USB Mic???
Just got a lap top for travel and am looking at recording methods for Garage Band when I'm on the road. A question for those of you who use a laptop away from your home "woodshed"- do you use the built in mic for recording or do you use a USB mic - and if so any recommendations??
Hank, I have a couple of the Yetis:
I've liked them so far, but I'm just getting started learning PC studio systems.
David - does the built in mic pick up the backing track when you record with it or do you use headphones to hear the bt and then play into the built in??
JJ (if I may be so bold ;-) ) - when you use the Yeti, do you have it on the desk top or do you cup it? How do you find it compared to the built in mic?
Thanks for the responses - I may be making my life way more complicated than I need to.
Hank, I am playing around with them to test them as studio mics - using them on stands as vocal mics, using them in front of amp speakers, etc. I use my bullet mic for the harp. I've been playing with a couple of digital studio software programs. Right now I have Cakewalk's Sonar 8 Producer Edition. I also want to try out David's recommendation with Digidesign's Protools, which I'm getting ready to order soon.
My teenage son and daughter are both active learning musicians and I'm learning this stuff to setup a studio for them to work and play in.
The learning curves on these programs are pretty steep. It's not like the old days with tape decks and analog audio mixing consoles. I feel like I'm learning Photoshop all over again (another steep learning curve).
That's correct... if you use the onboard mic while listening to the speakers you will also hear the music. For quick and dirty recordings it doesn't matter... I do it all the time (yesterday for matter of fact). If you're going to do some editing (cut and paste and such) then it's best to use headphones to listen (though there will still be some bleed there as well if you're using a sensitive mic).
Great info - it gives a base to start from and now i'll start playing around and experimenting. I'm trying to keep it simple because it wil just be for recording (probably mostly practice stuff) while I'm "on the road". I'll still do the majority and more serious (for me) stuff on my desk top IMac where I can set up different arrangements and use my amp where appropriate.
I'll keep you posted as I go through different trials. Thanks again !!
Hank, if you're doing this on the road, you might check out a post I put a few days ago in General Discussion named: "Practice on the road? Here's how."
You can use that setup to plug everything into your laptop and record music using Garage Band or another program. The Pocket Pod will mix the sound (you use the Mp3 player's volume control to set the jam track level) between your mic and your jam track and provide the mixed feed to your recording software. Your mic will have an "amp sound" (you choose which amp and effect you want). The jam track will sound normal. It's a great inexpensive way to have a traveling studio, either for practice or recording.
Thanks for that JJ - I played around with the set up this morning and found some interesting variations. With headphones and the 'monitor' setting on, the built in mic works fine and the options for effects can be applied to the harp track. I had an old IMic (remember those??) for line and mic input to a USB connection and with a 1/4" to mini jack converter I plugged in one of my bullets and my Bottle of Blues. Have to be careful in setting the input volume (BofB has volume control built in) and it works great. So it looks like there's lots of options and i'll have to play around more to see to what extent the cupped mic will make a difference. Bottom line is I've got everything I need without a USB mic (more $ for other toys!!!)
I will definitely look into the Pocket Pod to see if it's something I would find useful / 'fun'. Is it difficult to set up and how much difference is there to the effects you can get in Garage Band??
I don't know what's in Garage Band. Except for my iPhone - I'm a Windows wienie.
The Pocket Pod comes preconfigured out of the box with 32 guitar amp models and 16 effect settings. The amp models include some nice Fender models like the Champ, Bassman, and Twin Reverb. You can select different cabinet configs to go with them. The effects include delay and reverb, along with a lot of others.
You can select the settings as they are, or make your own. In fact, there's a whole subculture of people out there making custom tones that you can download into the unit. Using the thing is very easy and intuitive - even turning it on (you just plug in your cable). It also comes with a PC interface that makes it even easier to use (it lays out all of the controls individually on the PC screen rather than on the unit, where you might have to hold down a key to access certain adjustments). If you know how to setup an amp or an effects pedal, you can easily use this as the controls are pretty much the same.
The sound is pretty amazing. You're not going to get the exact '60 Fender Tweed Champ sound - but it's pretty damn close. Certainly close enough to sound great and play around with it. And for travel, it beats playing acoustic if you're looking for an amplified sound. And it's a lot easier to lug around than a Bassman (and easier on your neighbors ears as well).
I have two Pod units, the X3 and the Pocket Pod. The X3 has a lot more amp models, cabinets, and effects, and it is designed for use with a PC studio with an analog 1/4" jack, USB, and digital S/PDIF outputs - but the pocket pod will allow you to combine inputs and interface with a PC through an analog 1/4" output as well.
I've been very happy with both of these units, and they are fun to play around with (especially as you start to use some of the more rock-oriented settings with your harp).
I use a Guitar Hero Mic. Not a very good sound but it was around. You can change the sound with a software like Amplitube for fun.
I use the built-in mic.