Help for Audacity on macOS.
Forum rules
This forum is for Audacity on macOS 10.4 and later.
Please state which version of macOS you are using,
and the exact three-section version number of Audacity from "Audacity menu > About Audacity".
Audacity 1.2.x and 1.3.x are obsolete and no longer supported. If you still have those versions, please upgrade at
https://www.audacityteam.org/download/.
The old forums for those versions are now closed, but you can still read the archives of the
1.2.x and
1.3.x forums.
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Gale Andrews
- Quality Assurance
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Post
by Gale Andrews » Fri Aug 26, 2016 1:43 pm
kozikowski wrote:converting them to 24-bit does not improve them
It does do one very important thing. It makes the client happy.
I did not realise the recordings were stored on tape.
But anyway, if 7track's Mac has a stereo Line-in, make sure in /Applications/Utilities/Audio MIDI Setup that the Line-in is set to 24-bit, and Audacity is set in Quality Preferences to 32-bit float or 24-bit Default Sample Format.
Gale
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7track
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- Operating System: OS X 10.10 Yosemite
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by 7track » Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:08 pm
- Here's what I have to work with for getting my analogue recordings converted to digital namely this antiquated Apple iMac G3 dinosaur!
- P2120775.JPG (108.32 KiB) Viewed 641 times
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Attachments
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- Here's the physical INs'n'OUT sockets to the side panel of said iMac:
- IMac_G3_Panel.jpg (34.31 KiB) Viewed 641 times
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- ... and here's (one of) my tape-based Tascam analogue portastudios (this one being a 424 Mk iii model):
- P2120777.JPG (155.81 KiB) Viewed 641 times
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- Here's a screenshot of my AUDIO/MIDI set up screen. NB: THERE IS NO 24-BIT DROP-DOWN MENU OPTION! Looks like I'm stuck with 16-BIT. Should I look get an interface with 24-BIT capabilities or will that not change anything (ie: the fact that the machine is fixed at 16-bit end of story!)?
- AUDIO MIDI SET UP SCREENSHOT.jpg (61.25 KiB) Viewed 641 times
Last edited by
7track on Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:34 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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7track
- Posts: 66
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- Operating System: OS X 10.10 Yosemite
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by 7track » Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:09 pm
Here's my set up with relevant screenshots of where I'm at ....
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- Here's a screenshot showing how I currently have things configured ...
- LEVEL SETTINGS.jpg (52.39 KiB) Viewed 641 times
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- ... and here's another screenshot showing the meters peaking at Unity Gain (when ideally I want them at around -6dB). Note also that the manual input level recording slider (the one with the 'microphone icon' even though I'm recording stereo 'line in') is completely over to the left. Is this right??
- PEAK LEVELS.png (72.46 KiB) Viewed 641 times
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7track
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Post
by 7track » Fri Aug 26, 2016 3:58 pm
kozikowski wrote:Does your Mac have a connection like the one on the left?
That appeared on older machines. That's your stereo Line-In. You can directly cable that to the headphone out of your music player. That's how I record my music keyboard.
Do your music players have a volume control? If so, use that to set the levels and leave the Mac and Audacity records settings at max. Adjust so the music peaks run about 50% on the blue waves and -6dB on the sound meters. About like this.
converting them to 24-bit does not improve them
It does do one very important thing. It makes the client happy.
See: I deliver voice tracks in stereo not because it makes them any better, but because I know that's what the editor is expecting.
Koz
Hi Koz! My Mac is ancient compared to that one (see pics I have uploaded below) IT'S A DINOSAUR! (I'm also beginning to think it has a max of only 16-bit!)
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cyrano
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- Operating System: macOS 10.13 High Sierra
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by cyrano » Sat Aug 27, 2016 6:06 am
It's a iMac G3, the inputs are 16 bit only, I seem to remember.
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7track
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by 7track » Sat Aug 27, 2016 6:30 am
cyrano wrote:It's a iMac G3, the inputs are 16 bit only, I seem to remember.
Yes, it very much seems that way Cyrano. Is it JUST the inputs or the entire iMac G3 machine do you know? What I mean is, if I get a 24-bit USB/FW interface and bypasss the side panel 1/8" input will I get 24 bit recordings this way? Heck, do I even need 24 bit recordings??! Does it make a difference since everything gets dithered down to 16bit anyway for CD (which is where I want these recordings to end up eventually - after they've been mastered).
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steve
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by steve » Sat Aug 27, 2016 12:29 pm
7track wrote: Heck, do I even need 24 bit recordings??!
If you are careful when setting recording levels (maximum peak at about -6 dB), then 16-bit will be fine.
24-bit can be very useful when recording live audio where the dynamic range can be extreme - in particular, amateur players can be highly inconsistent with their playing volume. With 24-bit recording and high quality (pro/semi-pro) equipment throughout, it's possible to allow 20dB of "headroom" (rather than 6dB) without sacrificing sound quality.
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Gale Andrews
- Quality Assurance
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by Gale Andrews » Sat Aug 27, 2016 12:33 pm
Is there anywhere you can toggle the external input between microphone and line-in? Perhaps in Sound in the System Preferences? I can't find out, but you should check. In the picture of your recording there seems to be almost no stereo information (difference between left and right).
If you have no such toggle possibility you might get better sound using an interface, irrespective of the 16-bit/24-bit question - if the computer can keep up with the recording. That could (possibly) be harder over USB or you might not meet the system requirements of the interface.
Gale
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cyrano
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by cyrano » Sat Aug 27, 2016 1:44 pm
7track wrote:cyrano wrote:It's a iMac G3, the inputs are 16 bit only, I seem to remember.
Yes, it very much seems that way Cyrano. Is it JUST the inputs or the entire iMac G3 machine do you know? What I mean is, if I get a 24-bit USB/FW interface and bypasss the side panel 1/8" input will I get 24 bit recordings this way? Heck, do I even need 24 bit recordings??! Does it make a difference since everything gets dithered down to 16bit anyway for CD (which is where I want these recordings to end up eventually - after they've been mastered).
Yes. Internally, there's no limit as to bitdepth. I've never tried it and as the CPU will be 50% more taxed, it could be not-so-easy.
I don't think you need it. Tape doesn't have 120 dB of dynamics. More like 60 dB and that should fit fine in 16 bit.
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cyrano
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by cyrano » Sat Aug 27, 2016 1:53 pm
I've looked up your Mac. It's the "Summer 2000", DV edition. "DV" stands for digital video. It should really work well for audio as it has been optimized for video.
If you need to spec your Mac in the future, you can use this link:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/i ... e_500.html
Have you ever tried the third possibility in Audacity's input list "sound input"?
That could be the line input, I think. But frankly, I don't remember clearly, as it's a long time ago...
