Using Garageband For Recording Real Instruments Options

[industrialplaid]

Over the past couple weeks I have been working on recording quite a few songs using my Powerbook G4, Garageband v1.1.something, a shitty SM-57 ripoff vocal mic, the iMic USB device, and a variety of guitars, my voice, and a bass. I understand that the quality of my end-product is going to be severely impaired by my shitty equipment (especially the mic), but my goal is just to record some serviceable versions of my original compositions fully intending to do a much better job at a later date (hopefully with other musicians).

That being said, I'm trying to figure out how I can do the best job I possibly can with what I have. I have two problems right now with the setup I've been using, and I'm not sure how to solve them.

1) The levels are extremely low on my songs even when everything is cranked up to the max (the master volume and the individual track volumes). I have to set my speakers to volume levels twice what I would use for a typical CD to be able to hear my songs at an acceptable level.

2) There is a lot of white-noise on all my tracks, due I assume to the shitty mic I was using.

Is there anything I can do with my current setup to correct these issues? I'd like the songs to be audible and less "noisy". If Garageband isn't capable, can you guys recommend any freeware programs out there that might be?

Thanks.

[dixiechicken]

Industrialplaid!

Your problem is partly your equipment.

But more important is....
For a good signal to record into your softwarew/computer, you must have:

1)
A signal of the correct amplitude/voltage
Example)
A proffessional line input is usually designed for 0,775 volts,
the impedance (frequency dependent electrical current resistance) of the line input is in the order of
10-20 kilo-ohms)

2)
Your line input in the example above should be fed by an output from your
mixer, iMic, soundcard or whatever you're using with a 0,775 volt signal (average value)

This output impedance should be in the range of 200-1000 Ohms

Rule 1) is:
Low impedance outputs drive highimpedance inputs - for proper loading in the signal chain.

Rule 2) is:
Levels should equal each other.

Bothe rules are equally important to get a good clean signal with no/low NOISE & no/low DISTORTION
to record.
You need to check the tech specs of your equioment to see IF your gear at least to some degree
fulfills these two rules.

Cheers: Dixiechicken

[Mac Daddy]

industrialplaid, don't freak. You're on the right path, using your PowerBook as a Demo Machine. To Record serious at a later date. As much as we all wish we could Record, Burn and Sell from our Macs/PC's, it takes a whole lot more. I'm sure there must be a way to do it 'Directly', but I have never heard anything that did not need major help or experience. In fact, I think that one of the contributing factors why I purchased a PowerBook G4 in the first place was when 3 or 4 years ago I heard about these two musicians, can't remember their names, did this Music From Around The World. They recorded street music 'Live'. They just Recorded. It sounded, Audio Wise, "Not Good". They did not create one 'Note' they only 'Recorded' the sound, the music was great, but, Audio Wise, again, Not Good. I saw something on Google, Music created on a PowerBook, found some articles but not the one about the two who started the whole thing, however, there is an article about someone who Recorded and Performed in Chicago using Garage Band... There was good information and a link to contact the Creator. I have, but have not used Garage Band. Sort of reminds me of those old Casio Keyboards... Punch in Disco and Party... Cool for about 4 Bars of Music. Cute, Nice. Music needs to be "Badd". You know what I mean. That Cadilac in nice... That Porsche is Badd Thing. Music needs to breathe. GB has too much control over how 'real' music flows, grows, shows colors/feelings. I don't know what the hell I'm talking about.

Music needs real people, Like you and the Musicians you plan to use. A G4/G5 or SuperG 'Whatever' will probably never be more than a glorified Recording Machine, which will probably crash under pressure. About the Shure SM-57... You cannot expect much from it. I know I'm gonna catch hell for saying that, But, but, but, you Never see them in Recording Studios, not even on the Drums!

G4 and GB is fine for laying down and capturing the ideas... The perfection and magic happens later. Don't give up, you might even figure out how to do it. When you do, please let me be the first to know, because I'm selling all the gear I've purchased and will go back to my PB G4, which is used mostly for E-mails and Replys.

[minskybabs]

Hi there, Garageband should be capable, but maybe your mic interface isn't? The imic doesn't seem to get very good press on this forum. Not having used I couldn't say for sure, but low levels and large amounts of background hiss, sounds like a preamp/interface problem. I would say first things first spend a bit on a pre amp, you can decide how much it is worth for you, but you should be able to get away with £100-200 UK. Look for Mackie or Presonus Tascam or something, or even second hand on ebay, though I would imagine it would be worth buying new if you are not an expert, as it is hard to tell if these things work properly until you know what you are doing!

A good interface will have a better preamp than your imic, which will make even a bad mic sound better, it will offer you more boost and a clearer sound, and possibly have lower latency (the little delay that is sometimes heard when you play into the computer with digital devices). It will also help you when you come to mixing.

It is such a big world out there in terms of recording, you can spend a fortune chasing "better" sound. At the end of the day you have the right idea, in that you just want to get something recorded, but perhaps you are starting a bit to low fi if the results are not acceptable. I would blame the interface before the mic. Although Mics can make a difference a crap interface will make a good mic sound bad!

If you dont want to spend any money then you will need to experiment with placing the mic in different positions to see what is best. Normally you need lots of level going in then your hiss will seem less. But be warned you mustn't overload digital recording, unlike some analogue or tape stuff it doesn't work at all and sounds awful!

Good luck.
Minskybabs.

[deaconblue]

industrialplaid,

Try picking up a low cost mixer to add in between your mics and the iMic. There are quite a few mixers that won't break the bank out there today. Behringer offers some decent products for demo level work that you can route to the stereo inputs on the iMic to get you started with a higher Signal level into GarageBand, plus it will give you two mic pres that will allow you to use either the 'less than high quality SM57 ripoff' mic or a better one to get your sound in. It also has a couple of line inputs if you wanted to record some of your other gear direct via a DI box or headphones out on an amp, etc. As stated previously in this thread, it won't be master quality recording with your current interface, but it will get you much, much closer than what you are running right now.

A true DAW interface like those mentioned by minskybabs would get you a whole lot closer, but I do understand the financial wall we run into on purhcasing gear for our studios. Presonus Firebox, MOTU 828 MK II, the list goes on.

Good luck with capturing your tracks and building your tunes. The journey has begun!

peace.

[industrialplaid]

Thanks for all your responses guys. I've spent a long time practicing music, and very little time thinking about recording it, so this is all new to me. I'm going to keep experimenting with what I've got on hand right now (finances are not the greatest) and see if I can't put something together that does the job I need. Hopefully at some point in the near future I'll be in a position to start checking out options for a mixer.

[ptilou]

By the way, don't forget to set the input on mono (Channel 1 only)
And set the channel 2 off
It could be a good reason for the trouble you discribe

Then a DAW interface could be your next step as mentionned above

[Mr12AX7]

Does your iMic show up in the Sound Prefs Input screen and what level is usually indicated when you are using the unit? Don't know what computer and system you are running but check this Griffin support page - it may help http://www.griffintechnology.com/support/a...e.php?artnum=26

[kevinr]

Have you tried the switch in the 'mic' position?
http://www.griffintechnology.com/support/a...e.php?artnum=17
I know that the iMic is way off being a piece of 'pro' gear, but you can have a lot of fun on the cheap!