Mac Mini Home Recording

Shopping for a new pc or mac for general home use and for home recording. Fruit casino games. I've always had pc but have become an Apple fan via my Ipad 2, iphone, ipod touch, etc. I already have a nice HDMI monitor, mouse, and keyboard, so I'm seriously considering a Mac Mini with an SSD and upgraded RAM. The power of a Mac Mini For Computer Audio Recording by Joe Schlicht. I have a friend who got an Mbox 2 setup a while back. He's not very computer savvy so he asked me if I could come over and help him get it set up and install the software on his computer, an ancient Pentium something or other PC that he got for free through work.

How to Record Audio on Mac – External and Internal Sound Recording:

Mac Mini Size When building a home studio one thing to consider is size, the Mac Mini has one of the smallest footprints out there, so can sit on a desk and hardly be noticed. Google chrome for mac os sierra. Mac Mini Fan Noise In The Studio The Mac Mini is whisper quiet, in fact far quieter than the older Mac Pro silver tower.

Mac Computer is well known for its Macintosh Operating System. Most people choose MacBook or Mac PC because of its flawless performance. Mac OS offers some amazing features that are not available with any other operating system. But when you want to record an audio on Mac, you may not know how to do it.

Mac OS is easy to use for experienced users and not for everyone. First time Mac users have to learn everything by watching Mac OS Tutorials. Our team has worked on various methods to record audio on Mac. So you don't need to worry as we will provide complete guidance for you. Here you will learn about 3 easiest ways to record audio on Mac.

Contents

• 1 How to Record Audio on Mac
• 2 3 Easiest Ways to Record Audio on Mac – [External Audio Recording]

Types of Audio Recording

General meaning of Audio Recording is simple i.e. the device (Mac) records whatever is heard from its microphone. But there are two basic types of audio recording i.e. record external voice and record internal voice. Let us understand both the types of recording in brief.

[I] External Audio Recording on Mac:

When you record an audio of your voice or other instruments in room, it is called external audio recording. In external audio recording, Mac System records audio of anything comes from microphone. It includes news reading, singing a song or practicing an interview or a conference speech by recording it on Mac.

[II] Internal Audio Recording on Mac:

This option is required when you want to record audio of something playing on the computer screen. Internal Audio Recording will record and save the audio of everything being played on your Mac. This audio includes recording of a song or speech on YouTube, iTunes Music and on a website.

How to Record Audio on Mac

We have seen the meaning and types of audio recording. Now let's move towards our main task i.e. how to record audio on Mac. We have found various methods to record external and internal audio on Mac. Firstly we will explain some simplest ways to record external audio on Mac and then discuss about how to record internal audio on Mac.

Input Device for External Audio Recording on Mac

When you want to record your voice on Mac, you need to think about the input device. All Mac computers have default microphone for voice input except Mac Pro and Mac Mini. Kindly note that default microphone of Mac provides decent audio recording, but it is not the best. Therefore the default microphone may not meet your expectation in voice quality.

If you are using the latest MacBook then you may not have voice input source other then its default microphone. Older Mac Systems have 3.5mm jack to connect a headphone or mic for voice input and listening music. We recommend you to use an external microphone for best quality audio recording on your Mac System. If your Mac has only USB connectivity then you should use the USB Microphone to record audio on Mac.

3 Easiest Ways to Record Audio on Mac – [External Audio Recording]

In order to record an audio, you must have an app with sound recording feature. Many Cellphones have built-in Sound Recorder App that offers audio recording in AMR, MP3, AAC and M4A formats. The same way iOS and Mac OS also have audio recording app. Here we will discuss about how to record audio on Mac with built-in app and also with third party apps. Mac minimize shortcut.

01. Use QuickTime Player to Record Audio on Mac

QuickTime Player is a default application on all Mac Systems. Whether you have an old Mac PC or the latest MacBook, you will see that QuickTime Player App is pre-installed on your Mac. However, the Audio Recording Feature is freely available from Mac OS X 10.6 and later. If your device has earlier Mac OS then QuickTime Player App will offer ‘audio recording' as a paid feature.

Every Mac User knows very well about QuickTime Player. Because they watch videos and movies in QuickTime Player. But not all users know that QuickTime Player App has video, screen and audio recording features. If your QuickTime Player or Mac OS are older versions then update them to the latest version to record audio on Mac using QuickTime.

Steps to Record Audio on Mac with QuickTime Player:

Here we provide some simple instructions on how to record audio on Mac using QuickTime Player App.

1. Open Applications Folder on your Mac and Select QuickTime Player to launch the app.

2. As the QuickTime Player appears on screen, select File Menu.

3. Then click on 'New Audio Recording' option to open audio recording window.

4. You can see the Microphone (Built-in Microphone) and Quality (High Quality) options beside the red recording button.

5. Choose the Microphone you want to use as input device for audio recording.

6. Press the Red button to start audio recording on Mac.

7. Record the Audio as long as you want and again press Red button to stop.

8. Go to File Menu and save the recording.

9. Export your audio recording to your desired folder on Mac and Close the QuickTime Player.

After completion of audio recording and saving the file, you can check your selected folder. You will see that your recorded audio file is right there. Open the Audio File if you want to listen to it. You can also edit your recorded audio files using QuickTime Player.

02. Use GarageBand to Record Audio on Mac

GarageBand is a wonderful app that comes as pre-installed in most Mac computers. If it is not available on your MacBook then you can get it from Mac App Store. GarageBand is an app for playing, recording and editing audio at free of cost. This app has some more features than other simple audio recording apps on Mac.

When you record an audio using GarageBand App, you can add some sound effects in background. The GarageBand allows you to add Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar & Bass and other sound effects. In addition, you can adjust audio recording volume level to get the best musical effects and voice with perfect rhythm in recording.

Steps to Select Voice Input and Record Audio on Mac using GarageBand App:

In order to select Voice Input Source for Audio Recording on Mac, you need to go to following menu options:

GarageBand>Preferences>Audio>Devices

Mac Recording Program

• If you are using built-in microphone of your Mac then choose 'Built-in Microphone' as the Audio Input Source.
• If you are using a Microphone connected with Audio Input Port then choose 'Built-in Input' as the Input Source. (For example: mic/headphone with mic connected to 3.5mm jack on Mac.)
• If you are using a USB Microphone via USB Port then choose 'USB Microphone' as the Input Source.

Mac Recording Tool

After setting the correct audio input source, you can proceed to record audio on Mac with GarageBand App. Here you need to connect a musical instrument if you want to use it in recording. Thereafter, you should select a track or add a track for recording and set volume level. Finally set the audio recording resolution (24 Bits are recommended). Before you start recording audio on Mac, you should check if the instruments & microphone are connected and working well.

1. Open GarageBand App on your Mac System.

2. Select the Red button to start recording the audio track.

3. Give your voice input as per background music and rhythm of the song.

4. Hit the Red Recording button again when audio recording is complete.

How much is excel for mac. 5. Save the recorded audio to your desired folder.

6. Listen to your recorded audio track and edit it (if required) with GarageBand.

03. Use Third Party App to Record Audio on Mac

You can record audio on Mac using QuickTime and GarageBand. But there are some third party apps which are free to use and provide more features. Audacity App is a free and open source application for audio recording and editing. It has lots of features to customize the audio recording on Mac. You can also add various plugins to Audacity to get additional features.

Download and Install Audacity App on Mac

Audacity App is available to download for free on its website. You need to visit the Audacity Website and download the app on your Mac. Thereafter, install the Audacity App on your Mac System and Restart your Computer. After the app is successfully installed, you are ready to record an audio on Mac using Audacity App.

Steps to Record Audio on Mac using Audacity App

1. Launch Audacity App on your Mac PC or MacBook.

2. Keep your Microphone ready for Voice Input.

3. Adjust other audio recording features and set it the way you want.

4. Click on Red Recording button to start recording.

5. Give your Voice Input as long as you wish to record the audio.

6. Click on Brown Square button to Stop recording when you are done.

7. Open File Menu and click on Export option, save the file on your Mac Storage.

You can listen to your recorded audio using the Audacity App or other audio player app. The Audacity App also allows you to edit, trim and delete the recorded audio. Long duration audios require more editing and Audacity is the best app to edit such recording files.

There are some more apps which are also good in audio recording on Mac. Such apps names include Movavi, n-Track Studio, WavTap and many more. You can also try them (if you want) to record an audio on your Mac System.

How to Record Internal Audio on Mac

Internal Audio is different than external audio that is captured by microphone. To record audio of any song or video playing on computer is called internal audio recording. For example: You want to record audio of an online video playing on your Mac PC. Kindly note that your Mac does not have built-in app to record internal audio directly.

As the Mac doesn't have a feature of direct recording internal audio, you have to get help of a third party app. We have done audio recording experiment on Mac using two different apps with Soundflower Extension. Therefore this method to record internal audio is divided into two parts.

Part I – Install Soundflower Extension on Mac

Soundflower Extension is not an audio recorder. It is an extension for Mac OS. Soundflower is designed to create a virtual audio output device that can also work as an input. It changes the route of audio and that helps to record internal audio on Mac. You need to download and install the Soundflower Extension before we move towards the process of recording the internal audio.

Steps to Download and Install Soundflower on Mac:

1. Open a Web Browser on your Mac and go to Soundflower Website.
2. Find out Soundflower and select it to open its info page.
3. Select the given link to go to Github page.
4. Download Soundflower Extension and Install the same on your Mac.

After the Soundflower Extension is installed, you need to change the Sound Output Settings on Mac. Go to Preferences>Sound>Output. Now select 'Soundflower (2ch)' as Sound Output Device. Please note that you cannot listen to any song playing on Mac after changing the sound output settings. Your Mac Speakers will not create any sound as the sound output device is changed.

Part II – Use QuickTime Player or Audacity App to Record Internal Audio on Mac

After you have changed the Sound Output Settings, you are ready for internal audio recording on Mac. It is advisable to 'Turn Off Sound Effects' to avoid any disturbance in audio recording. You can do it from Preferences>Sound>Sound Effects. You can do internal audio recording with QuickTime Player or Audacity as you like.

QuickTime Player is a built-in app on Mac and Audacity is a free open source app you need to download. You should download and install the app you want to record an audio with and follow the steps given below:

Steps to Record Internal Audio on Mac with QuickTime Player:

1. Launch QuickTime Player App on your Mac.
2. Select File Menu and click on the tab 'New Audio Recording' to begin.
3. Now the Audio Recording Window will open on your screen.
4. Select the ▼ symbol to open audio recording options.
5. Choose 'Soundflower (2ch)' as Microphone i.e. Input.
6. Now play the video or audio sound on Mac and hit the Red Record button to start recording.
7. Press the same red button when the recording is complete.

Steps to Record Internal Audio on Mac with Audacity App:

1. Launch Audacity App on your Mac.
2. Now go to 'Audacity Preferences' and select 'Devices' tab.
3. Navigate to Recording and again select Device option.
4. Choose 'Soundflower (2ch)' as the Recording Device.
5. Return to Main Page of Audacity and ‘Turn On Monitoring' option given at top right.
6. Decrease the Microphone Level to Zero by moving it left side.
7. Now play the video or audio sound on Mac and click on Red Record button to start recording.
8. Finally click on Brown Square button when the recording is done.

After recording internal audio, you need to change the Sound Output Settings as well as in QuickTime Player or Audacity. Thereafter, you can listen to the internal audio recorded and edit it to make it better.

Final Words:

All the information given above about How to Record Audio on Mac is true and fair. The methods provided for recording audio on Mac are tested by our expert team. In case you have more queries regarding External and Internal Audio Recording on Mac, kindly contact Apple Helpline at 1-800-MY-APPLE (800-692-7753) or visit Apple Support Website at support.apple.com.

For some years I've been wondering whether to run a server at home. With time on my hands due to the Coronavirus lockdown it was time to finally get around to doing it. This blog post (part 1 of the series) explains the requirements and the purchase of the hardware. Part 2 explains the hardware repairs and network setup. Part 3 is dedicated to the software installations.

Contents of this blog post

Imovie 9 0 dmg. 1. Current situation

We are a two person household. My main work and personal computer is a 2017 MacBook Pro with a 512Gb SSD, and I usually use that at my desk where it connects to a 2Tb WD USB 3 external HDD that contains old files, and a 1Tb USB 2 external HDD for Time Machine Backups. All of this is backed up a second time to a Hitachi 3Tb external HDD that is connected once a month or so. My partner has a work computer that doesn't come into any of this, and for personal use has a MacBook Air with a 256Gb SSD that she uses around the house – never at a fixed desk. All her other files and Time Machine Backups are on two 2Tb external HDDs connected as and when they are needed. We play music wirelessly to an old 1st Generation Airport Express that is connected to the HiFi. Our WiFi Router is a tp-link Archer AC1750 that is connected by ethernet cable to the modem-router provided by our ISP. We each have iPhones as well, but that's not important for this story.

2. Requirements

The server will first and foremost be a repository for four sorts of files: all our music, films and photos (the quantity of which is too large to store on either of our MacBooks), and common files for an art project we run together. Music and films are going to need to be streamed to each of the MacBooks, and photo libraries loaded on each of the MacBooks. Beyond that I am looking to replace my ownCloud-based file sync system (that runs on server space I rent in the UK still) with an equivalent on the local server – and that is going to need some way to access the home server remotely. Last but not least the occasional websites I still build could do with a staging server, and the home server might be able to act as that. Lastly the server will be used for Time Machine Backups of my partner's MacBook Air, if we can get that to work.

3. Hardware

Apple Mac Recording Studio

The nature of the requirements above means this has to be an Apple server. But Apple doesn't build servers! I hear you say. Well, it sort of does / did – Mac Minis. Small, low power, and some even were labelled Server. But which Mac Mini do you even go for?

Mac Mini Home Recording Studio

The answer boils down to how you balance cost, speed and upgradeability.

I need space for 2 hard disks as I will install a SSD drive for speed, and a regular hard disk for all the music and film files. USB 3 is always a good idea, as it makes attaching external hard disks much less onerous. And upgradeable RAM is useful too. And if it could run the latest macOS that would be a plus too.

What I do not need is especially fast wifi (this Mac Mini is going to be connected to my router with an ethernet cable) and I definitely do not need an optical drive.

That then leads me to the late 2012 A1347 Mac minis that exist in three versions – core i5 2.5GHz, core i7 2.3GHz and core i7 2.6GHz. These are the first Mac Minis to have USB 3, have no optical drive, have upgradeable RAM (2 slots for 1600MHz SO-DIMMs, so 2 x 8Gb max), and space for 2 2.5″ hard disks. In comparison Mac minis from 2011 and earlier have only USB 2, and those from 2010 and earlier still have optical drives. Newer Mac minis (from 2014 onwards) have RAM soldered onto the logicboard, and space for only one hard disk. Yes, 2014 Mac Minis have faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi, but that's not what I am looking for. So a late 2012 Mac mini it has to be.

(Tangent: a really budget alternative would be to go for a A1283 2009 Mac mini (the last of the generation with plastic on the top of the housing), use a patched version of macOS (see compatibility here), put 8Gb of RAM in it, and replace the DVD drive with a SSD in a caddy. But that still only has USB 2…)

So where do you find an appropriate Mac mini? In Germany on ebay.de or eBay Kleinanzeigen (the latter is like Gumtree or CraigsList for the non Germans reading). Late 2012 Mac minis with core i7 processors go for over 300 Euro and that was more than I wanted to spend, so a core i5 2.5GHz is what it would have to be…

Here is the full kit:

1. Mac mini core i5 late 2012 – 260 Euro from eBay Kleinanzeigen, collected in Berlin. Secondhand, some scratches on it, no original packaging and just a power cable with it. The 500Gb hard disk in it will be sold for 10 Euro, the 8Gb of RAM in it will be sold for 25 Euro, so 225 Euro for the Mac Mini
2. 512Gb Samsung 2.5″ 7mm Height* SATA SSD – second hand, 56 Euro from eBay.de
3. 2Tb Seagate 2.5″ 7mm Height* SATA HDD – new, 65 Euro from eBay
4. Ethernet cable – owned already, about 3 Euro
5. 2 x 8Gb 1600MHz DDR3 SO-DIMM RAM – owned already, but normally about 70 Euro
6. WD Elements 2Tb USB 3 HDD – owned already, but second hand normally about 40 Euro
7. Core / WD Blue 750Gb USB 3 HDD – owned already (old MacBook HDD in a housing), to be used as secondary backup disk, probably worth about 20 Euro
8. Mac mini Second Drive kit – new, ordered from eBay here – 13 Euro

* – note that you can just about fit 1 12.5mm height drive in this Mac mini, but most 4Tb 2.5″ drives are 15mm height and will not fit. Make sure you check the height of any drive before you order it! 9.5mm drives will fit without any problem.

That is a total of 492 Euro. Go for a 120 or 240Gb SSD rather than 512Gb, just one backup disk rather than two, 8Gb of RAM rather than 16Gb, and you could bring this to something like 400 Euro in total.

For the sake of all the configuration I also of course need a keyboard, mouse and monitor. Doing this with a USB cabled mouse and monitor is always easier. Installing Mac OS from a USB Stick is always the simplest way in my opinion, so a 16Gb USB Stick is handy to have around too, although not strictly necessary.

So that's all for part 1. Part 2 covers taking the Mac mini apart, installed the components, installing the latest version of macOS and sorting out the network, and part 3 (forthcoming) will cover software installations!