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

  • Thread starter Thread starter sourdev
  • Start date Start date
sourdev said:
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.
Click to expand...

MHO based on you wanting to pursue music "seriously" at a $500 budget.

1st) DAW
GarageBand - Say start with GarageBand it comes with your Mac and its free good for first time learning curve. I mean since you said I quote, "the technology field is where you fall short of it". Read the manual for GarageBand and look up tutorials on how to use the DAW. Its pretty easy and straight forward.

2nd) Interface
Apogee One - $150 refurbished

$350 left to buy decent headphones, some good books about recording and mixing to read from and your done save the rest of the money. Entry level set up for well under $500.


Now If you wanted to go with a tad bit better project studio setup cuz you said you were trying to get "serious"... while still under the budget?

1st) DAW
Reaper - $60 IMHO the best most affordable DAW on the market (know some will disagree, just my opinion guys dont shoot me over it)

2nd) Interface
Interface with ideal monitor hook ups. Focusrite PRO 14 Firewire could be ideal - $200 refurbished (know some will disagree, just my opinion guys dont shoot me over it, can hear the clacking of guns now)

Which leaves you with $240 for monitors I would suggest the M-Audio AV 40's - $110 brand new. (wouldnt buy refurbished monitors dont know just me.) I still have these babies along with my Focal 6b's and my Yamaha HS 80's. The AV-40's work great for the price and size

And Hey! Look I saved you $100 bucks and your done. Perfect entry level start up "Project Studio" for under $500 bucks WHOLA!. Now of course my colleagues RAMI, and Bobbsy will refute my claims... Come on guys lets hear (pre pares for firing squad). :eek:
 
Last edited:
Write down what version of OSX you have and whether the system has both USB and FireWire ports. Search for an interface that has requirements your system can meet. I've used both a Roland and Avid/M-Audio with my MacBook running OSX 10.6.8. I use the USB port but could use FireWire on my system. Currently that port is used for external storage so data traffic from the interface and storage are on different busses. But that's not necessary for 1 or 2 channels most of the time.

You can get a very good interface for under $200, less if you find one used. You will probably outgrow it but until you get rolling there are lots of other things to spend money on.

Use GarageBand. It's free and you can always switch to something else later.

Finally, I'd buy Mixing Secrets and read it a few times. It has a ton of useful information.
 
jaynm26 said:
And Hey! Look I saved you $100 bucks and your done. Perfect entry level start up "Project Studio" for under $500 bucks WHOLA!. Now of course my colleagues RAMI, and Bobbsy will refute my claims... Come on guys lets hear (pre pares for firing squad). :eek:
Click to expand...

Not to be dick, but if RAMI refutes your claims, that means he will provide evidence, so you'd be wrong by your own admission.
From your viewpoint, RAMI will repudiate your claims; From Sarah Palin's viewpoint, he might refudiate them! ;)
 
Your either talking about Me, Jaynm, or Sarah Palin, but I'm scared to ask! :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top