Teach me how to record

[Greenfuz]

[Holy Schnikes]

I know I didn't really answer your question but I told you what I think about interfaces in general and I hope it helps.

That DEFINITELY helps! Thanks for the detailed response, very much appreciated.

[mathias]

A 5watt practice amp could sound amazing through a Royer into a Hardy M-1 pre-amp into Pro-tools 10HD and a Twin reverb could sound awefull through a radioshack mic into a behrigner mic pre into garageband.

I agree, but one point of contention as a software developer: once the signal is digital, if we're not talking about the quality of the effects put onto the audio but merely the audio itself, the audio is going to be exactly the same in both ProTools and GarageBand. It's the same bits, given everything else was the same (same mics, same interface, etc) So I think you can get away with using GarageBand for awhile while upgrading mics, interface, etc to high quality. Then, when you need plugins or EQing that isn't available in Garageband, you might want to upgrade the software. ProTools is going to be able to do a lot more, and probably make it sound better, than GarageBand. But Garageband isn't lacking for the ability to EQ, add reverb, etc. And you can always throw mac-style AU plugins into GarageBand or other Mac software.

But yeah, the audio represented in GarageBand would be the same bits as the audio in ProTools, all other things being equal.

Edit: side rant here about interface sampling quality and such. Required reading: http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html

[The4455]

A 5watt practice amp could sound amazing through a Royer into a Hardy M-1 pre-amp into Pro-tools 10HD and a Twin reverb could sound awefull through a radioshack mic into a behrigner mic pre into garageband.

I agree, but one point of contention as a software developer: once the signal is digital, if we're not talking about the quality of the effects put onto the audio but merely the audio itself, the audio is going to be exactly the same in both ProTools and GarageBand. It's the same bits, given everything else was the same (same mics, same interface, etc) So I think you can get away with using GarageBand for awhile while upgrading mics, interface, etc to high quality. Then, when you need plugins or EQing that isn't available in Garageband, you might want to upgrade the software. ProTools is going to be able to do a lot more, and probably make it sound better, than GarageBand. But Garageband isn't lacking for the ability to EQ, add reverb, etc. And you can always throw mac-style AU plugins into GarageBand or other Mac software.

But yeah, the audio represented in GarageBand would be the same bits as the audio in ProTools, all other things being equal.

Edit: side rant here about interface sampling quality and such. Required reading: http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html

Interesting, I never knew/thought about that. It's so obvious, it just never crossed my mind. I think it's what I think about when I hear the name "garageband." A free software that isn't used for much besides for dicking around. "Pro Tools" the industry standard used thousands of recordings, also cost a ton.

Yah that last sentence about upgrades and such, by the time you are upgrading mics and interfaces and still using garageband you probably will want to upgrade to Pro-Tools or Logic etc. I understand what you're saying though.

Also if anyone has any other questions fire away. I could just write a FAQ on recording booklet, that could be pretty cool. Hm.

[zRobertez]

totes subbin'! Gettin a macbook soon and gonna have the most fun evar. I don't plan on anything really high quality at all.

[mathias]

Also, thank you The4455 for all the info. You're an awesome resource

[The4455]

Thankyou

[jfrey]

Haven't had internet except when at work since the 19th, so I haven't gotten around to reading anything anyone posted yet. Looks like there was some good stuff, will try to read through today.

[The4455]

So...Jfrey, whatchya thinkin?