Andy Chase

After three weeks, two microphones, and more money spent on adapters (and time spent returning them) than I care to think about, I'm giving up on my gung-ho GarageBand recording ambitions, at least for the time being.

Problem number 1

I bought a dynamic microphone from radio shack, which came with a 1/4 phono plug. However, my PowerBook only has a line-level input, so I had to buy a balanced XLR to line level 1/4" adapter - which in turn required me to buy an XLR cable to replace the one which came with the microphone.

Problem number 2

New adapter and cable in hand, I rushed home to hook everything up, and... my banjo (believe it or not) was just too quiet for that microphone. Fortunately, Radio Shack was great about letting me return it.

Problem number 3

Taking advantage of an Amazon gift certificate, I picked up a Sony stereo condenser microphone, which in turn forced me to buy a Griffith Technologies iMic in order to get a usable level into my power book. Of course, I didn't think to order the iMic until the day the microphone arrived, setting me back another few days.

The last straw

Finally, I hooked up the condenser mic to my PowerBook via the iMic, only to get the same results I did with the dynamic mic; normal levels when tapping the mic or speaking directly into it, but hardly anything when playing the banjo six inches away. If I wanted to escalate the situation, I would start looking at preamps, but really, I'm not commited enough right now to spend more than the $100 or so that I have already.

So, I think it's back to Amazon with the Sony microphone. I'll keep the iMic and use it with my old Packard Bell desktop computer mic, which is also somewhat quiet, but better.

It's a disappointment. I would really like to use GarageBand to its potential, but based on this experience microphone recording on the Mac is an inordinate pain in the ass and wallet.

I do have another, somewhat related crazy scheme planned to distract me from this crushing defeat, however.