iMac + iMic + audio recording = doesn't work... 1

[tsurikov]

Hello O Experts,

I am helping a friend of mine set up his iMac (flatpanel, OS 10.3.9, 128 MB RAM) for recording audio. He purchased and installed an iMic for this purpose. We are having problems with the device, however...

First, the input audio will not "play through" to the speakers - i.e., there's an audio signal coming in, as shown in the level meter in the Sound control panel, but we can't hear it on the speakers. We are able to record sound into iMovie or the included Audacity software, but we would like to be able to hear the signal "live" before we actually record it.

Second, we cannot record in stereo - any recordings we do come out in mono. (This is using the bundled Audacity software; the bundled Final Vinyl does not work at all - the sound is horribly distorted, time-stretched, and obviously extremely clipped.)

Does anyone out there have any experience with this? I'd appreciate any help! Thank y'all!

--Michael

 

[jimoblak]

we cannot record in stereo

Are you sending a stereo signal to the iMac? If you only have one microphone, then you only have one channel.

Check the settings in Audacity so that the project records in stereo. Final Vinyl's settings are clearly off. The software should work fine.

Most good recording software will permit you to monitor the input. Hunt around for the setting or find other recording software.

- - I hope this helps - -
_{(Complain to someone else if it doesn't)}

 

[chiph]

I have an iMic -- did you plug your speaker cable into the iMic or into the audio-out jack on the iMac? I believe that the iMic, when plugged in, will route audio-out through it's jack in preference over the built-in jack.

Chip H.


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[tsurikov]

Thanks for your replies!

jimoblak - I'm definitely sending a stereo signal. My problem with Audacity was that it didn't matter whether I set stereo or mono - any time I click "Record" it would add a new track with mono. (It'd never record to the track for which I set options!)

chiph - I tried both audio output jacks and found that only the computer's audio out was active. (The iMic's audio out gave nothing, even when I chose it as the output source in the Sound control panel.)

Still trying,
--Michael

 

[jimoblak]

Audacity is free software. Make sure that you have the latest version by going to the help menu. I cannot imagine how Audacity would only offer a mono track unless you have a really old version.

- - I hope this helps - -
_{(Complain to someone else if it doesn't)}

 

[tsurikov]

I do indeed have the latest version of Audacity(well, unless a newer one came out in the last week). I know Audacity can do stereo tracks - that's not the problem. I can't seem to get it to RECORD in stereo!

Say I start Audacity and create ONE new blank track in stereo. If I then click the Record button, Audacity will add a SECOND track and insert the incoming signal there - but in MONO! I can't find a way for Audacity to record to the first track, which I said is stereo...

*sigh*
--Michael

 

[Bradarad]

I use Audacity with an Imac running 9.2. The version for OS X isn't identical but should be similar.

First did you open the Mac's Sound control panel? With it you can:
(1) select source (you need to select 'sound in')
(2) see signal strength on a stereo bar graph
(3) hear sound through stereo speakers
(4) generate tones/noise to check for proper operation

I assume you input through a stereo 1/8" phone plug.

When you're happy with what you hear go to Audacity and open Preferences. One of the tabs opens a window where you'll see an option to record in mono or stereo.

 

[tsurikov]

Bradarad: I did indeed check the Sound CP - one of my first stops. It's what made me realize the actual input was working properly... but didn't help with the software.

BUT!

Everyone: I wrote to Griffin and received a helpful response that finally solved the problem. To wit:

-----------
Please run Audio MIDI Setup (Applications-->Utilities). Set the "Properties
For" or "Settings For" are set to iMic USB Audio System. Then set both the
input and the output to 16bit 2 channel 44100Hz. This should fix the strange
sound problem you were having.

Next, in the Audacity Preferences, select the Audio I/O tab. Set the
Playback device as 'Built In Audio', set the Recording device as 'iMic USB
Audio System' and channels as '2 (Stereo)'. Then, down at the bottom,
select Hardware and Software Playthrough. Click OK to make those settings.
-----------

And this worked!

Cheers, Michael