How do you hook up an XLR mic to a Mac?

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sourdev

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How to use an XLR microphone on MacOS?​

Hi every body. I just bought the shure sm57 mic and obviously it comes with an xlr cable. I know i need to hook it up to a USB interface or a mixer or preamp of some kind. However I was wondering once the mic is plugged into those devices where does that cord go? does it just go into a usb port to my computer? or do i need an external interface or an extra sound card? I want decent sound however I'm not looking to spend any more than a couple hundred. any help would be highly appreciated. Thanks
 
sourdev said:
Hi every body. I just bought the shure sm57 mic and obviously it comes with an xlr cable. I know i need to hook it up to a USB interface or a mixer or preamp of some kind. However I was wondering once the mic is plugged into those devices where does that cord go? does it just go into a usb port to my computer? or do i need an external interface or an extra sound card? I want decent sound however I'm not looking to spend any more than a couple hundred. any help would be highly appreciated. Thanks
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Welcome to the site.

Most common is to buy an interface. If you need just the one mic, then a 2 channel USB interface will be fine and not expensive. You plug the mic into the interface and the interface into your USB port on your mac. I'm not sure if Mac's need to use drivers, kind of remember hearing they don't. If not you're good to go. If they do, then load the drivers for the interface.

Here's a list of USB interfaces...

USB Audio Interfaces | Sweetwater.com
 
The USB or Firewire plug goes into the the Laptop USB port or firewire 400/800 port.

Mic->Pre Amp/Interface (USB or Firewire)-> Laptop USB port or Firewire port depending on the interface connections

Question is what Interface do you have?
 
sourdev said:
Hi every body. I just bought the shure sm57 mic and obviously it comes with an xlr cable. I know i need to hook it up to a USB interface or a mixer or preamp of some kind. However I was wondering once the mic is plugged into those devices where does that cord go? does it just go into a usb port to my computer?
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If you buy an audio interface, whether in mixer format or not, It will be designed to connect straight to your computer.

The interfaces mentioned earlier combine several things into one.
microphone preamplifiers, analog to digital converters, and a usb/fire data interface.

If you buy a preamp or an analog mixer, it will not have all of these things, and therefore not connect to a computer via usb or firewire.
 
If you want a "decent mic" condenser mic to go directly into your laptop via USB connections you would need to look into Blue Yeti. Or the Apogee "MiC" Microphone USB as well. But since you already have a mic I would suggest the Apogee One its only $200 bucks via USB connection. You wanna step up sound quality and I/O go to the Apogee Duet 2. MHO The best sounding "portable" USB interface on the market today and its affordable at $500.

Best options for MAC
 
jaynm26 said:
What is your current DAW system sourdev?
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I'm using maschine.
Would you guys recommend me getting a pre-amp and connect that into the usb interface then to the computer? Or is that not necessary?

Also the mix was only $100 dollars so does it make sense to by equipment for it that is 5 times even more than that?
 
For maschine No, its not required & IMHO not recommended. Do you record vocals alot or instruments or are you mainly an in the box producer? Pre Amps and good interfaces are mainly used for recording and playback if your a ITB producer its not all that essential. All you would have is a fancy playback device you would have to in turn by studio monitors for and spend or waste more money. If your not recording and have no plans on buying studio monitors for professional mixing then save your money. Trust studio equipment can add up faster than bad lottery tickets.

sourdev said:
Also the mix was only $100 dollars so does it make sense to by equipment for it that is 5 times even more than that?
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Proly the smartest rookie question you could as. When you find yourself at these cross roads do 3 things ask yourself where do you see your self in the next few months to a year doing with this music. Then ask what do you see your self doing in 3-5 years with your music "seriously". Next Research, Research, Research. Last and shop dont buy but shop huge difference.

So first up what do you want sourdev?

What are you trying to achieve?

And is this for a new found hobby or for a future professional career? A hobby budget and a career budget SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED!! Trust me on this friend. Last thing you wanna do is look back $120,000 ago and go why the @#&* did I buy all this crap! :cursing:...I could done so much more with all this money like save for college tuition and get a real job :facepalm:

I wish I had guiding words $180,000 ago??!!
 
Jus to kinda make it plain you would only get an interface & pre amp not only for recording & playback but also for an actual DAW not an exclusive beat makin hardware & software as maschine is. You have a mac you have a free version of garageband that comes with your mac.

Now you having a Mic and wanting to connect it you WOULD need an interface and from the sounds of it looks like you want to go on a budget. Apogee One as I recommended is $200 brand new proly even less refurbished or any other USB connecting interface there is tons as Chili posted. Research them and shop first then buy. Maschine would be used as your beat making machine and your mic would go into your USB interface along with Garageband. Now A Pre Amp is good for instruments and vocals once you get an interface IMHO I think it is very essential to have a Mic with an external Pre Amp. Pre Sonus makes a great Tube Pre Amp for under $100 just make sure you go XLR into to Pre Amp and Line Out into your interface and you will have superb sound. All for around $300

As I stated before Microphone [XLR]->Pre Amp [Line In]->Interface [USB]->Mac Computer [DAW Garageband]. This is a proper studio project I/O set up for a mic and pre and interface. Your maschine would be hooked up USB in another port on your laptop
 
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It depends of the interface, but most of these have preamp(s) built in, so you don't need to spend extra.
 
:p Seidy, "your right", Yea what Seidy said lol
 
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Yes most all interfaces have mic pre amps built in, But an addiotnal dedicated external Mic Pre Amp is ideal for better quality sound having line level go into your interface is a lot better quality even Eng with High End Interfaces have dedicated External Mic Pre Amps its just a universal pro set up. But yes as Seidy said you dont "HAVE" to have a mic pre amp you can just get the interface with a built in pre amp and record.
 
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jaynm26 said:
God damn it RAMI...:cursing: Im on a damn Iphone jesus sorry bout the typos lol Just kill me RAMI, here :spank:
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I don't care about typos. I make a million of them too.

But before you EDITED YOUR POST, you said "Yes most all DAW's have mic pre amps built in". That's not a typo, it's just wrong. That's what I was commenting on. The rest of your post has a bunch of mis-information in it too. But I couldn't be bothered pointing it out.

Oh, and you need to calm down, man. You're way too high-strung. :eek:
 
RAMI said:
I don't care about typos. I make a million of them too.

But before you EDITED YOUR POST, you said "Yes most all DAW's have mic pre amps built in". That's not a typo, it's just wrong. That's what I was commenting on. The rest of your post has a bunch of mis-information in it too. But I couldn't be bothered pointing it out.

Oh, and you need to calm down, man. You're way too high-strung. :eek:
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You know what post any post of mine that has "mis-information" and I bet when were done you will have clear understanding of whatever it is your confused about bet a million bucks!

Am I to hi strung or does someone jus have a crush on me sorry RAMI gotta try E-Harmony buddy no can do.
 
For crying out loud. A person wanting to connect an SM57 to a laptop for entry level recordings just needs a basic entry level USB interface with a built in mic pre amp. Talking about it being "ideal" to invest in a separate mic pre just confuses the issue a bit like saying DAWs have mic pre amps included.

Frankly, until you're talking about really good mics, really good A to D converters and being willing to spend many hundreds of dollars on the external pre amp, it's probably a waste of money anyway.
 
Hey i give both options who are we to choose for him, simple and if you would like to go futher. as i said you dont have to have it
 
Well obviously I have to start somewhere. I am definitely pursuing a career in music. But the technology field of it is where I fall short. I am looking to record vocals and probably instruments down the road. I only have so much to spend but a few hundred (500 at the most) is ideal.
 
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