Re: [Harp-L] Hooking up an amp to a Mac

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Zvi Aranoff" wrote:
>
> How does one connect an amp - in my case a  VOX DA5 - to a MacBookPro,  so 
> that the recording input into the MBP would be via the amp and not  the 
> MBP's internal mic?
>
> Once connected, how does one record from that? (currently I record 
> directly from the internal mic using QuickTime player.)
>
> I connected the amp to the input jack on the MBP and in System 
> Preferences changed Input to "Line in" - and... nada. No sound is 
> detected.
>
> I'm not looking for any high quality recordings, just a way to record 
> myself amplified and hear how I sound.
>

Zvi, you need an audio interface.  Decent audio interfaces that connect to the computer via USB or Firewire can be purchased for less than $100. Behringer makes a low-cost Firewire interface for about $80 that would do you very well.  I use a Tascam US-122, a USB interface which has stereo mic and line inputs plus a number of other features; that device sells for about $125.   Check musiciansfriend.com for other choices. Make sure you get an interface with line AND mic inputs, as well as headphone outs so you can hear yourself while you record.  (By the way, all of the Digitech RP devices since the 150/250/350 are also USB audio interfaces, so if you've ever wanted an RP, this might be the time.)

The DA5 has a line-out, as I recall, and you can connect that directly to your audio interface input.  However, I find that the DA5 sounds very different recorded direct than it does when it's mic'd.  So you may want to get a microphone and record the sound from the DA5's speaker instead of using a direct line (assuming that your neighbors won't freak out when you do that).  The obvious choice for the mic in this case is a Shure SM-57, though just about any dynamic mic you have lying around will do a decent job.

Regards, Richard Hunter
  

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