i dont know for sure. but get the m-audio fast track usb, i think the guy above me posted a link to it. it was a hundred bucks a few years ago, and it works great. it is really simple to use and really hard to figure out, i cursed the d*mned thing at first, but once i figured it out it's been smooth sailing. i cant beleive how good this thing sounds for as cheap as it is. it also feels like a toy. if anyone has any questions or gets one and needs help getting started with it you can ask me or probably find info on it at macjams.com.
 
#6
I wouldn't do the line in thing, the quality just isn't there and impedence isn't right from your bass, even out of your Sansamp.

Smallmouth bass was right - the Firewire Solo is a great option... (I own it and it sounds fantastic) but could be a bit expensive for just jamming.

BUT... there is an even cheaper one - The Lightsnake USB cable:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Shows up for between $30 and $40 on the web, looks like it would work great for jamming out on your Mac.
 
#7
bassbrock said:
I wouldn't do the line in thing, the quality just isn't there and impedence isn't right from your bass, even out of your Sansamp.

Smallmouth bass was right - the Firewire Solo is a great option... (I own it and it sounds fantastic) but could be a bit expensive for just jamming.

BUT... there is an even cheaper one - The Lightsnake USB cable:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Shows up for between $30 and $40 on the web, looks like it would work great for jamming out on your Mac.
Click to expand...

The Lightsnake looks pretty cool actually. You think it's a better way to go than this?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#9
phillm47 said:
The Lightsnake looks pretty cool actually. You think it's a better way to go than this?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

Yes, absolutely. The lightsnake cable is basically a USB audio interface built-in to a guitar cable. Those Griffen Technology cables are no different than just hooking directly up to your iMac's line-in port - wrong impedence! It'll work but won't sound good at all and the volume will be low. Not as bad with an active bass as with a passive though.
 
#13
You're probably right.....still,I think I will start off with the 1/8" x 1/4" just to fool around, get my feet wet, and see where it leads.

If the iMac-bass connection is more than a passing fancy, then it will be time to break bad on a quality audio interface - Gas happens....

Thanks for your input
 
#15
Ive got some experience with this, Ive recorded a few tracks with a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter on my computer with the free program called kristal, The only thing between my bass and my computer was a Zoom B2.1 multieffects pedal.

You can listen to these recordings at
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


the tracks called "Funk Improv" and "Rock Beat Improv"
 
#17
bassbrock said:
Good luck! Let us know how it goes. I've found that it's really easy to overdrive the inputs on my iMac and Powerbook when using a 1/4" to 1/8" cable. Hard to maintain a clean sound.
Click to expand...

Well , gave the ol' cable a go last night....and it works better than I expected. But as bassbrock says, it could be better.....much better.

Garage band is a blast. Last night was the first time I tried to work in the program - a couple of hours later I'm modifying loops to fit what I'm hearing in my head...etc. Fun stuff.

NOW....not only do I need an audio interface, but a MIDI interface as well so I can hookup my daughter little Yamaha keyboard and use it to play some of the built-in instruments.
 
#18
phillm47 said:
Well , gave the ol' cable a go last night....and it works better than I expected. But as bassbrock says, it could be better.....much better.

Garage band is a blast. Last night was the first time I tried to work in the program - a couple of hours later I'm modifying loops to fit what I'm hearing in my head...etc. Fun stuff.

NOW....not only do I need an audio interface, but a MIDI interface as well so I can hookup my daughter little Yamaha keyboard and use it to play some of the built-in instruments.
Click to expand...

Instead of spending $30 on a MIDI interface, you could spend $49 on the M-Audio Keystation 49e.
 

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