iMic vs line in...which is better?

Jazbees · Post by **Jazbees** » January 19th, 2007, 9:42 am

My current recording setup is a dynamic mic into a mixer, and then from the mixer into the line-in on my Mac laptop. The sound is very clean, but there's still a little tiny hint of hiss underneath it all. I'm looking for some way to clean up the signal even further, and I recall hearing comments about the iMic, and how using it to bypass the computer's internal audio circuits results in a cleaner signal.

I would love to hear thoughts on anyone's own experience with the product, comparing a line level signal going through the iMic line-in and the computer's own line-in. Thanks!

kayray · Post by **kayray** » January 19th, 2007, 9:55 am

Ths iMic is a USB device, correct? We've found that recording via USB results in a cleaner sound, in general, because it bypasses the computer's sound card. This is why we always recommend that our readers use a USB mic rather than line-in. If the iMic is not too expensive and you already have a nice line-in mic, it might be worth a try.

Cloud Mountain · Post by **Cloud Mountain** » January 19th, 2007, 1:54 pm

I record into my Mac through an USB interface,* so that I can get the both of best worlds. Recording through the line input on any machine always results in inferior recordings. (Unless you have a sound card that costs as much as or much much more than a USB interface.

* Tascam US-122. (There are others less expensive.)

sjmarky · Post by **sjmarky** » January 24th, 2007, 3:46 pm

You'll probably do better with the iMic than the line-in. The iMic should produce less noise throught he USB bus than the audio line. Should get better volume, too.

Jazbees · Post by **Jazbees** » January 26th, 2007, 9:25 am

Thanks for the feedback! I'd love to get a more elaborate USB interface down the road, but funds being what funds are, I'll likely start with the iMic and go from there.

kayray · Post by **kayray** » January 26th, 2007, 10:07 am

Hehehe... I'd say that whatever you used to record The Moustache Song is quite sufficient :)

Jazbees · Post by **Jazbees** » January 26th, 2007, 10:34 am

Thanks.

However, while it may be sufficient for LibriVox, I'm looking to start some freelance voiceover work on the side, so I'm searching for solutions that will also help in that regard.

Cloud Mountain · Post by **Cloud Mountain** » January 27th, 2007, 11:06 am

Doesn't the iMic only have a 1/8" plug. That will certainly limit your choices of mikes. (Or compound the problem when using a 1/8 - 1/4" adaptor.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/

Jazbees · Post by **Jazbees** » January 27th, 2007, 11:45 am

I'm currently running line-out from a mixer to the laptop's 1/8" line in (with some plug converters), so jack size is already taken care of. I'll be using the iMic in line-in mode, so while it's still a line signal getting to the iMic, I believe it should still produce a cleaner recording than using the laptop's audio circuits.

Cloud Mountain · Post by **Cloud Mountain** » January 27th, 2007, 12:05 pm

Jazbees wrote:I'm currently running line-out from a mixer to the laptop's 1/8" line in (with some plug converters), so jack size is already taken care of. I'll be using the iMic in line-in mode, so while it's still a line signal getting to the iMic, I believe it should still produce a cleaner recording than using the laptop's audio circuits.

As long as you're plugged into the 1/8" input on a computer, you're using the computer's audio circuits. I don't see how you can make a differenciation. There isn't any.

-Alan

Jazbees · Post by **Jazbees** » January 27th, 2007, 1:14 pm

That's true for the 1/8" on the computer. However, once I get the iMic, I'll be using its 1/8" line input jack, and the iMic feeds into the USB on the computer. That's how the signal can be cleaner, no?

Cloud Mountain · Post by **Cloud Mountain** » January 27th, 2007, 3:28 pm

Jazbees wrote:That's true for the 1/8" on the computer. However, once I get the iMic, I'll be using its 1/8" line input jack, and the iMic feeds into the USB on the computer. That's how the signal can be cleaner, no?

I suspect you're correct. But we'll see how clean iMac does the work. I know that peoples have not been particularly happy with Griffin interfaces on the iPod side. Okay for the avereage guy, but, well, you're looking to record voice-over work and IMPRESS someone. Maybe just wait and save up some $ and then buy. Here's a helpful spot to read through, and even it's not exhaustive —all sorts of other useful links here as well:

http://www.silentway.com/tips/equip/io.php

Jazbees · Post by **Jazbees** » January 27th, 2007, 9:03 pm

Great page there! Thanks, Alan!