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-- Mac GarageBand mic info ?

Posted by daydreamer on Mar-31-2008 20:06:

Mac GarageBand mic info ?

ok, so i've been using garageband for a while now, and finally started using the internal mic for vocals, (I have a black MacBook)

it does well enough, but recently i've decided to get an actual mic for vocals and have all but decided on the SHURE SM58s with an on/off switch.

good choice?

and what kind of cable do i need to connect to my macbook,
i'm still unsure about that. would i need anything else.

frankly, it took me 7 months to realize that my mac had an internal mic.

help....

Posted by Ray_Chappell on Mar-31-2008 23:56:

I'd recommend picking up a relatively inexpensive audio interface. There are ways to rig hooking the mic up directly to the laptop (I assume anyway... I've done it with Dell's and Vaio's... I don't have a Macbook nor a Shure, but I imagine with several adapters you could get it directly hooked up)... but if you want better quality I'd recommend picking up a decent interface you can just plug in via usb/firewire, then hook the mic up to the interface and you should be pleased with the sound.

Posted by Ray_Chappell on Mar-31-2008 23:58:

And yes - I'd say the SM87 is a good choice. A great mic to get started and relatively versatile. Good choice.

Posted by daydreamer on Apr-01-2008 17:27:

well i've been doing so far is hooking my guitar and bass through this monster cable that converts the regular guitar cable into the audio input of my macbook.

now, i'm not sure, but i think that the cable for a microphone is different than the typical cable you use to connect the guitar to the speakers.

if so what kind of cable is it, and is a converter readily available or is an audio interface thingy needed/better.

Posted by Ray_Chappell on Apr-01-2008 22:58:

It's probably an XLR hook up. You can pick up an XLR to 1/4" adapter, then plug that into whatever you are plugging your 1/4" into now. I'm assuming that since it has an on off switch it doesn't need phantom power, too. So that ought to work out.

Posted by daydreamer on Apr-02-2008 16:04:

ok so this is what i have so far

a Shure SM87S with an on/off switch

a Shure C 20AHZ Cable 1/4" Male to XLR Female
or should it be
1/4" female to XLR male

and finally a

Shure A58WS-GRA SM58 Windscreen for Ball-Type Microphone

all of them found on the guitar center page
links to all Windscreen

Cable

MIC

Posted by wrzonance on Apr-05-2008 04:08:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UltraLite/

Love it.

I have two Motu 8pres, and one Motu 828 mkII, and an Ultralite.

Motu makes great stuff. If the issue, ISN'T price, i'd recommend the Ultralite.

Presonus makes pretty good affordable stuff:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AudioBoxUSB/

As for using a built-in mic on a Macbook (let alone any laptop built-in mic, ps: I'm typing this on a macbook pro right now), I'd never use it. You'll hear all the noise and gross in your voice once you put on some headphones.

--Adam

Posted by daydreamer on Apr-15-2008 17:21:

ok, so... i finally had some money on me
and decided to go ahead and get the shure mic

i went to guitar center and the guy there started telling me that, that was the wrong mic for me.

basically. the shure sm58 is a good mic but only for 'live' performance and not for recording which is what i'm trying to do.
he said, i need a condenser mic and an audio interface.

he was trying to sell me this sterling audio mic wst77 which was around $500 and an audio interface which was around $150.

it started getting close to $700, and i was like, whoa man, that's more than what i was planning to spend, way more. i was thinking something less than $200 total, including accessories.

i know you get what you pay for, but feck, i'm not trying to do anything professional. i just have some extra time on my hands right now, and i want to create some tracks, add some vocals, have some fun. basically just playing around.

i think, since he's a salesman, he's trying to get me for all that i got, and he started using this lingo that i didn't understand, at which i decided to jump ship, and get out of there, before they get me with their guitar center Credit card to pay for all of this shit.

any mac users playing with garageband out there? who want to lend me a hand and tell me what they are using. or anyone with some knowledge on mics, want to chip in here please do.

Posted by wrzonance on Apr-15-2008 17:46:

The guitar center guy was trying to make commission.

But he is technically correct. Good, quality vocal studio condenser microphones have a more balanced frequency response, and have a higher frequency response than the SM58.

(read more: http://www.crownaudio.com/mic_web/tips/mictip1.htm )

But for YOU the beginner, an SM58 is nearly indistructable, and it will sound just fine for a beginning microphone.

When you really get the dough, just tell him you want to buy one of these mics

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/QTC50mp/

For now---

You need a good reliable interface with XLR connections, and a good reliable microphone. No sense in spending 500-1000 on a condenser mic at this stage.

Posted by cryophonik on Apr-15-2008 17:50:

Yes, you are going to need an audio interface to connect your mic. Also, one VERY important item that you're overlooking is a preamp, which is built-in to most audio interfaces. The signal coming out of a microphone is a very low level and needs to be boosted before it can be properly recorded, which is the purpose of the preamp. In other words, you can't just buy an SM58, a cable, and some adapters and expect it to work without a preamp.

The sales guy at GC was somewhat correct in that the SM58 is better suited for live performance than it is for recording and that you need an audio interface. But for your purposes, you don't need to spend $700. I would look for a decent cheap condenser mic (~$80-150) and a decent soundcard with (1) an XLR input, (2), a built-in preamp, and (3) phantom power to power the condenser mic.

Consider buying a used mic to get more quality at the same price as buying new. But if you're looking for a new mic, you could easily get by with any of the following:

-MXL 990
-Behringer B-1
-CAD GXL3000
-AKG Perception 100

For preamps, look at the following:

Presonus Inspire
Lexicon Lambda

Depending on which comination of mic/preamp you go with, you'll be spending ~$200-250, but that will get you going and should serve your needs until you get more serious about recording. Also, consider getting a pop filter to reduce plosives (i.e, excessively boomy 'B' and 'P' sounds). HTH.

Posted by itsamemario on Apr-16-2008 02:27:

id say go for a sm57, but that might just be me tho.. i prefer it over the 58..

Posted by echosystm on Apr-16-2008 02:36:

Re: Mac GarageBand mic info ?

quote:
Originally posted by daydreamer
good choice?

and what kind of cable do i need to connect to my macbook,
i'm still unsure about that. would i need anything else.

no.

I have a Shure SM58. I would definately not buy one for recording vocals. They are a performance mic, not a recording mic. Instead, you want a condensor. Studio Projects B1 or a Rode NT-1A are alot better.

You also need a preamp, like everyone else here has said. Personally, I would get a Presonus Inspire/Firebox or an Echo AudioFire 4.

Like cryphonik said, a pop filter is also a good idea, as is a decent mic stand and shock mount. Make sure you put the mic in a suitable acoustic environment too - if it must be near a wall, sing AWAY from the wall.

Posted by daydreamer on Apr-19-2008 00:07:

ok, so to summarize what i learned.

I need an audio interface to have a decent home recording studio.

Even though i have been doing without one so far, using a converter to connect my guitar to my MacBook, when it comes to a microphone and audio interface is essential. having an audio interface will also improve the response rate when i use the guitar, and get rid of the sound delay and noise i've been dealing with.

on mics, there are two options. a dynamic mic, and a condenser mic.

a dynamic is usually used for live performance, and a condenser is used for recording, although there are mics that can do either well.

so i'm looking at around
150 - 200 dollars for a decent/good audio interface
pre sonus inspire is what i'm thinking $150
(does this provide phantom power to the condenser mic?)

and another 200-300 for a good condenser mic.
Shure KSM27 studio condenser mic $299

shite, time to start saving.

Posted by wrzonance on Apr-19-2008 19:03:

Time to start saving indeed

Just wait until you have tons of equipment... then you have to repair it when it breaks...

:-/

What a masochistic addiction; audio.

Posted by Eldritch on Apr-20-2008 17:28:

Rode NT1-A ($230) + Echo AudioFire 4 ($300)