Help me record, anyone?

[JonM]

I'm a home recording virgin, and I need some help. I'm recording to GarageBand on a Mac G4 Powerbook, and I just got some hardware yesterday so I could stop using the terrible built-in mic. The supposedly well-informed sales guy at the Apple store sold me an M-Audio Nova condenser mic and an M-Audio FastTrack USB audio interface, both of which seem to be good pieces of equipment.

Now, my first concern is that the mic needs phantom power, and the box doesn't seem to provide it. I knew something was fishy when I opened the FastTrack box and saw that it didn't plug into anything but the computer. I plugged the mic into the box and got no signal. Am I right that this box doesn't provide phantom power? Then why did he sell it to me? Is he just an idiot? Do I need a mixer?

The other problem is actually more worrisome to me. I just bought a brand new Taylor 410ce (that's an acoustic guitar, kids), and it comes equipped with the Taylor Expression System for plugging in. Now, this system is supposed to be, like, the best acoustic electric system there is. However, I plugged the guitar into the FastTrack box through the XLR input (the guitar comes with a 1/4" to XLR cable) and the signal was mono. Is it supposed to be? I thought that an XLR would give me stereo, but I saw in GarageBand that I was only getting one channel, and I discovered that the box was only getting one as well. I hit the mono monitor button on the front and *boom*, I had sound in both ears. Are you supposed to get a mono output from an acoustic/electric?

[gaz12369]

a) yes, he is indeed an idiot...either take it back and get something that DOES supply phantom power (edirol UA-25 is great, quite cheap too), or buy a preamp, something like a Behringer MIC200, id prefer the Edirol myself though:)

b) im no expert on the guitar system, but i think its probably right that its in mono, as a normal guitar lead is mono, as is an XLR cable..its just balanced to reduce hum and such. What you want to do is (if you can) set garageband to record a mono track, then you can duplicate it (might need to phase reverse it), and pan 1 track hard left and the other hard right. you can then add your vocals and whatever else and pan them where you want.


I might get told otherwise, but i think im somewhat right - i deffinatly am on A lol

Gaz x

[JonM]

What you want to do is (if you can) set garageband to record a mono track, then you can duplicate it (might need to phase reverse it), and pan 1 track hard left and the other hard right. you can then add your vocals and whatever else and pan them where you want.

Similar to my remedy. In GarageBand, when you create a track, you can choose the input type between Channel 1 Mono, Channel 2 Mono, and stereo. I realized that if I chose Channel 1 Mono, it duplicates the mono signal in both channels in the mix, so that's how I was going to do it. If I am supposed to get a mono signal, that is, though I certainly believe you. Also, I guess I confused "balanced" with "stereo" as far as XLR goes.

[gaz12369]

yeah that sounds about right to be honest, thats what audacity does when i record my electric, so it sounds fine.

now all you need to do is put that interface right up the salesman's ***

heh

[JonM]

Done. See, here's where I made the mistake: I was trying to join music and computers, so I assumed that the people who knew about computers would be able to help me. So, I got something that works with my computer, but it doesn't work with the music. I'm takin' the thing back to the Apple store and then going straight to Guitar Center.

[Moseph]

a normal guitar lead is mono, as is an XLR cable..its just balanced to reduce hum and such. What you want to do is (if you can) set garageband to record a mono track, then you can duplicate it (might need to phase reverse it), and pan 1 track hard left and the other hard right. you can then add your vocals and whatever else and pan them where you want.


I might get told otherwise, but i think im somewhat right - i deffinatly am on A lol

Gaz x


a) XLR and TRS cables are both capable of stereo signals (that's why your headphones don't need two seperate cables). Most of the time however, you're using them w/ mono signals. It sounds like the guitar output should probably be mono. Unless you have effects such as phasing, flanging, leslie, etc you are typically working in mono for guitar effects.

b) ears don't work that way. It's all a psychoacoustic thing. Unless there's some noticeable difference between the tracks (minute time delay, EQ differences, anything really), the human brain will simply sum the panned signals into a center channel sound that's 2x as loud. Add space by altering the effects somehow when you pan them hard left/right, otherwise you might as well just turn up the volume gain.

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