Mulitrack, Simultaneous Recording

[Copland]

Hello everyone!

I was hoping to use Garageband to record me and my friends playing some stuff for fun.

In the past, I was using a $15 mixer attached via a 1/4"-1/8" adapter, which I plugged straight into my MacBook and into Garageband. However, I severely disliked the fact that it would all mix down onto one track, and the levels were unchangeable after that. (I knew that would happen, and I knew I wouldn't like it, but I just dealt with it because I was short on cash).

Now, I'm looking to upgrade. I want a mixer that I can connect to my MacBook and, using Garageband, record at least three inputs at the same time onto three different tracks in Garageband. I am wondering if this (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alesis-MultiMix-16-FireWire-16Channel-Analog-Mixer-?sku=630169) will work for that purpose.

Also, assuming it does work, I could connect it to the computer using a Firewire cable, but how do you configure Garageband to record the different inputs onto different tracks?

Thanks for your help!

[CanadaRAM]

Yes, the Alesis Firewire mixers will record multiple tracks (The USB ones only record stereo)

The interface should be automatically recognized by the machine.

(Note there is a Digital Audio (http://forums.macrumors.com/forumdisplay.php?f=81) forum here with a Sticky on interface and recording basics.)

[savar]

Yes, the Alesis Firewire mixers will record multiple tracks (The USB ones only record stereo)

The interface should be automatically recognized by the machine.

(Note there is a Digital Audio (http://forums.macrumors.com/forumdisplay.php?f=81) forum here with a Sticky on interface and recording basics.)

I'm not 100% sure, but I thought GarageBand2 could only record 2 tracks at once??

[Copland]

Yes, the Alesis Firewire mixers will record multiple tracks (The USB ones only record stereo)

The interface should be automatically recognized by the machine.

(Note there is a Digital Audio (http://forums.macrumors.com/forumdisplay.php?f=81) forum here with a Sticky on interface and recording basics.)
Oops! Thanks for telling me, and also thanks for the info!

[CanadaRAM]

I'm not 100% sure, but I thought GarageBand2 could only record 2 tracks at once??

OP has a MacBook, so it should be a recent version of Garageband. GarageBand versions from 2005 on can record up to 8 tracks at a time -- I can't remember what version this was first introduced with, though. Certainly GB3 and above

Apple Tech note (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=165119)

[BurtonCCC]

The PreSonus Firestudio is what I have. It records up to 8 simultaneous inputs. It's what you might call a "prosumer" item, so it can be a little expensive for the user who doesn't like to make music often. I use it in both GarageBand and Logic Express and it's lovely.