Basic GarageBand Setup

[selowitch]

I have a passive Fender Jazz, an older iMic, and an iMac with GarageBand. Plugging directly into the iMic does not get the job done; there's a mismatch in the impedance or the gain or something. What is the cheapest way to address that problem so that I get a halfway decent sound in GarageBand without spending a fortune?

 

[megadan]

The impedance mismatch could be solved with a DI box.

Gain, you'll need a preamp. A decent preamp will do the job as a DI too, so that's where I'd look.

You can get some decent (not good) results with some of the cheaper ART gear, which can be had for around $50 on the usual music websites.

 

[rygon]

id say go for a line6 toneport OR just one of those lightsnakes. theyre not the best quality soundwise, but it gets the jod done

 

[jimmy rocket]

That's weird because I just recorded some bass tracks with that exact same setup.

Did you switch the line/mic switch on the side?

 

[selowitch]

That's weird because I just recorded some bass tracks with that exact same setup.

Did you switch the line/mic switch on the side?

Yeah, to "line" -- using a "real instrument". I wonder what I'm doing wrong?

 

[john_g]

I record directly into garageband using a Griffin guitar cable. Couldnt be any easier than that. I got mine for $24.95. I havent seen them around anymore though, but someone has to have them. Google around for it.

 

[ohskigod]

you have the right drivers equiped in Garageband preferences right?

I dont use Imic, I use a preamp (cant remember which one) but if the drivers are still set for "built in" for the input, that might be the problem. I physically go into preferences to change it when using the preamp, you might have to as well.

 

[warnergt]

I use an M-Audio Audio Buddy with my iMac for recording.
It is pretty cheap and has ultra-low distortion and ultra-high signal to noise ratio.

 

[jimmy rocket]

Yeah, to "line" -- using a "real instrument". I wonder what I'm doing wrong?

Yeah, set it to "mic" The line setting gives you all sorts of extra noise. I've recorded a mess of great sounding tracks with those settings.

 

[fretlessrock]

The i-mic is a decent little box but it isn't much of an upgrade over the built in audio on the newer macs, if any at all. There are some OK interfaces out there in the $100 range. The Line6 units are very good values and come with some good bundled software. Go to your favorite retail site (MF, sweetwater...) and sort the audio interfaces by price. See if something looks like it i in your price range. You will get better sounding bass and it will do a better job driving headphones or monitors than your iMic.

 

[selowitch]

Good advice, everybody -- thanks!

 

[singlemalt]

I'm new to mac, and loving it, can't wait to get the bass hooked up the computer. So I'd like to focus on mac questions and garageband in particular.

First the interface: Leaning towards the line 6 thing to get inputs for mikes and bass, guitar, keys, but I had a bass pod for a couple days and just didn't "get it". Course that was on my old windows laptop...
I want to be able to use my Alembic f2b preamp, audio arts compressor and stomp effects before I hit the interface. I'm also using active and passive basses, guitars and keys. I like the mac effects, and I was intrigued by the line six stuff.

The sidetrack:
Also, I have an Akia headrush looper, that I would like to feed two or more signals into, ala KT's wee bastard routine. Say drum machine and bass line, into the looper, kill the drum machine, and start playing over the loop of the two..ad vocal...this would be for live stuff, and I figure I need a small mixer. Lots of inexpensive 5-6 channel mixers out there. The headrush is also a killer delay, tape echo.

Question is: is there a combination interface device & mixer that would cost the same as the two items combined (est, $500 and that's the high end of the budget) that would be a better choice AND could ride in my rack.

Also, could one of you guys line me out on how it hooks up for headphone practice with the imac, garageband and itunes?

Currently, I have a m-80 di, and a sholtz bass rockman with line/headphone out. Am I close to some workable setup right now? I'm of course worried about making a costly hook up error and frying the new mac so I'm going slow here. Being a newly freed windows sufferer I tend to think everything is going to be difficult, I'm still trying to get used to a cooperative computer.

I'm super stoked to be windows free and finally looking at a simple usable desktop work station, and I'm really impressed with some of the recordings I heard!

Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[selowitch]

you have the right drivers equiped in Garageband preferences right?

I don't know - what drivers are "wrong" and which ones are "right"?

I record directly into garageband using a Griffin guitar cable. Couldnt be any easier than that. I got mine for $24.95. I havent seen them around anymore though, but someone has to have them. Google around for it.

I own one. That's how I connect to the iMic. Is the iMic superfluous if you have a newish Mac, though?

 

[singlemalt]

mf has the presonus firewire 10 with software on a close out for about $350. Anybody using one of these to get into garageband?