John Cellario Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 I have an new iMac 2.7Ghz Intel with the latest operating system. When trying to record my bass into Garageband for the first time, I've realised I do not have a built-in input socket, only a headphone out. (All the older tutorials on YouTube, show you just connect to the Mac with a 1/4" jack to mini jack lead, via the headphone input, then record). Apparently I need a audio interface device, costs around £500, to turn my USB socket into an 'audio in' socket. I can't believe Apple have made this change on their newer Macs, or am I just being a bit thick?!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Try one of these, it's what I use and is great. [url="http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/focusrite-scarlett-2i2-usb-audio-interface--90034"]http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/focusrite-scarlett-2i2-usb-audio-interface--90034[/url] Or try one of the others from there, you don't need to pay anywhere near £500. I've had Mac's for about 7 years, I've never been able to plug straight into one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1390140544' post='2341811'] I've had Mac's for about 7 years, I've never been able to plug straight into one. [/quote] Me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonybassplayer Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Interested in this thread as I am sure there are some very cheap basic devices allowing single instrument input for macs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cellario Posted January 19, 2014 Author Share Posted January 19, 2014 Thanks for the info on the Scarlett...so do I connect this with a USB cable into the USB port on the back of the Mac, then select that as my input device? I thought the whole idea of Garageband was that you can simply plug in and record (even though at a very basic level). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 Have a look on the DV247 website, there are hundreds of things you can use from £30 up to £thousands . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 [quote name='John Cellario' timestamp='1390142052' post='2341835'] Thanks for the info on the Scarlett...so do I connect this with a USB cable into the USB port on the back of the Mac, then select that as my input device? I thought the whole idea of Garageband was that you can simply plug in and record (even though at a very basic level). [/quote] Yes, very easy to use. Your Mac should automatically see the device and use it for input and output. What I like about it is it's got a headphone output (that sounds far better than the Mac's built in one), and it's got outputs to monitors, you can adjust the level between the two. You do just plug in and play with garageband, but you need something to change the audio to digital and vice versa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 (edited) I've got a mic input on my old Macbook that allows me to plug a guitar or bass straight in. Apparently you shouldn't do this because of latency issues but I've never had a problem (not really into home recording anyway so I'm not very fussy). Edited January 19, 2014 by RhysP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 I use. Line 6 toneport ux1. USB interface. Does the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 (edited) Drummer has a new mac don't know the spec but I guess they're all the same. The headphone out and line-in are now combined, so you need a Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleve adapter such as [url="http://www.chaarly.com/cables-connectors-/28931-18m-right-angle-35mm-av-jack-trrs-connector-male-to-rca-audio-video-male-connector-convertor-cable-for-tv-vcr.html"]this[/url]. She picked one up for about a fiver from our version of maplins. Same quality issues as per the old macbooks, but acceptable for simple recording. Edit - Don't go ordering that one without checking the plug sizes, I just did a quick google for a visual example Edited January 19, 2014 by SteveO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 My oldest imac is 6 years old so still has a microphone input, and my macbook is 4 years old, so it has one too. Having said that, I have a stealth pedal which I use for the guitar / bass. There are many many audio interfaces that are cheaper than £500, in fact I would be hard pressed to think of one that was that expensive, for that price I would have thought you could get multi channel lightning socket ones.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsfreddy2003 Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 I use the Jam by Apogee and that works really well and costs nowhere near £500! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cellario Posted January 19, 2014 Author Share Posted January 19, 2014 Someone else pointed me in the direction of an Apogee Jam circa £70 from GAK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 [quote name='John Cellario' timestamp='1390161034' post='2342182'] Someone else pointed me in the direction of an Apogee Jam circa £70 from GAK [/quote] Do you think you might want to use external mics for recording at some point? If there's any possibility you will then you really are better off looking at something like the Focusrite Scarlett rather than something like the Apogee Jam or the iRig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu-khag Posted January 19, 2014 Share Posted January 19, 2014 (edited) My mac is almost 4 years old and has the separate input. I record quite a lot without any latency issues without an interface.. I thought the whole point of garage band was to just plug in and play! Very disapointing to think you have to fork out even more cash. Edited January 19, 2014 by Stu-khag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merello Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Alesis iO2 I use - about £70. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 I had an Alesis imultimix mixer/interface, but I get much better results plugging into my old imac's "mic in". Anytime I have latency issues, shutting all the unused programs fixes it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaytonaRik Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Another regular user here - get something like the Apogee Jam interface and you can then use it with Garage Band or AmpKit on other IOS devices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaytonaRik Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) [quote name='Stu-khag' timestamp='1390162449' post='2342215'] I thought the whole point of garage band was to just plug in and play! Very disapointing to think you have to fork out even more cash. [/quote] The software IS plug and play, however, you have to get the sound into the device first! That doesn;t mean you have have to get ripepd off/pressured into buying a studio quality USB preamp/interface, there are plenty of affordable quality solutions out there. Edited January 21, 2014 by DaytonaRik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollywoodrox Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Thera are lots of cheaper options , you can also use fx units like the zoom b 2.1u think thats what mine is called, it plugs in the usb port and the mac uses it as a soundcard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 [quote name='Stu-khag' timestamp='1390162449' post='2342215'] My mac is almost 4 years old and has the separate input. I record quite a lot without any latency issues without an interface.. I thought the whole point of garage band was to just plug in and play! Very disapointing to think you have to fork out even more cash. [/quote] It is plug in and play, but the audio has to be transferred to digital. For that you need a sound card or interface. They can be bought from £30 up into the thousands of pounds, all depends on your budget and the quality you want . Any digital recording software is the same, it's not a case of Apple ripping you off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Just a thought... With Garageband open, have you went to "Preferences" > "Audio/Midi" & then selected the Input Device as "Built In Input"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 [quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1390309699' post='2343804'] Just a thought... With Garageband open, have you went to "Preferences" > "Audio/Midi" & then selected the Input Device as "Built In Input"? [/quote] On mine it doesn't actually say built in input, just built in mic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 [quote name='ambient' timestamp='1390309854' post='2343809'] On mine it doesn't actually say built in input, just built in mic. [/quote] Most strange. Does your Mac have an audio input (other than the AI unit)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) You could always go for a Zoom B3 as it's an interface as well as a DI box and FX [quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1390310199' post='2343817'] Most strange. Does your Mac have an audio input (other than the AI unit)? [/quote] New iMacs don't have an audio in. Edited January 21, 2014 by bartelby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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