# Recording Audio on a MacBook Pro **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 20, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102 "2011-04-20T17:07:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/1 "2011-04-20T17:07:19Z")
Looking for a utility or software that will take the mic input to my new MacBook Pro and allow me to record audio files. No need to be overly complex. Need to archive voicemails and using the headset jack out, making a wire to 1/8" Mic jack in should do the trick. But I cannot find an Application on the machine that allows me to record audio. My old Windows machine had an Audio Recorder… thoughts? Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/2 "2011-04-20T17:08:00Z")
Garage Band ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/3 "2011-04-20T17:12:00Z")
Nots that on most macs, the “microphone” jack is actually line-level line-in, and an ordinary unpowered microphone won’t produce enough signal, so you likely also need an amp if you’re just bridging from the headphone jack. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/4 "2011-04-20T17:16:15Z")
Hmmmm. Willing to figure out a small pre-amp or amp to run in line here if need be. Looking at Garage Band now. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/5 "2011-04-20T18:04:26Z")
I think the headphone output volume ought to be pre-amp enough for this purpose (I assume you’re doing telephone–\>macbook pro). ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/6 "2011-04-20T18:38:11Z")
I use [Audfacity](http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) for my audio manipulations. Warning: if you’re making MP3s with it, you’ll need to install additional software. I haven’t used GarageBand as a simple audio-recording app. Looking at it, it’s very music-production-and-synth oriented. It will simply record sound, but this is hidden under predefined project options like “start new voice project”. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/7 "2011-04-20T19:07:02Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I use [Audfacity](http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) for my audio manipulations. Warning: if you’re making MP3s with it, you’ll need to install additional software. > > I haven’t used GarageBand as a simple audio-recording app. Looking at it, it’s very music-production-and-synth oriented. It will simply record sound, but this is hidden under predefined project options like “start new voice project”. Or just open up any old project and click on “add new instrument” where it will ask you to choose between a software instrument and a real instrument. Choose the real instrument and you can record from your input. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/8 "2011-04-20T19:35:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Or just open up any old project and click on “add new instrument” where it will ask you to choose between a software instrument and a real instrument. Choose the real instrument and you can record from your input. Having a simple ‘record sound’ project would be too easy, wouldn’t it? It’s a terminological problem as much as anything. The program can do what the OP wants, but insists in presenting the task as part of a musical construction kit. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/9 "2011-04-20T20:40:52Z")
Your MacBook Pro doesn’t have a built-in mic? The USB mic that comes with Rock Band works pretty good. My kid hangs it from his music stand to record himself on his saxophone because the built in one on our iMac distorts pretty easily. Nevermind. I reread the OP where you talk about going directly from the headset out jack to the mic in jack. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/10 "2011-04-20T22:24:50Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Or just open up any old project and click on “add new instrument” where it will ask you to choose between a software instrument and a real instrument. Choose the real instrument and you can record from your input. I don’t have any old project. I have never used Garage Band. I know it isn’t designed for this application, but I can’t believe I cannot open it up, start a new “project” called Voices of Love and import voicemail after voicemail, each one a discrete “track”. Harrumph. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/11 "2011-04-20T22:36:05Z")
It’s almost that easy. Though you’ll probably just want hit ‘play’ on the answering machine and record the whole thing, then go back and use the ‘split track’ function to divide it up into separate trackes. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/12 "2011-04-20T22:44:29Z")
Actually, these are cellular phone voicemails.So, there is the natural break between recordings. This allows me to hit Stop and then Record again quickly. No need to split the tracks down later. I will look into this- but I do need to McGuyver up a cable, it seems. My soldering chops are fine, just not sure I have a headset plug for the Droid. Well, that’s what The Shack is for. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/13 "2011-04-21T00:15:33Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > I don’t have any old project. I meant “any ol’ project” in a colloquial manner, to mean it doesn’t matter what kind of project you open up or start. Choosing “voice” or “podcast” just gives you a template to work with, but you can do it from within any Garageband project. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/14 "2011-04-21T02:31:51Z")
Oooh ok thank you. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/15 "2011-04-21T04:18:05Z")
FYI - If you’re looking for a really simple audio recording app, and have Quicktime X (10.0, which comes with Snow Leopard), than just select “New Audio Recording” from the File Menu. From there, a little glossy black recording app pops up, and you can choose your line-in from the little dropdown arrow on it. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recording-audio-on-a-macbook-pro/579102/16 "2011-04-21T06:55:02Z")
I use Audio Hijack… it’s available for free (but I paid for the pay version–it’s worth it). I have a line out from my stereo and plug it into the mike jack. Works like a dream. > **[Rogue Amoeba | Get Audio Hijack 3](https://www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijackpro/)** > > Rogue Amoeba is home to fantastic MacOS audio products for consumers and professionals alike. Rogue Amoeba - Strange Name. Great Software.