How to Hook up a Mic and Record
To Hook up the Mic
In the EMS music classroom we have 2 types of mics:
a Blue Snowball or Yeti (yes it's white, Blue is the Brand name...)
Both are USB microphones and plug into any USB jack on the computer.
USB inputs on the Macs are located in the back right corner of the screen
USB inputs on the laptops are located on the right or left sides and sometimes even in the back.
To record in Mixcraft after your mics are all hooked up and ready to go:
Click on the down arrow to the right of the "arm" button on your blank audio track
Choose the USB Mic that is plugged in (USB audio Device or Blue Snowball...)
If it prompts you to choose a channel, choose 'stereo'
The "arm" button should automatically get pressed in and turn the track red.
Click the red circle on the playback controls to start recording
Click the square to stop
If your mic is connected but you can't hear sound:
Go to file/preferences
Under Sound Device output should be speakers or system speakers NOT the microphone. Input should be the mic that is plugged in.
Sometimes the mic has identity issues and thinks it's a speaker so you just have to remind it that it's still a microphone... ;)
To record in Garageband after your mics are all hooked up and ready to go:
The Mac usually recognizes the microphone without having to do other things so you should be able to just start recording by clicking on the red circle.
IF NOT THEN:
Click on "garageband" in the top left corner and choose "preferences"
Click on audio
Make sure that the output is "System Preferences" and the input is the microphone that you plugged in (Blue Snowball or Yeti)
(Sometimes the microphone has identity issues and thinks it's a speaker. You just have to make sure your settings are this so it will work. ;) )
*Helpful hint*
When recording long paragraphs, stories, poems, segments, whatever... Record one sentence at a time then move each of those tracks up next to each other to create one long segment. This way, if you make a mistake while recording, you don't have to re-record a long segment of stuff that would take more time...;)