[microrario]

Hi, I play electric bass. I have a new 15" 1.25GHz PowerBook and was wondering what hardware, in addition to this, do I need to record from a bass. Keep in mind, I am not a professional, just someone who wants to record their own music. I would only like to spend around $100. What should I get?

Also, what software should I use. Keep in mind I am not going to be recording professionally, but I still want it to sound good. In regards to the software, it only needs to be able to support 4 tracks. The price of the software does not matter, as I get most anything at a large discount. I only care about ease of use. I want to be able to easily import a few tracks and then be able to export.

Thanks to anyone who responds.

[zigzag]

I'm no expert on this subject but the Griffin PowerWave seems like a pretty versatile device and the web site claims it can be used to record instruments. It's $99 and can be used for other things. I suppose even the iMic might work.

As for software, there are a number of free or inexpensive audio recording programs like Spark ME and SoundStudio. You can also use iMovie in a pinch.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in.

[k_munic]

Originally posted by microrario:
Hi, I play electric bass. I have a new 15" 1.25GHz PowerBook and was wondering what hardware, in addition to this, do I need to record from a bass. Keep in mind, I am not a professional, just someone who wants to record their own music. I would only like to spend around $100. What should I get?

Also, what software should I use. Keep in mind I am not going to be recording professionally, but I still want it to sound good. In regards to the software, it only needs to be able to support 4 tracks. The price of the software does not matter, as I get most anything at a large discount. I only care about ease of use. I want to be able to easily import a few tracks and then be able to export.

Thanks to anyone who responds.

so , step one:
how to get the bass into you mac?
of course, you're using some kind of amp, some effect boards, whatever. they should have some kind of line out.- has your mac model a line-in? - connect it here! no? you need a usb-line-in device, cheapest is iMic from griffin, small but not really good (for a musicians ear!)

step two:
recording.
mentioned spark is just one track only! for a musician, you sould use some pro stuff - BUT, beware, you don't need a midi-software, your bass is doing some goo' ol analog (i'm pretty sure: some very deep analog )
have a look at Cubase ( starting here in in europe from 400€, "normal" retail prize) from Steinberg - they offer their software in different tastes, probably after a while you can upgrade (when your standards are rising).

my recommendation. go to your local music store where you buy your strings, amps & stuff, meet some home-recording nerds (you know, these lonley guys producing this ambient/trance/vangelis stuff )...- and NO!, you don't need a PC - a Mac is fine

[memento]

You could get a cheap 4-track tascam recorder and output it into your mac.

There are some cheap multi-track audio programs available, you just have to search. I know one is open source but I don't recall the name of it. You could probably search sourceforge for it.

<$100. done.

[devmage]

The audio editor that comes to mind on sourceforge is Audacity. Its a pretty cool program available for all platforms and actively developed.

You can find it here.

[booboo]

OK

So how are you going to record your bass, and what else are you going to record?

I think the best approach is to get yourself a small external mixer into which you can plug all/any of the items you wish to record. and leave 'em plugged in so it's quick and easy to record when you get the creative urge . . .

A small (Behringer, for example) mixer will give excellent quality, provide quality microphone inputs as well as line level, give you eq, level faders, offer some room for expansion and will teach you the principles of recording (if you don't know them already.)

Something like the Behringer 1204 would be ideal. Its subgroup 3-4 outputs can connect directly to your Mac's sound input and make it very easy to record and monitor. In the UK this desk can be found for as little as £75 . .

A cheaper mixer, without these extra subgroups out, makes the whole process of recording and monitoring more cumbersome. With the Behringer you can leave Sub-outs 3-4 permanents connected to your Mac, and use the 'Mute' button to send that particular channel to the Mac . . it's simpler than it sounds, and beat re-patching any day.

So that gets your signals to your Mac. what do you record with?

Well there are budget packages by Emagic (Apple) 'Big Box' and Steinberg 'Studio Case' - both should be around $200. Logic is arguably still more efficient and stable, but remains a mindfsck to those of us that don't find it's logic meets or own. I remain, for better or worse, a Cubase guy. If you didn't have a cheap source, I'd offer to sell you my copy of Logic . . .

Both of these app's are the 'value-pack' editions, and come with some great bundled plug-ins. Can't go wrong.

Don't underestimate the importance of decent microphones and microphone placement.

Crazy to say it, but the technical specification and creative potential of a recording system outlined above probably greatly exceed that which was available to the Beatles when they recorded Sergeant Pepper . . . it's all down to what you do with it now ;-)

I would either go this route, or forget about using the computer at all, and get a cheap 4 track portastudio . . .

[microrario]

Thanks for all the replies. I decided to just get a 1/4 to 1/8" adapter and plug my amp cable into one side and plug the other side into my line in. This produces a surprisingly high quality sound. I then took devmage's advice and downloaded Audacity. This program is pretty cool, especially because it's free. The only thing i could ask for is more effects. I love its ease of use. Does anyone know any other freeware audio programs? Or possibly a high end one that has a demo? Thanks everyone, and remember I'm not trying to make album quality music, just to do some simple recording and altering.

Thanks

[devmage]

Originally posted by microrario:
Thanks for all the replies. I decided to just get a 1/4 to 1/8" adapter and plug my amp cable into one side and plug the other side into my line in. This produces a surprisingly high quality sound. I then took devmage's advice and downloaded Audacity. This program is pretty cool, especially because it's free. The only thing i could ask for is more effects. I love its ease of use. Does anyone know any other freeware audio programs? Or possibly a high end one that has a demo? Thanks everyone, and remember I'm not trying to make album quality music, just to do some simple recording and altering.

Thanks

I read a post not too long ago about another free audio editor. I tried it and it did more than audacity but was unstable on my G5 so I kinda stoped using it. But you can check it out maybe it has been rebuilt since. Its called SparkME.