Sign In
Register
Help
OK, I am humbled to have to post this question.
I have made this great iMovie on my fancy dual processor PowerMac G5. I now want to record a quality voice over and don't know how!
The microphone/headset I used for a PC windows computer (...shhhhh) doesn't fit in the jack. I borrowed a condensor(?) microphone (phantom power) from a friend and (it fit in the jack) it recorded but the sound is so low I can't use the recording.
I have done many searches on this issue and I am more confused than before! Especially when it comes to products to purchase.
What do I REALLY need to accomplish my goal?
Do I need a preamp for the PowerMac G5? I will eventually want to record on a iBook or PowerBook.
Will a M-Audio Buddy work? Or is a M-Audio Mobile Pre better?
What about a microphone? Suggestions?
How will I know if it will fit into my PowerMac jack?
Do I need a phantom power or is that what a preamp does?
What about the Samson C01U USB Microphone?
I am willing to spend $100-150 on a decent recording setup.
Help! thanks in advance!
Jeanine
Page 1 of 1
a voice over in iMovie?
MultiQuote
#2
Tom_Diola 
- Veteran
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 2,273
- Joined: 19-October 01
Posted 20 February 2006 - 07:33 PM
Hmmmm willing to spend up to $150? You could get an iSight camera and use the mic that comes with that - I've used it with iMovie just fine. Then you'd have a good webcam after all is said and done.
#3
digidan
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 168
- Joined: 22-September 05
Posted 20 February 2006 - 07:41 PM
I'm afraid i don't know of any quality mics, but i do have some things for you to try, that may in fact work!
One: Is the audio-in jack on the G5 an optical in? If so, you need to either use an optical audio mic, or get a converter. I'm really not the one to ask about that - just make sure the types match.
two: Try going into system preferences>sound and click on the "Input" tab. There should be a slider that says "input volume". You want to adjust it so that when you speak at a normal volume, the gauge goes about 1/2 to 1/3 full. That's often the culprit.
If that's not it, you may need to adjust the volume in iMovie. Which iMovie do you have? '04? '05 (HD)? '06? (also HD). If you click on the audio clip you made, there's a little box on the bottom-left of the screen (in iMovie 5) that says "clip volume level". You can boost the sound there. It goes up to 150%.
The powerbooks include an audio-in port that uses a standard mini-jack. (not sure the size - 1.6mm?) In other words, the same size as the jack on a set of iPod earbuds, or nearly any portable head phone.
Non optical.
I'm really not sure about windows/mac compatibility. I've run into the same issue on both my 15" PB, and my old iMac G3 - they're really quiet. I know that in Windows, they driver for the sound card has a setting that boosts the input level for the mic, so the setting in OS X's sound pane should work...
Did you realize that powerbooks have built in microphones? They're not terrifically high quality, but they work fine. (I use it for my iMovies all the time.) They sound pretty clear, too, if you get a quiet room. (my dorm room's AC unit is loud, and the mic picks it up)
In fact, if you have iLife 06, you can use Garageband and iMovie to vastly improve the audio quality of the recorded clip. (iMovie 6 has a built-in (albiet basic) audio editing pane in the editing tab)
-Dan
One: Is the audio-in jack on the G5 an optical in? If so, you need to either use an optical audio mic, or get a converter. I'm really not the one to ask about that - just make sure the types match.
two: Try going into system preferences>sound and click on the "Input" tab. There should be a slider that says "input volume". You want to adjust it so that when you speak at a normal volume, the gauge goes about 1/2 to 1/3 full. That's often the culprit.
If that's not it, you may need to adjust the volume in iMovie. Which iMovie do you have? '04? '05 (HD)? '06? (also HD). If you click on the audio clip you made, there's a little box on the bottom-left of the screen (in iMovie 5) that says "clip volume level". You can boost the sound there. It goes up to 150%.
The powerbooks include an audio-in port that uses a standard mini-jack. (not sure the size - 1.6mm?) In other words, the same size as the jack on a set of iPod earbuds, or nearly any portable head phone.
Non optical.
I'm really not sure about windows/mac compatibility. I've run into the same issue on both my 15" PB, and my old iMac G3 - they're really quiet. I know that in Windows, they driver for the sound card has a setting that boosts the input level for the mic, so the setting in OS X's sound pane should work...
Did you realize that powerbooks have built in microphones? They're not terrifically high quality, but they work fine. (I use it for my iMovies all the time.) They sound pretty clear, too, if you get a quiet room. (my dorm room's AC unit is loud, and the mic picks it up)
In fact, if you have iLife 06, you can use Garageband and iMovie to vastly improve the audio quality of the recorded clip. (iMovie 6 has a built-in (albiet basic) audio editing pane in the editing tab)
-Dan
#4
mPm
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 235
- Joined: 05-April 04
Posted 20 February 2006 - 11:37 PM
Not sure if this is also the case on G5's as I do not own one, but the audio in jack on my G4 is for "line-level" sources/inputs only. Line level sources are for tape/cd/dvd/vcr decks and the like. Not for use with micropones which have an even lower level signal.
The audio input on your G5 may not be a "microphone level input,either.
You can buy high quality audio preamp interfaces for the Mac, you could spend between $130- $300 and purchase an M-Audio FireWire/USB audio interface such as these.
http://www.m-audio.c...obileinterfaces
These have inputs for line/microphone level devices and work off the Mac's fireWire/USB connections.
If too costly for you, you could purchase a griffin iMic USB audio interface ($40) that should be compatible with any type of headset mic or microphone that can take an 1/8" mic in jack.
http://www.griffinte...imic2/index.php
Should work with any audio device (line or mic input) with an 1/8" audio jack
The audio input on your G5 may not be a "microphone level input,either.
You can buy high quality audio preamp interfaces for the Mac, you could spend between $130- $300 and purchase an M-Audio FireWire/USB audio interface such as these.
http://www.m-audio.c...obileinterfaces
These have inputs for line/microphone level devices and work off the Mac's fireWire/USB connections.
If too costly for you, you could purchase a griffin iMic USB audio interface ($40) that should be compatible with any type of headset mic or microphone that can take an 1/8" mic in jack.
http://www.griffinte...imic2/index.php
Should work with any audio device (line or mic input) with an 1/8" audio jack
Page 1 of 1
