Anyone use Garageband?

[LeeThePeople]

I want to connect my guitars or keyboard to my mac mini to have a bash at recording a few backing tracks to jam along too. But after a good google I cant work out what i need to do it, either a midi controller or outboard soundcard?

Dont want to spend a fortune because I wont use it a lot, all I have is a microphone input on my mac so im assuming some sort of USB device is what im going to need?

[Greg964]

You need a usb audio interface. If your keyboard does not have a usb output then the cheapest option is a Behringer UC202 for £25. If you want to plug in an electric guitar, there's the Macmice Guitarlink, or the Behringer Guitar Plug for £30/40 respectively. If you want one device that does both, you'd be looking at more like £90+ i think.

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop/browse-product/...

http://www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/USB_Audio_Interf...

[LeeThePeople]

Cheers mate, ill look out for those products my keyboad is a Yamaha MM6 and I think it will only work as a midi controller when hooked up via usb, does this sound plausable? Id want to use my sounds unless there are good ones in garageband.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E_bDg5ak9w

[Greg964]

You're right, the MM6 will only work as a midi controller when hooked up via usb. There are loads of sounds in Garageband & for making backing tracks to jam to garageband should do the trick. That way you'd only need a Guitar to usb interface.

Another thought, if you have a modern FX box you play guitar through with a line out, you could get the UC202 and be able to record the MM6 and the guitar all for £24 ?

[LeeThePeople]

Ive been considering the Boss GT10 or Pod XT Live for my guitar, if i went for one of those would it kill two birds with one stone?

[Greg964]

I think the Boss can send audio over usb, so yes that should do the trick. It might be worth checking you can control the gain on the input when putting your MM6 through it though.

[pistonlager]

Just plug everything into the Mac mini mic socket jack socket, get a second hand guitar effects thing, eg Pod line 6, just use its line out,
You'll need big jack to mini jack cable,
Stay clear of USB mics.they are cr4p, Buy a Shure SM 57/8 and a little pre amp box and again use line out,
As for Midi keyboard that'll be a USB connection.
That's all you'll need.
Garage band is ace but very processor hungry, simple reverb and compression is fine but the overdrive plug-ins slows it right down.Max your Ram too,
If you use over 8 tracks or real audio I'd suggest mixing in a pro studio, you load GB files into Logic and then into Pro tools.
Depends what you record!
I love GB and I've convinced lots of people to use it for demo-ing cos it is so easy and friendly to use.

Edited by pistonlager on Thursday 5th March 08:46