If I want to record my bass in Garage Band, do I need an interface? Girl at Guitar Center says yes because I will damage my computer but I've seen plenty of videos online with people hooking guitars up to their Macs with just a $5 connector with a 3.5mm jack on the opposite end going into the headphone jack of the Mac. Thanks
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Do I need an interface to hook bass to my computer?
- Thread starter mbell75
- Start date
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
Some of the old MacBooks have a separate mini-jack output for headphones/line-out and a mini-jack for input - Others have only one mini-jack that works both ways. Recent MacBooks have a mini-jack which only serves as headphone/digital out - In which case you will need some kind of audio interface for recording into Garageband.
Best thing is to check out the specs of your computer to see if it has some kind of input you can use for recording - You can do this with an app called MacTracker, which has detailed specs on all things Apple - Mactracker is in the AppStore for both MacOS and IOS...
Thanks. This is a late 2013 iMac and I'm pretty sure the headphone jack doubles as an input as well. If not, there are adapters with USBs on the other end rather than a 3.5 jack which should work I'd think. I've been messing with using the built in mic on the iMac while playing thru my amp and recording that with Garagae Band which works surprisingly well too. I guess I just need to buy one of those adapters and try it, just didn't want to damage my computer.
I don't think you can damage your computer by plugging directly into the line in (though I won't be held responsible if you do 
). Probably won't sound great though, as it's more than likely not an instrument-level input. I'd recommend an audio interface.
). Probably won't sound great though, as it's more than likely not an instrument-level input. I'd recommend an audio interface.
hillerup
There are basses, and there are Thunderbirds!
I don't think you can damage your computer by plugging directly into the line in (though I won't be held responsible if you do
+1...
A USB/FireWire audio interface is the way to go, if you want good results - You could pick one of those up cheaply if you're not going for a pro/audiophile one.
As the girl stated, yes. And you won't damage your computer if you hook up devices proper.
You can do it the easiest most efficient way by using a interface and DAW with some good quality studio headphones. Or you can be adventurous and invent a new way to record. After all, Leo Fender was a electronics pioneer who did things his own way.
You can do it the easiest most efficient way by using a interface and DAW with some good quality studio headphones. Or you can be adventurous and invent a new way to record. After all, Leo Fender was a electronics pioneer who did things his own way.
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I've used the headphone jack/mic before, like a long, long time ago, and the quality wasnt great, but nowadays im sure its better (im talking like 2004 using cakewalk, but it's the same idea). But for under 200 bucks you can snag a 2 input type external sound card. Then you can use xlr or go stereo, plus phantom power if you need it. Phantom power opens up your mic options.
That's the way I would do it if I was starting out in digital production. Don't let anyone try to upsale you on something with more than two inputs. You only need that recording drums, and at that point you're looking at several thousand dollars in mics, stands, cables, and a fancy sound card that'll run you over a grand to really do it right. Just find something in your price range and maybe go used. You'd be surprised how cheap those interfaces are now.
Digital recording is a fun rabbit hole to jump into. Also, Reason is a great piece of software if you want something one step up from garage band, and it's cheaper than pro tools or cubase or logic, and it has a lot of quality digital patches (you'll want a midi controller for that to really utilize it though, like keys or a korg pad or something).
Good luck!
That's the way I would do it if I was starting out in digital production. Don't let anyone try to upsale you on something with more than two inputs. You only need that recording drums, and at that point you're looking at several thousand dollars in mics, stands, cables, and a fancy sound card that'll run you over a grand to really do it right. Just find something in your price range and maybe go used. You'd be surprised how cheap those interfaces are now.
Digital recording is a fun rabbit hole to jump into. Also, Reason is a great piece of software if you want something one step up from garage band, and it's cheaper than pro tools or cubase or logic, and it has a lot of quality digital patches (you'll want a midi controller for that to really utilize it though, like keys or a korg pad or something).
Good luck!
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