iMic reviews.....please.

[ShaggyLR]

I am looking at buying an Apple portable, and would be using it for home recording. I am currently looking at the 12" iBook, mainly because I really can't afford a PowerBook ($800CDN more than the iBook after taxes). I am looking for people's reviews of the iMic. I've read a lot of things so far, but mainly on threads related to other hardware. Has anyone had any good experiences with the iMic? How well does it work with GarageBand, Logic-Pro or Pro-Tools?

I would be using the iMic to record real instruments. However, not directly into the computer. It would be mic'd instruments going through a mixer, then mixer into iMic then to the computer. Has this been a painful experience for iMic users? Or has it worked quite well?

Any and all input would be GREATLY appreciated .

Thanks!

 

[yuc7zhd2]

I've never used the iMic personally, but I've heard that it was a little shaky. Personally I use the PowerBook audio in. I don't have a whole lot of time to record right now though, so I'll probably get some better equipment after I graduate this fall. The steinberg people (cubase sx, etc) suggested m-audio products to me. I think they made a product specifically for garageband that apple sell, but if you look on musicians friend they have other stuff. I've heard that the firewire interface is the best, but the USBs are good too. heres a link to the audio hardware on musicians friend...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...20216217330/g=rec/s=computer/content/cb/index

 

[ShaggyLR]

Thank! I have also been looking at the M-Audio MobilePre USB. At $200CDN, it's a lot better than the $700 extra for the Powerbook, which I don't have.

 

[stevietheb]

I've used iMic for recording cassettes and LPs to my hard drive. Great for that. When I plug a guitar in, things become shaky. Since you'll be running it through a mixer, it might work a little better for you...BUT, if you're running it through a mixer, why not spend a little extra dough and get the m-box (which seems to be the preferred device)?

 

[powermac99]

http://www.icompositions.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=12

 

[Chaszmyr]

iMic is a good product for the price i think. The recordings it makes are kind of quiet, especially if the input device is a microphone, but I think it works pretty well.

 

[tjwett]

if you want to get any kind of a decent recording you're gonna need a little more than the iMic. the converters in it just aren't of sufficient quality for this use. i would check out the Emagic a 2|6 and 6|2. great quality, no hassle, no latency, very Mac compatible (Apple owns Emagic), USB powered, very portable, and cheap. it's a nice little starter rig for a laptop setup that should serve you quite well. i still use mine for field recording and live performance. nice little boxes. buy em from a music instrument retailer, you'll get a better deal.

 

[JazzOne]

I agree that the MBox is a good choice. There are other USB mic preamps that will support a high quality mic. Don't go cheap on the microphone. My setup is something like this, and I get good results.

I have an MXL studio condensor mic which I run through a Berringer mixer. The output from the Berringer is run into my Roland PCR-1 keyboard, which is a USB device. The PCR has 24bit/96kHz sound quality, and it is completely powered by the USB. The only thing I have to plug in (other than my computer) is the mixer. However, the professional mixer allows me to use any XLR microphone, so I always have the option of upgrading.

I found the audio input on my Powerbook to be completely UNACCEPTABLE. Very low quality sound and low line level. It has no phantom power, so your microphone choices will be limited unless you spend the cash for a Firewire or USB audio interface (make sure it has XLR inputs, though). Happy hunting, and Muscian's Friend is one hell of a resource for computer/sound guys. You can return the stuff if it doesn't meet your expectations.