Mac recording sound help, please:

Ira · 01-02-2011, 02:50 PM

In OS 9 and before, it was always part of the OS where you could simply hook up a USB microphone and record your own customized alert sounds. This seems to be missing in 10.4.11, unless I'M missing something.

Basically, I have my USB mike hooked up, and I want to be able to make a number of short recordings of 30 seconds and less, preferably saved as MP3s, but if it's WAV, I'm sure I can find a program to convert. And I'm not doing this for alert sounds. It's for my ventriloquism act. (Cheating!)

Doesn't the current OS still handle this? Or do I need other software?

And the key point here is FREE software.

Thanks!

-------

Additional Edit:

The Apple Help Menu/whatever tells me I should have an Alerts tab in the Sound preferences, like I always remember, but I ain't got it now.

Which is why I'm thinking that I'll need some 3rd party software to get this done.

Last edited by Ira; 01-02-2011 at 03:06 PM.

johnmflores · 01-02-2011, 03:25 PM

Audacity: Free Audio Editor and Recorder

**Ash** · 01-02-2011, 03:29 PM

You should be fine with OSX Ira.
Connected mics should act like any other plug-and-play device.
Check your sound settings on the system prefs to ensure the imc is registering input.
Then go for John's suggestion of Audacity, a very functional audio editor - converts to mp3 in a breeze.

Ira · 01-02-2011, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by Ash

You should be fine with OSX Ira.
Connected mics should act like any other plug-and-play device.
Check your sound settings on the system prefs to ensure the imc is registering input.
Then go for John's suggestion of Audacity, a very functional audio editor - converts to mp3 in a breeze.

Thanks Ash, thanks John, but I have the mike attached and have it set as the input source. The sound level bars even react to my talking.

But there are no options to record anything.

I'll download Audicity, but is this really going to help me? I went to Apple help--which is hardly any help at all--and I should supposedly be able to record via GarageBand.

But I explored, and I don't see how the hell to that either.

normhead · 01-02-2011, 04:44 PM

Use Quicktime - new audio recording to record your input.

Ira · 01-03-2011, 08:53 AM

You have to pay for QT Pro to record.

I downloaded Audacity, and this seems to do the trick--if I can figure it out.

**Ash** · 01-03-2011, 11:41 AM

Audacity is great - not the most intuitive UI, but very reliable software. I've been using it for years without a hitch.

01-02-2011, 02:50 PM	#1
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Mac recording sound help, please: In OS 9 and before, it was always part of the OS where you could simply hook up a USB microphone and record your own customized alert sounds. This seems to be missing in 10.4.11, unless I'M missing something. Basically, I have my USB mike hooked up, and I want to be able to make a number of short recordings of 30 seconds and less, preferably saved as MP3s, but if it's WAV, I'm sure I can find a program to convert. And I'm not doing this for alert sounds. It's for my ventriloquism act. (Cheating!) Doesn't the current OS still handle this? Or do I need other software? And the key point here is FREE software. Thanks! ------- Additional Edit: The Apple Help Menu/whatever tells me I should have an Alerts tab in the Sound preferences, like I always remember, but I ain't got it now. Which is why I'm thinking that I'll need some 3rd party software to get this done. Last edited by Ira; 01-02-2011 at 03:06 PM.

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01-02-2011, 03:25 PM	#2
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	Audacity: Free Audio Editor and Recorder

01-02-2011, 03:29 PM	#3
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	You should be fine with OSX Ira. Connected mics should act like any other plug-and-play device. Check your sound settings on the system prefs to ensure the imc is registering input. Then go for John's suggestion of Audacity, a very functional audio editor - converts to mp3 in a breeze.

01-02-2011, 04:08 PM	#4
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ash You should be fine with OSX Ira. Connected mics should act like any other plug-and-play device. Check your sound settings on the system prefs to ensure the imc is registering input. Then go for John's suggestion of Audacity, a very functional audio editor - converts to mp3 in a breeze. Thanks Ash, thanks John, but I have the mike attached and have it set as the input source. The sound level bars even react to my talking. But there are no options to record anything. I'll download Audicity, but is this really going to help me? I went to Apple help--which is hardly any help at all--and I should supposedly be able to record via GarageBand. But I explored, and I don't see how the hell to that either.

01-02-2011, 04:44 PM	#5
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Use Quicktime - new audio recording to record your input.

01-03-2011, 08:53 AM	#6
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216 Original Poster	You have to pay for QT Pro to record. I downloaded Audacity, and this seems to do the trick--if I can figure it out.

01-03-2011, 11:41 AM	#7
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Audacity is great - not the most intuitive UI, but very reliable software. I've been using it for years without a hitch.