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First go with Garageband


Weird War
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Hi everyone

I'll be having my first go at recording over Christmas, using Garageband. I'm planning to send my bass output via my Microbass II to my Mac - will this work ok? I'm not expecting it to sound great, more for reference really.

Thanks

Doug

Edited by Weird War
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I don't know what a microbass II is and I can't be asses to google at 11.40pm.

But I have to say that Garageband is a superb bit of free software for getting into recording. I can't believe how ridiculously easy it is to use! I bought a 'monster' cable off the internet for about £14 and I plug into that and go straight into the mac with no other interface. Not high tech but it gets a result!

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[quote name='Weird War' post='361485' date='Dec 22 2008, 10:08 PM']I'm planning to send my bass output via my Microbass II to my Mac - will this work ok?[/quote]
Fraid not - you'll need an interface box of some sort. Basically a box that you plug a jack plug which then squirts it out on a USB (or Firewire cable) which you plug into the Mac. Try a Line 6 Toneport, that's what I use and it works a treat. Garageband's great, very easy to use and very easy to get great results.

Edited by stingrayfan
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I have a lead that I take straight from my bass straight into the back of the mac.

You can hear how it sounds here:

www.myspace.com/frigorific

& listen to "R we having fun" and "Criminal". I re recorded the bass in GB.

I done most of the mixing of all four of the songs in garageband & then put the individual tracks into Audacity (also free) and finished them there.
Garageband seemed to lose top end & volume for some strange reason when I exported the finished jobbies.

Edited by xgsjx
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Thanks for your replies everyone.

Bass via the Microbass works though, as expected, does not sound great. I'd read another thread about USB/Firewire interfaces so wasn't sure how important these might be.

So, I'll have a go over Christmas and let you know how I get on. :)

Edited by Weird War
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Ok, here's my first ever effort at recording bass, adding a simple part to an old piano/vocals demo, and using GarageBand.

I went Jazz-preamp-Mac (I need to get a proper interface, I know!) so apologies for the sound quality.

Any comments and tips welcome. :)

Edited by Weird War
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[quote name='xgsjx' post='370347' date='Jan 4 2009, 09:03 PM']I like it. Sounds pretty good to me.[/quote]

Thanks mate. I realised afterwards that I recorded the bass in mono - I'm guessing stereo recording, then placing the bass left or right in the mix would be best, right?

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I like it too mate, sounds great. You should still be able to pan yourself in Mono, but stereo will give your reverbs and so on a bit of room to breathe, but not really any need most of the time. Nice tune though man, really good.

ped

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Good first go - bass sounds a little muffled and lost though. Could do with beefing up. Think that would improve with a half decent interface, plus a bit of compression/effects in Garageband to beef it up a bit. A fresh set of strings makes a big difference too. I put new strings on before [url="http://mistermattsmith.googlepages.com/FunkBass.mp3"]recording this[/url] on GB with my Yamaha BB. Used a good slab of compression. See what you think.

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Thanks for the feedback, chaps, much appreciated.

Stingrayfan, that sounds excellent. What interface do you use, out of interest? Do you apply compression in GB itself, or beforehand via a pedal in chain? I used to own a BB414: really fast neck on those basses - I even got close to nailing Rhythm Stick!

Good point re: strings too - I used some old flats on my recording and they obviously don't jump out of the mix. I'm going to stick some nickel rounds on and compare.

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[quote name='brummie' post='372964' date='Jan 7 2009, 12:23 PM']Hi,
I put my (active) bass through the mic input of an Alesis Mulltimix 8 USB into GB and get great results, the multimix only cost me £45 on Gumtree, use whatever gets you a great sound.
Good luck[/quote]

Cheers for the tip, Brummie.

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