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Audio recording

Sfen

Sfen

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 7, 2009
15
0
Hi all,

I was just wondering which is the easiest way to simply record audio, because I'm going to be taking an interview soon and I would like to be able to listen to it again later on. I figured that maybe GarageBand could do this for me, but I couldn't find it. I'm fairly new to Mac OS X in general, so maybe that's the reason why I haven't found a solution myself.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Sfen.
 
Garageband is a complicated looking software, but Apple touts its capabilities to make recordings for podcasts. Supposedly it even has a function clean out the background noise to some extent as well. Isn't it a matter of just plugging in a microphone and hitting the record button?

I usually use Audacity to digitize my old tapes.
 
Garageband comes with recent OSX. On the upper right of your screen click the blue magnifiying glasses (spotlight) and type in Garageband

I use Audio Hijack.
 
I agree with the others here that you should first check out GarageBand, as that is free with newer Macs.

As for myself, I do audio editing in Sound Studio 3, which I picked up in a MacHeist or MacUpdate bundle some months ago. I've played around a little in GarageBand, but most of my serious recording (I compose dance/electronic music as a hobby) is done using Cakewalk SONAR in XP via Boot Camp.
 
I figured out how to open GarageBand, but I just can't get it to do what i want it to, which is simply recording a conversation. Any help, please?
 
Sfen said:
I figured out how to open GarageBand, but I just can't get it to do what i want it to, which is simply recording a conversation. Any help, please?
Click to expand...

I too tried this and its not simple; I gave up and used Audacity, which several other people have suggested. If you are going to do a lot of this, Wire Tap Studio is worth investing in. This was one of the reasons I went for the MacHeist bundle.
 
Sfen said:
I figured out how to open GarageBand, but I just can't get it to do what i want it to, which is simply recording a conversation. Any help, please?
Click to expand...

Do you have a microphone? How is it connected to the computer? Have you selected the correct audio device in the "audio-mdi setup" app?

What happens in Garage Band when you attempt to record an audio track? You DID click the red record button?

Need to be more specific about what you did, exactly and what happens or not happens. For example do you see the audio waveforms being written tho the screen? Is the track even moving? Have you read the "Gettting Started" section of the user manual?

GB is actually very simple to use but you do have to understand the basic concepts.
 
Okay I think i got it now, I needed to start a new project and select voice instead of the default piano. Thanks everyone.

EDIT: It also works fine with the built in microphone.
 
Actually, I do have another question, does anyone know how to save a GB file as .mp3?
 
Sfen said:
Actually, I do have another question, does anyone know how to save a GB file as .mp3?
Click to expand...

I believe that when you close a GB file, it will ask you if you want to save your file with an iLife preview. If you say Yes, it will export the file (rendering software instrument tracks into audio on-the-fly as necessary) into iTunes, in whatever default import audio format you've set there. You can convert to MP3 from there if necessary.
 
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