Help Me, Please!, Utterly hopeless beginner begs help. Options

[Adamcasciaro]

Hello.

I am an absolute beginner to audio recording on my iMac.

I have an iMac G4 and Logic (of the Logic BIG BOX set) I am quite accompished at MIDI, but i have absolutely no idea what to do now i want to use my recently bought microphone.

I have just bought an AKG C1000S and tried plugging it in to my Mac direct. Is this not possible? Does the line-in not accept microphones?

Please, could someone tell me what other things i need, what connectors i will need with them and where they will connect to? I know it's all probably very basic stuff, but i really need to know in simple plain english, just for the first time....

Thankyou!

Adam Casciaro

[PristineRec]

You're going to need a preamp to boost the mic signal to a useable level. That particular microphone is a condenser, which requires phantom power, which most preamps can also provide. There are many computer audio interfaces which include a channel or more of mic preamps with phantom power, the discussion forums here are full of recommendations for many different ones. Take a look around for info on them. And I'm sure there will be other people adding their recommendations to this thread shortly.
I personally use a DIGI002, but Pro Tools might not be the way to go for someone who is mostly MIDI and just beginning to delve into audio recording. There are many cheaper pieces of hardware and software that are closer to what you are looking to do.

[Dasa Soul]

Adam the AKG C1000S is a condenser mic, it needs phantom power to work ,it comes whit XLR plugs ,so you will need a pre amp interface ,that comes whit phantom power. and XLR PLUG INS AND USB or firewire ,to conect to your computer,

[Dasa Soul]

http://www.zzounds.com/item--TASUS122http:...m--MDOMOBILEPRE this two are very popular

[Dasa Soul]

http://www.zzounds.com/item--TASUS122

[Adamcasciaro]

Thankyou very much!

Based on your recommendation, i am probably going to purchase the M-audio Mobile Pre amp. After shopping around a bit perhaps, i am on a,limited budget.

Can someone then tell me about products like the Behringer ub Mixers? Do they need something else before they are plugged into the computer or do they go straight in?

[Synthetic]

no mixer will directly plug into your computer unless its made to work with a DAW software like Digi002 or the Mackie mixer control surface or Tascam has one too as well as Emagic. So unless the mixers you are looking at say "compatibile with Mac" or similar... chances are they are just that... analog mixers made for use with an extra audio interface or a sound system.

[Dasa Soul]

Adam LOGIC comes whit a very good mixer.

[Dasa Soul]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...3731870959&rd=1 M AUDIO BUDDY $85.00

[Adamcasciaro]

Thanks for all of the help everyone. I have just purchased an M-audio Usb Mobile Pre and am awaiting it now.

Thanks!

Adam Casciaro