help me with new recording gift!!!

Posted on

Member Since: Dec 14, 2005

hey --

i would love if someone could help me out. my boyfriend just got a new powerbook G4, and really wants to start recording on garageband. i want to buy him a nice mike (shure sm57) and find a quality interface (if i need one...) for less than $150 or so. he will probably only record one track at a time. i don't think there will be a need for many multiple inputs or anything. i figure having a nice mike will give good quality for vocals, guitars, anything else. but i have no idea what to get for the middleman stuff...

these are the type of things i have been looking at...

M-Audio Fast Track US44010 USB Audio Interface

M-Audio - Fast Track USB

Behringer F-Control Audio FCA202

am i on the right track? do i need a preamp too?

please help me!
thanks,

holly

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 14, 2005 10:30 pm

Hey holly, welcome to HRC. Out of the few you selected I have tried out the Fast Track and it seems pretty stable. It was on a Mac as well so that is a plus. I know USB interfaces can be finicky but this one seems to be very straight forward and easy to use. The driver install is easy as well. I believe there is a current driver update for that model that fixes Windows issues not sure if there was a Mac one though.

Anyway, that would be the best for the money and a very simple, portable unit to use.

Good luck

Noize

Member
Since: Dec 14, 2005


Dec 14, 2005 10:39 pm

thanks for the quick response Noize2u. i definately keep looking at the M-audio USB interface. do you think that this will be enough with a good mike, or do i need a preamp too?

?cixelsid I mA
Member
Since: Jul 30, 2005


Dec 15, 2005 02:13 pm

I have a mobile pre-usb by m-audio. I have used it with good results. It has 2 channels with Mic, Line, and Instrument inputs and has phantom power in case you ever get a condenser microphone. I think it sells for around $150 and will eliminate the need for a pre-amp.
Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Member
Since: Dec 14, 2005


Dec 15, 2005 04:16 pm



ok! well, i think i am going to go ahead with the m-audio fast track USB. alongside the new shure mic, that's my whole xmas bfriend budget. if he needs a preamp later on, he can get it. -now i am going to look into decent cable and desk stand for cheap.


thanks for the advice guys!!!

Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004


Dec 15, 2005 04:30 pm

I think he'll be very pleased.

Can I print this and give it to my wife?
Give her some ideas......

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 15, 2005 09:19 pm

Holly, The fast track does have a pre amp of sort's. Not the best but it does give the ability to add some gain to the mic input as well as the line input. It is a good choice for the money for sure. And as you said, if he is going to take it a bit more seriously in the long run he can definately add a better pre amp later. This will definately get his feet wet and get him started recordig his music.

Member
Since: Dec 14, 2005


Dec 15, 2005 09:28 pm


well, to be honest, i can't wait to play some of my own music on it as well!! by the way i was going to order "garageband the missing manual" to go along with all this stuff, --is this the best garageband book?

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 15, 2005 10:43 pm

I'm not a big fan of GarageBand, but from what I have read that book so far is probably the most complete of the one's out there. The other's are being called simple and incomplete. So ya I would opt for that one.

Hope fully we'll get to hear some of the outcome of the new toy's then???

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