Garage band interface advice

[00Funk]

I have only used a protools mbox in the past

I got a new mac laptop that has garageband on it. Will any interface work ? or do i need a special kind. I would like something similar to the mbox.

 

[needmoney]

Anything should work as long as it's compatible with Max OS-X. I use and M-Audio box with mine, Presonus also make some great value ones. The one I have is the most similar I found to the MBox (which is essentially what I wanted but didn't want Protools), and it's the fast-track pro, lots of patching options and nice mic preamps; [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[-Sam-]

I'm pretty sure that the Mbox is locked into protools? thats why im looking elsewhere

 

[SkiingLizard]

no you can use ASIO drivers for the MBox and run other software with it... PT is locked to digidesign software, digidesign software is not locked to PT

 

[Luke73]

I have an M-Audio USB Pre that works nicely

 

[thehurlatron]

I've had very good results, (and no issues) using MOTU stuff. I'm curently using 2x ultralite units.

 

[stranger0]

I haven't tried my Fast Track yet with my Mac but I am using the Firestudio and it works great with GB (and Logic 8), the set up is pretty good and sound wise I like it. There's a thread where I was making the same inquiries you were a while back. If I have the time I'll find it later.

 

[stflbn]

I have a Presonus Firebox and it happily works with any App I open. In fact, it has no drivers at all... just uses Apples.

(Also, Leopard seems to have also livened it up a bit speed wise thanks to new drivers in Leopard)

 

[Basshole]

I have an M-Audio USB Pre that works nicely

+1

Link Removed

 

[stranger0]

I have a Presonus Firebox and it happily works with any App I open. In fact, it has no drivers at all... just uses Apples.

(Also, Leopard seems to have also livened it up a bit speed wise thanks to new drivers in Leopard)

Not many people have this working with Leopard (myself included) how'd you manage to get that?


00Funk, here you go.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=361625

If you have questions ask them, I'm still a noob at this but I think it's turning out ok so far.

 

[BurningSkies]

Another vote for MOTU.

In my case, I'm using an 8Pre with a macbook pro (duo-core) and Either Cubase or Logic Studio. Also works with Garage band.

 

[thehurlatron]

Another vote for MOTU.

In my case, I'm using an 8Pre with a macbook pro (duo-core) and Either Cubase or Logic Studio. Also works with Garage band.

A hair off topic now, but................

How are you liking the new Logic studio? I'm toying with upgrading from my logic express7.2. Is it worth it? I definetly like the new price scheme though.

 

[BurningSkies]

A hair off topic now, but................

How are you liking the new Logic studio? I'm toying with upgrading from my logic express7.2. Is it worth it? I definetly like the new price scheme though.

At this point, I really can't give you much insight. I've been using Cubase for a few years, and probably wouldn't have gone to Logic without some incentive. More or less, because I didn't really want to re-learn a whole new software paradigm and that I really am not a fan of Garageband in the extreme. A lot of the Apple hype I saw was about how well it integrated with GB and how similar it is...which to me would be a negative.

As of right now, I've got some tracks recorded, unmixed and waiting for me to have a few free moments to mix down and figure out the process of exporting. A lot will hinge on ease of getting tracks from 'raw' form to mixed down listen-able files in a hurry. I use Cubase (and hopefully Logic) to record both my band's practices, demos, etc...and if I can't turn around decent sounding files fairly fast its not terribly useful to me except for major projects.

BTW, my incentive for giving Logic a shot, (beyond some nice reviews) was the fact that it came at a price I can't refuse. Free and a legit, legal (and now registered copy).

I will say that that right off, I installed the 'full' Studio set up including all Jam-Packs, Soundtrack2, and the live/stage software (whatever its called)...and it's a harddrive eater. Almost 50 gigs of material. I ended up removing much of it (30 gigs) to an external drive to bring the install down to about 18 gigs.

 

[Ammioz77]

Once again I'm amazed and humbled by the amount of serious info you folks post on this site! I'm a real newbie and was looking at the Mbox unit for being able to play through that box into my lap top. (I'm using a 17" powerbook). One of the sales guys at the music store was also trying to steer my to the tapco link USB... How do the two compare? I want to be able to do pretty much what the first poster stated and also be able to "grow with the user." What do you all think? Mold me in your image!!!

Peace

Ammioz

 

[stranger0]

use Firewire

 

[00Funk]

use Firewire

I was curious about that. What are the benifits, and do you need a special interface for firewire ?

By the way, thanks for all, who have given advice. Much appreciated

 

[Ammioz77]

Has anyone used the Line 6 Toneproe UX2?

 

[stranger0]

I was curious about that. What are the benifits, and do you need a special interface for firewire ?

By the way, thanks for all, who have given advice. Much appreciated

Interface for firewire vs usb? no, depending on who you talk to, Firewire is faster than USB (which is my opinion) but the fact that, if you're going to be in a mac enviroment and that firewire is meant for a mac (more or less) then why not stick with what works.

I don't know if the same would translate for USB/PC...honestly, big programs on a PC scare me now and I'm glad I bought my mac book.

If you're just starting out, then I can't complain about using the M-Audio Fast Track Pro and a PC, for what it is, and it's a PC, it's fine but not great (in fact on my PC I have no problems recording 1 takes etc...but addying on layers just won't work and certainly doesn't like to sync)

I'm sure there are people on here who have perfectly stable windows machines for this recording gear. As someone pointed out to me once, you won't find a PC in a big recording studio, you'll find a mac.

This is what i started with about a year and a bit ago

MAudio USB Fast Track Pro
PC, 1 gig memory, plenty of hard drive space (I've got a dell)

and now I've got

Mac Book Pro 2.2ghz 1 gig memory (soon to be 4 but running tiger, not leopard)
Presonus Firestudio (connected via firewire)

 

[00Funk]

Thanks StrangerO, This is probably all I need, since I only make quick cheesy bass clips

 

[stranger0]

yup, if you wanted to 'expand' that, you could always run the outs of a mixer into the 2channels. Granted you only get 2 tracks but hey, at least whatever you run from the mixer can be recorded easily. I've heard a lot of good things about the firebox but never used it.