MacOS

[Mike in Utica]

Hello,
I recently switched from HP to Mac...actually it's an eMac..brand new! So far..it's sweet! What are people's im pressions on this particular machine..
Also, what is garage band? What bells and whistles would I need to put my bass lines/jams onto it? Obviously, I'm not pulgging my guitar into the eMac. although i must admit..i did look for a jack
Thanks!!

[edeye]

Originally posted by Mike in Albany
Hello,
I recently switched from HP to Mac...actually it's an eMac..brand new! So far..it's sweet! What are people's im pressions on this particular machine..
Also, what is garage band? What bells and whistles would I need to put my bass lines/jams onto it? Obviously, I'm not pulgging my guitar into the eMac. although i must admit..i did look for a jack
Thanks!!

It's an education computer basically....
Garageband is a fun music making app that is almost too easy to use, but it's a HOG and a half.

You can plug your bass into the line in, but you'd be better off getting an iMic or some kind of USB breakout box.

[Polaris20]

GarageBand is really cool, but I echo the above statement; it's a little hungry.

I personally really like Tracktion, which is quite efficient and well laid out, very easy to use.

As for the interface, the Presonus Inspire 1394 has 4 in's at 24/96Khz for $199.

[BydoEmpire2]

I also just got a mac (g5) a month or so ago, and I've been doing a bunch of demos in GarageBand. It's rediculously easy to record with. You can do 'live instrument' tracks w/ real-time, totally tweakable effects (verb, chorus, etc), as well as full midi tracks (drums, keys, horns, etc). There are some included guitar & bass amp sims as well as loops for drums and other instruments. I wouldn't say it's great sounding, but pretty darn good for the price and REALLY easy to use. Perfect for demos and sketchpad stuff, although some of the things I've been able to kick out in the last month - even while trying to learn the system - have sounded better than what I was able to do on my old ADAT.

I plug my bass (and guitar and mics) into my Mackie powered mixer w/ the line out going direclty into the line in of my mac. Essentially the same effect as an iMic. I was also looking at getting a Presonus Firebox one of these days, but for now, my setup working fine.