Recording equipment

[Stenzo]

Hi,
I would like to start recording with my Mac (OS 10.6). I play a Santa Cruz VS and mainly American primitive and blues styles.

I need to buy an interface and a mic. I have been suggested to go for a Focusrite scarlett 2i2 and a Rode NT5. I found all the material used for about 250 $. This could be in my price range. Any suggestion?

Besides, Garage Band doesn't run on Mac OS 10.6 anymore. I cannot upgrade the system, as my computer would not run properly (old machine). Any tips on recording program I could use?

Thanks
Ste

[Bajoquintoguy]

I use a small mixer going directly into my MacBook Pro. I just use a TRRS cable adapted to have the mixer feed the "microphone" ring, in mono of course. I actually have the audio out from laptop going to a stereo channel on the mixer.

I capture it using audacity! It's a pretty decent editing program for being free!

[philjs]

The new version 4.0 of Ardour has just been released. Ardour is a full-featured DAW that is donation-ware ($1 minimum gets you a download link) and runs on OS 10.6. I've been a Cubase user for years (still running Cubase 6 on OS 10.6.8 and see no convincing reason to upgrade) but if I didn't, I'd certainly give Ardour a look-see.

I think that the Focusrite, a pair of Rode mics AND a good closed-set of headphones would be a great start for a decent recording system...

Phil

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by Stenzo

Hi,
I would like to start recording with my Mac (OS 10.6). I play a Santa Cruz VS and mainly American primitive and blues styles.

I need to buy an interface and a mic. I have been suggested to go for a Focusrite scarlett 2i2 and a Rode NT5. I found all the material used for about 250 $. This could be in my price range. Any suggestion?

Besides, Garage Band doesn't run on Mac OS 10.6 anymore. I cannot upgrade the system, as my computer would not run properly (old machine). Any tips on recording program I could use?

Thanks
Ste

Have you confirmed whether the software driver for the Focusrite Scarlett runs on OS 10.6?

[muscmp]

Originally Posted by sdelsolray

Have you confirmed whether the software driver for the Focusrite Scarlett runs on OS 10.6?

+1

my wife's 2007 imac still runs garageband on 10.10.3 and so does my 2010 imac. quite a few of the present DAWs may not work on older machines. it looks like you are possibly running snow leopard and some of the present DAWs may not work on that version also. check the compatibility of garageband, logic pro, audacity, et. to see which ones work with your present OS. you may have to upgrade tho if you can.

play music!

[PorkPieGuy]

Doesn't Reaper run on Macs? It's terrific and it's free! Maybe others can chime in on using this program on a Mac.

[Stenzo]

Hi all,
Thanks a lot for all the info. It looks like that the interface runs on Mac OS 10.5.6 and higher.
For the programs: I will check Ardour and also if reaper is available. I hope I will not need to upgrade. Otherwise the machine risk to slow down a lot.

Cheers
Ste

[Steev]

Originally Posted by Stenzo

Besides, Garage Band doesn't run on Mac OS 10.6 anymore. I cannot upgrade the system, as my computer would not run properly (old machine).

Garage band will run fine on 10.6. I'm running 10.6.8 on a 2011 MB Pro and GB works perfectly. Maybe you just need to reinstall the software?

[philjs]

Originally Posted by sdelsolray

Have you confirmed whether the software driver for the Focusrite Scarlett runs on OS 10.6?

I'm using a Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 and the mixer/routing software (MixControl) runs fine on OS 10.6.8. There is an OS checker on the Focusrite support site. What MAY be problematic is the plugin suite (compression, reverb, gate and EQ) but I've never used them so simply don't know whether they will run.

Phil

[MikeBmusic]

If you're looking to go up in abilities, Reaper is free to downlad and try out. $60 to register it. There is a learning curve with it, of course.