Recording alto saxophone using GarageBand

Hi all,
I am a newibe of audio production, hope you can answer my question in the most simple way, thx.......
Here is my situation :
I'm own a powerbook G4 computer and i would like to record the sound produced my my alto sax. and the import the background music from a mp3 or a CD track.
Recently, i've tried using a very cheap and low quality microphone provided by the Creative soundcard bundle package. I've found the sound record is not good enough. I've asked my friend what's the problem will be and the answer are :
1. my powerbook have line-in only, which is not compatatible with my mic due to impedence mismatch. (is it correct ??)
2. also clipping always occur (i've already adjusted the gain of the mic, but still have clipping especially if i put the mic near the horn)
My friend suggested me that I should buy a better microphone with phantom power + a mixer, then using a cable to make a connection between the line-in on my PB and the line-out of the mixer.
Is my friend's suggestion enough for my purpose ??? or it is not necessary to buy a mic with phantom power ? (coz this kind of mic is very expensive)
Any better suggestions here ??? Thx a lot
my budget is about $150-$200

Why do you think it is not really require to use a condenser mic ?? what's is the pros and cons ?
For one thing, Condensers are much more delicate than a standard Dynamic mic (The Shure SM57 is humorously referred to as "the Hammer" by many musicians because it can be used as one in a pinch, and still be used as a Mic [not recommended, really])
Condensers are often employed for vocal recording (and I would very much agree ... and use one myself)
Also what kind of mixer i should have ? a standard one or a USB mixer ?? what is the difference ??
Since you have a PowerBook with a Line-In, you can use any standard mixer, and just plug it right into your PowerBook. A USB mixer would plug into your USB port. My personal preference, if I were recording a single track at a time, would be a standard mixer (small mixers can be had for $50US).
Can you suggest some device that i can most probably order in HK ?
I'm afraid I don't have any advice on this one other than to perhaps visit a local Music Store. Perhaps do a little 'Window Shopping" online to find what you're looking for, and then take that information to the store with you.
--HangTime [Will Compute for Food] B-)>

Similar Messages

  • Record Keyboard MIDI using GarageBand for iPad

    See this video using GB4iPad to record keyboard MIDI:-
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQlbjFxdxGE

    I just discovered the arpeggiator feature today, and indeed, as gb 1111 mentioned, it doesn't work via MIDI input!!!! An incredible oversight! Perhaps an option to allow this can be added in an update, Apple?
    I am forwarding gb 1111's concern to the GarageBand for iPad feedback page: http://www.apple.com/feedback/garageband_ipad.html. Let's all do the same, in the hope of further improvements and refinements to GarageBand for iPad by Apple!

  • I'm new using Logic, i've been using garageband for quite awhile now though but my question is just basic. When i want to record electric guitar while clicking the software option it brings me to alot of guitar sounds that i want to chose. I chose the twa

    I'm new using Logic, i've been using garageband for quite awhile now though but my question is just basic. When i want to record electric guitar while clicking the software option it brings me to alot of guitar sounds that i want to chose. I chose the twangy electric or the distorted strat but i only hear clean sounds. No matter what kind of guitar sound i chose in the library it only produces clean guitar. How can i make it sound like it supposed to? Did i miss something i should do?

    This definitely has me stumped as I'm unsure as to why your guitar can be heard, but with none of the channel strips plugins applied to the sound.
    On the record enabled channel strip that contains your guitar input, is the "I" button located near the "R" active? Also, if you record your guitar, can you hear the FX applied to it when you play back the recorded track?

  • Using Garageband and I cannot hear previously recorded tracks on headphones.  Prefs are set to output on EMU0404 my audio device - this did work but now is not working.

    I am using Garageband and I cannot hear the previously recorded tracks on my headphones.  I am using an audio input/output device, EMU0404 - this was previously working fine but stopped.  All cables check out OK and so does the unit - I have updated to the latest version of Garageband but this did not help.  Any suggestion?

    Hi Christoph,
    I cannot see anything wrong with the EMU0404.  This is what puzzels me ... Garageband looks OK - headphones are OK - EMU looks OK.
    Thanks anyway
    Paul

  • I'm trying to record audio into my iPad2 using GarageBand and an iRig, but I can't monitor my tracks at the same time as recording, meaning if I lay down a drum track and attempt to record guitar, I can't hear the drums while recording. Thoughts?

    I'm trying to record audio into my iPad2 using GarageBand and an iRig, but I can't monitor my tracks at the same time as recording, meaning if I lay down a drum track and attempt to record guitar, I can't hear the drums while recording. Thoughts?

    Hi, I have this exact same problem. I haven't been using an iRig, just a cheap USB-jack cable. I managed to do this with the first cable I bought, but since it broke I've been unable to find a replacement that allows me to hear the drums while recording. DId you manage to get over this issue? If so I would really like to know how. Thanks and best wishes.

  • GarageBand stops recording immediately when using Guitar Rig Session

    When I try to record a guitar into GarageBand using my Guitar Rig Session the recording starts, then immediately stops. This happens on a new track, or on an existing track. Everything was fine before I updated GarageBand to the latest version (6.0.4) via the App Store. I also updated to OSX 10.6.8 too. I've tried recording a track in Reaper and it works fine so I doubt it's a Guitar Rig/OSX 10.6.8 issue so I'm suspecting that it's the latest GarageBand version that's to blame. This discussion was the closest thing I could find to raise a support ticket about this. I'll have to switch to Reaper for now but if it's not fixed soon, I may not come back to GarageBand!

    Native Instruments say they'll have a fix to make their software work in Lion in September. From what I've heard it only affects them running in 64 bit mode so try Guitar Rig in 32 bit mode if you can. I've switched to Reaper like I said and I'm finding the transition quite easy. Give their demo a try...

  • Recording Podcast / Using Garageband on Macbook Air

    Hi guys,
    Quick computer question, I currently record my podcast on a Macbook Pro - 2010 model - 2.4Ghz intel core 2 duo processor, 8GB RAM, NVIDOA GeFore 320 256MB.
    I've been offered a chance to upgrade to a current MacBook Air at work. I'd quite like an Air as I carry my computer around, etc. I record using Garageband and a USB microphone, but I've had some issues with the system crashing in the past.
    Would a current MacBook Air be OK to record and edit podcasts on? If so, which current model would be best suited to this?
    Sorry if this a really obvious question, I just want to make sure I make the right choice!

    I've been offered a chance to upgrade to a current MacBook Air at work.
    A new MacBookAir with Mavericks will come with the current GarageBand 10.0 version and not GarageBand '11. And unfortunately, GarageBand 10.0 does not support the podcast feature. So be aware, that you will need to find a way to install GarageBand '11 on the new MBA. If you have installer disks for iLife '11 or the system install disks with the bundled iLife applications, create disk images, while you still have a mac with an optical drive. The MBA has no longer a CD/DVD drive.

  • I use garageband with ipad2 which I love, except it keeps changing my drum patterns that I've recorded to something completely different. How do I stop garageband from constantly 'fixing' my rhythms?

    I love using garageband on ipad2, but it won't let me enter my own drum rhythm at all.  I've tried using the ipad kit directly with my fingers and using my electric kit through a midi to usb cable. I've even tried changing the beats individually via the edit option.  But it still changes my perfectly good and unique rhythm into its own format.  I don't know it this is supposed to help amateur players, but it's very frustrating for someone who has played for over 20 years!  Also, is it any better on a mac? I might consider reinvesting my money. Can anyone help at all, because it's driving me crackers. 

    When you have the drums up on your screen look in the upper right corner for the icon that looks an equalizer control.  Click that and look for the Quantization option.  Click it and select none.  Quantization tries to correct what it sees as off rhythm beats.  Every time I tried to tap out a blues beat with a shuffle feel it "corrected" it to a straight beat after recording.  Turned it off and all is well.

  • I use Garageband 09 to record voice overs via podcasting, female narrator noisy, but keep getting an intermittent clicking sound. It's not the metronome. I have a good quality external USB mic plugged in. Any ideas?

    I use GarageBand 09 to record voice overs via the Podcasting then Female Narrator Noisy utility. I have a good quality external mic plugged in. I keep getting an intermittent clicking sound on the audio track. It's not the metronome as that is turned off. I have to edit out the clicking after recording. I can see the spikes on the waveline. Any ideas how I can prevent this happening?

    Hi again and thanks so much for replying.
    The 'mic jack' on the old mic is both wide and large, measuring about an inch and a quarter from the base (where it comes out of the black encasing) to the edge of the tip (sort of cone shaped). As I can't plug this in directly to any port in the back of the Mac, I thought it might be possible to to buy some sort of adapter so that I could plug in the jack at one end, with a USB connector at the other end to go straight into the Mac. But I see from your comment that you are suggesting a smaller jack itself (i.e., large size jack to small size jack and then plug in to the small round port, instead of jack to USB port)?
    At the Mac shop I bought a USB adapter to connect up a second monitor (screen). I've just dug out the package and it's called a mini display port to VGA adapter. But back to the mic issue, I don't want to use the old mic really, I'm just trying to eliminate whether or not my usual mic, or its USB cable, is at fault and causing the clicking.
    I looked on Amazon for a suitable adapter but there was mention of these little gadgets having a sound card. As the Mac obviously has its own internal sound card, I couldn't see the point of another (exernal) one, unless it was actually required to convert the sound from input to output (playback) or something. One review said sound quality was lost but the person had a problem with his speakers, not a ticking sound while playing back recordings - which is obviously my problem.
    I do have a headset that I used to use for Skype. It has a pink and a green jack. I could plug one into the "headphones symbol' port and try recording again with Garageband. At least the jack is the right size. Again, this is just for the purpose of eliminating whether my good mic on a stand with the anti-popping sheild is at fault.
    While my Mac does have both inbuilt speakers (I don't need external ones) and an inbuilt microphone, the latter is not of a high enough quality for voice overs, hence buying an external mic etc. But whatever is causing the clicking or ticking is obviously affecting the quality of my recordings. As you can imagine, it is very time-consuming to edit out the ticking spikes and if the noise appears during speech, you can't edit it out at all.
    Please keep the suggestions coming. I am determined to get to the bottom of this for my sake and everyone else who is suffering from the same problem!

  • I'm using GarageBand for voiceover and my voice is only recording in one track. How do I get it in stereo?

    I'm using a Bluebird mic hooked up to speakers and MAudio Fast Track interface.  I went to GarageBand preferences and set up the recording for MAudio and stereo but it's still recording in mono.  Any suggestions?

    nancyonair wrote:
    I'm using GarageBand for voiceover and my voice is only recording in one track channel. How do I get it in stereo both channels?
    http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/GBFAQ.html#leftspeakeronly
    (Let the page FULLY load. The link to your answer is at the top of your screen)

  • How to use Garageband to record interview

    We want to record an older relative talking about family history, and people have recommended using Garageband.    I have it on my iPhone 5 but wonder exactlly how to use it.  Has anyone done this?  I have tried recording myself with the microphone icon but have not been able to find the recording or to play anything back.

    Hi tingold1,
    GarageBand on your iPhone is one way to record your interviews, particularly if you want to be able to do a lot of editing on the resulting sound file. See this page for an introduction to GarageBand -
    GarageBand for iPhone: GarageBand Help
    http://help.apple.com/garageband/iphone/2.0/
    Anoterh application which can do simple sound recording is Voice Memo. See the iPhone manual for assistance with this -
    iPhone User guide
    http://manuals.info.apple.com/MANUALS/1000/MA1565/en_US/iphone_user_guide.pdf
    Page 110 is where you may want to start.
    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
    Best,
    Brett L

  • I am using garageband 11. I have recorded a free form intro. I want NO Tempo in this section. Later in the song I want a tempo to kick in. How can I go from NO TEMPO to tempo. It is the NO TEMPO part that is messing me up. Help please.

    I am using garageband 11. I have recorded a free form intro. I want NO Tempo in this section. Later in the song I want a tempo to kick in. How can I go from NO TEMPO to tempo. It is the NO TEMPO part that is messing me up. Help please.

    All measures in a GarageBand '11 project need to have a tempo.You can adjust the Tempo in the Master Track automation curve and vary it, but you have to set a tempo.  When recording the "No tempo" section disable the metronome and ignore the tempo. Just set the tempo automation for that part slow enough, that the duration of that part is long enough.

  • What? by Kubrick Neumann - Written and recorded using Garageband iOS on an iPhone 5

    Written and recorded using Garageband iOS on an iPhone. (Mixing performed in GB OSX)
    https://soundcloud.com/again-kubrick-neumann/what-by-kubrick-neumann
    Enjoy.

    Same issue that everyone else is having with me, and I'm also upset with Apple. Hardware is superlative, but software keeps going downhill.  I'm running OSX 10.9 anditunes 11.4.  I've tried every sync fix that may have worked for others, but nothing works for me.  iTunes was great in the beginning, but the programmers seem dedicated to cutting its knees off with redesign that is inane instead of intuitive,, dropped feaqures, etc. I even hear the itunes 12 drops the sidebar!!  I am getting the clear impression that the itunes group is a dumping ground for the rest of Apple. Fix this sync problem now. At a minum just re-use the code that worked before. N.

  • Can I Use GarageBand 09 On My 2005 Power Mac?

    I have an older G5 Power Mac, purchased in June 2005.
    I just bought a copy of iLife 09 because GarageBand is very user-friendly when it comes to recording podcasts.
    But...
    The Power Mac G5 currently has OS 10.4.? on it, and iLife 09 requires at least OS 10.5.6. I don't even know if I can install OS 10.5 on a Power Mac purchased in June 2005.
    I just want to give some folks an EASY way to record their podcasts. (They read printed publications top the blind.)
    If you can tell me how to get GarageBand 09 running on this Mac... or suggest a way to make MP3s that is just as easy... I would appreciate it!
    (I have tried to use GarageBand 2, which is on this computer, to do the same thing, but it only seems to export AIFF files to iTunes. I personally know how to convert the AIFF files to MP3s, but there are too many steps at this point, and the older volunteers are going to get confused.)

    Is there a special version of Mac OS 10.5 that has to be installed on the Power Mac?
    I put an old 10.5 disc in the drive, and it said it could not be installed. I didn't know if the computer wouldn't accept 10.5, or if it would not accept 10.5 that was from an Intel-based Mac.

  • What's the best way of recording drum tracks onto garageband?

    I usually use garageband to record acoustic tracks, but I want to get some drums involved. The drum kit software on garageband isn't great and pretty difficult to use with just the macbook keyboard, should I get some kind of USB keyboard or drum kit software from elsewhere? If there's a good keyboard for this purpose could someone link me up, because I'd also like to involve a bit of piano/synths in my recordings.
    I should also mention that I'm a student and am therefore on a pretty tight budget!
    Cheers!

    Yes, i suggest you to use a MIDI-Keyboard, even a small one (like my M-AUDIO KeyRig25) is good and fun to use. It's also better to use some specific Audio Plug-Ins which you can use in GB. There are many freewares around.
    Look here: http://www.macmusic.org/software/softwares.php?lang=en
    Here: http://www.gersic.com/plugins/index.php?daCat=-3
    Or here: http://www.dontcrack.com/freeware/
    Cheers!

Maybe you are looking for