use internal Mac mic to record basic cd

[carriejoy]

Hello,

I simply want to use our school's Mac to record a CD of me reading stories for my children. We are apart for about 2 more months.

Can I use the internal mic to record directly to the hard drive? And from there, it shouldn't be rocket science to get it burned to a CD, correct?

I want no mixing. We have Toast Lite as a program and perhaps iTunes could be used? Can I record as an MP3 format or a WAV?

If possible I'd like basic step by step directions. Or, if you know of a website that can walk me through, that would be super.

We also have a digital video camera. Can I use that for just sound recording?

We have some decent equipment and software. I simply do not know what most of it is called or what it is for. I appreciate the help and will check back in a day or so and see what comes up!

Carriejoy

 

[Tifstorey]

Well, if the mac does have an internal mic then that would work fine yeah. You would record that as an audio file, then you would have to export as a .wav file then if neccessary export as an mp3. From your hard drive once you have the finished recording and its on the Hard drive, you can easily burn it onto a CD using Toast Lite.

I couldnt tell you of a website that gives you step by step instructions unfortunately, someone else may be able to help you on that one... To be honest it shouldnt be too hard, all the equipment is internal and theres no setting up or anything (assuming you use the internal mic)

Using a digital video camera is possible, just ensure that the audio cable is present and that will work fine. if its quite a new model, it might have an option under settings to create a single audio file.

If you could list the software you have on the mac that could possibly help and may make it easier for you.

Good luck!

 

[bennychico11]

i'm not sure what you mean by "internal mic" on the mac. possibly you mean there is a microphone input on the soundcard?
most cases this will be a small 1/8" input (looks like a heaphone size jack).
something like this: http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=33-3031 should work.
what you need is a software program to record the audio with. http://www.shareware.com might have some free programs that would work for you. just go there and type in "record audio" and then make sure you select Mac programs.

the video camera idea would eliminate the need for buying a microphone (provided it has a microphone on it)...but you'd still need to get the audio into the computer and recorded with the software. after you recorded it, you'd need to run a small 1/8" cable (assuming that is the connection on your camera) out of the audio output and into your soundcards LINE input. then press record in your program and press play on the camera. the audio should just playback through the output and into the computer. then save the file as a Wave file and then just burn onto an audio CD