Podcasting with two USB Mic's in Garageband PICS -v2.0

After getting a few requests I have decided to update my old post to current info for OSX 10.6.4 and Garageband 3.0.5. Yes, I know that there is a new version of iLife'11 available but I have not had the need to purchase, but once I do I will update my post to v3.0. Also, new is a notes feature at the end of the post for strange things that I have come across.

This following post is an updated version of my original: Podcasting with two USB Mic's in Garageband PICS

So after searching the internet and apple forums I found some work arounds, but finally found a way that works great and is easy to setup using the utilities provided by my Mac.

So here is how I found out how to do it:

Step 1. Plug both of your USB mics into your Mac

Step 2. Open up the "Audio MIDI Setup" utility Applications -> Utilities -> Audio MIDI Setup

Step 3. In the bottom left of the "Audio MIDI Setup" window click on the "+" button to add a new aggregate device.

Step 4. Locate your two USB mics and check in the "use" column. You can now double click on the new device "Aggregate Device" and change the name. I changed mine to "Dual Blue Snowball Mics" so that I could easily identify it later on.

Step 5. Verify that your newly created aggregate device shows up in your audio settings. You can find it under System Preferences -> Sound -> Inputs

Step 6. Open your Garageband podcast project. You now want to set your Garageband Preferences to take the input from your new aggregate device. Garageband -> Preferences -> Audio/MIDI -> Audio Input and find your device for mine I added Dual Blue Snowball.

Step 7. Now to add the input to the podcast poject. For this I added two new tracks using the Podcasting -> No effects setting (you can set this by using the track info on the right hand side after clicking on the track).

NOTE: Don't forget to change the "input" on the track info to "Channel 1 & 2 (stereo)" for one of the tracks and "Channel 3 & 4 (stereo)" for the second track. Otherwise Garageband won't pick up both mic inputs.

You should now be able to test either mic and verify that they are input and being recorded by Gargageband.

Good luck and happy podcasting.

The dude abides.


NOTES:

- Make sure you are connecting your USB mics directly into the laptop or desktop computer. If you use a USB hub you may have some interference or it may not pickup the mic correctly.

Updated: 3-6-11

Podcasting with two USB Mic's in Garageband PICS

After getting interested in podcasting I decided to purchase and use two Blue Snowball Microphones and Garageband 3. The only problem I found is that when I connected both USB mic's at the same time to Garageband I could only use one of the microphones at a time.

So after searching the internet and apple forums I found some work arounds, but finally found a way that works great and is easy to setup using the utilities provided by my Mac.

So here is how I found out how to do it:

Step 1. Plug both of your USB mics into your Mac

Step 2. Open up the "Audio MIDI Setup" utility Applications -> Utilities -> Audio MIDI Setup

Step 3. Using the Audio MIDI Setup program open the "Aggregrate Device Editor." You can access this from the menu under Audio -> Open Aggregate Device Editor

Step 4. Locate your two USB mics from the list under structure and click the "+" button to add them to the top. You can then click on the Aggregate devices and change the name to something you can remember. I changed mine to "Dual Blue Snowball Mics" so that I could easily identify it later on. Make sure you click on the "Use" button on the bottom under structure to ensure those devices will be used.




Step 5. Change your System Settings under your "Audio Devices" to indicate your newly created aggregate device "Dual Blue Snowball Mics." Under the Properties For: make any necessary changes to the aggregate device. You will now notice that one of them is set to use channel 1 & 2 and the other will use channel 3 & 4.



Step 6. Open your Garageband podcast project. You now want to set your Garageband Preferences to take the input from your new aggregate device. Garageband -> Preferences -> Audio/MIDI -> Audio Input and find your device for mine I added Dual Blue Snowball Mics.



Step 7. Now to add the input to the podcast poject. For this I used one male voice track and one female voice track.

First clicking on the male voice I clicked on it to bring up the info in the bottom right of Garageband and made sure it was set to take input from Channel 1 & 2.



Next clicking on the female voice I clicked on the track info and made sure the input was taken from Channel 3 & 4.



After testing this out it worked great. The inputs from one mic went right to a single track and the inputs from the second mic went to the other track.

Good luck and happy podcasting.

The dude abides.

Great deal on Podcasting Mic

I was looking for a nice USB powered microphone for my podcasting needs and I found this one available at a few online stores Blue Microphones SNOWBALL retail price $150.00, but if you follow these instructions you can get it for $83.95 w/ free shipping.


This is from the BSWUSA.com website:

Got a computer? Need great sound in that PodCast or DAW program? Here it is! Incredibly easy to use with its universal driver and plug & play USB compatibility, the Snowball makes recording a piece of cake. Its dual capsule design and three-position switch dials in the desired sound for any application. One capsule is tailored for vocals and the other is for instruments. The three position switch on the back of the mic lets you change between the capsules – giving you cardioid, cardioid with a 10dB pad and omni-directional patterns. The result makes Snowball a multi-talented recording tool—the first USB mic designed and engineered by people who know sound. With stand and cable. An incredible BSW value.

The best part is the price. With a coupon code from Podcastgearguy.com

To get you started, take $20 off your first order over $100! Anything in our store!! Just use the promotional code: 92654 at Checkout for your discount. This special promotional code for PodcastGearGuy readers expires 12/31/06.

So if you order from BSWUSA.com and:
-Order http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=SNOWBALL
-and http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=ALMONDROCA
-and use coupon code 92654

My total was $83.95 with FREE Shipping!

A great deal for a begginner - intermeddiate podcasting mic.

The Dude Abides.