Feb 13, 2012 Singers can sing along to tracks created in GarageBand using the iPad or iPhone’s built-in microphone. For better results, you’ll probably want to plug a microphone into the dock or headset. One of the miracles of modern recording is the ability to simply plug your guitar into your Mac or iPad, and use free amp and pedal simulators. Apple’s free DAW gives you access to the famed Amp Designer, offering no less than 26 amp models, which can be paired with any of the plugin’s 26 cabinets and mic’d with a selection of condenser.

Want the best interface for Garageband? Read our reviews of iOs, iPad, USB, Midi audio interfaces.

BEST INTERFACE FOR GARAGEBAND ~~ TOP AUDIO INTERFACE REVIEWS (USB, PORTABLE, IOS)

Welcome to the Best Interface for Garageband guide. If you're looking for the best interface for Garageband, see our reviews. We tested USB, iOS, Midi and iPad audio interfaces, so use this guide to get the best interface for Garageband. We can help you get the best interface for Garageband!

Not only does this small but powerful audio interface give you all of the features that you need to get the best recordings, but it's also easy to use. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 operates smoothly with your Garageband setup, and you can use it in a home studio or on the go (it's very portable). This USB audio interface can work with iPad, iPhone and every PC or laptop.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface is easy to use directly out of the box. This is the best interface for Garageband at this price!

This audio interface is compact, portable, easy to use, and a great choice for people that need a simple interface for Garageband. It features multiple inputs, so you can connect a mic, musical instruments and media players.

It offers great audio quality, if you don't clip or peak the audio. But don't worry, there is a dial for each input as well as the master volume dial on this interface. And, the Go:Mixer also comes with a peaking LED which comes in very handy when recording.

Though this interface for Garageband is pretty versatile, it is lacking XLR input and 48v Phantom Power, which is the only downside of this interface.

Another Focusrite audio interface in this guide, that's right! Focusrite is known for producing extraordinarily high quality USB and Thunderbolt audio interfaces for both Mac and PC. Now, with the iTrack Solo Lightning, they are offering most of their top features combined into this little box.

While the iTrack Solo Lightning is smaller and lacks a few of the features of Focusrite's more expensive interfaces, this audio interface still compares well to other interfaces at this price point.

Don't let me get started on the mic preamp! It gives you the ability to record clean and clear recordings every time, and there's also 48v Phantom Power, so you can use any studio quality condenser microphone you want.

Its super-low latency will certainly impress even the best musicians, especially those who are using Garageband and an iPad to make music.

If you need a portable audio interface for Garageband, this might be the one! The iRig Pro I/O is designed to be 'plug and play', and it's easy to use with studio gear - microphones, guitars, basses, keyboards.

It packs 1/8' stereo headphone output with preamp and level control, and it's compatible with iOS devices. Besides that, the unit can charge your iPhone or iPad while in use, if you take advantage of the optional DC power supply.

Did I mention it also features MIDI Out jack? This feature gives you even more flexibility and control over your MIDI gear.

If you have some older gear with five-pin MIDI connectors, the PreSonus AudioBox iTwo is a good choice and a Focusrite 2i2 alternative.

That said, AudioBox iTwo has the same iPad functionality and it's just as portable as the 2i2, but harder to use. because of the smaller design.

The AudioBox iTwo might be the best interface for people with older gear.

If you don't mind spending a little extra and want to get the best interface for Garageband, pick the Komplete Audio 6 Mk2.

The Komplete Audio 6 Mk2 features a unique design and it's easier to set up and use than other interfaces we listed above, but it's more expensive. And, the Komplete Audio 6 Mk2 interface has all of the advantages of the Focusrite 2i2, but adds two extra line inputs and outputs, and features a built-in MIDI interface.

Let's take a look at top considerations when buying top audio interfaces for Garageband.

When buying the best interface for Garageband, you want to make sure that the interface is portable and compatible with your software. Don't worry, all interfaces above are compatible with Garageband and most operating systems (iPad, iOS, Mac, Windows computer).

Whether you like recording live music or you want to use MIDI instruments with Garageband, it is essential that you pick an audio interface with the correct inputs and outputs.

When buying audio interfaces, the first thing you notice is their design. And, good design also makes an interface easier to use!

If you need something portable, we recommend small interfaces (USB or lightning) without a lot of knobs, as they are much easier to use with Garageband - we tested it! You can see a photo, read reviews and check ratings before buying any gear on Amazon or Sweetwater.

The Wire Cutter, Gearank, The Garage Band Guide and Tabers Best Reviews also submitted good reviews on their websites. You can read their buying guide as well!

The Shure SM58 is arguably the most popular microphone for beginners in recording and live performances. If you were to walk into a music store right now and ask for a good microphone, chances are that the shop clerk would hand you a Shure SM58 like this one from Amazon.

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The reason is simple: the Shure SM58 is one of the best affordable and reliable microphones for people who are just getting into music production, recording, and live performances.

I even remember the church that I went to a kid had several Shure SM58 microphones. It was their mic of choice, probably because of the reason that I mentioned above – the fact it was the mic they were directed to by the person who worked at the store.

There’s a good chance that if you ever walk into a recording studio, you’ll see multiple Shure SM58 microphones. A recording set-up isn’t complete without at least one of them. Many studios will have multiple.

Truthfully, it’s not the cheapest microphone on the market, but frankly, for $100, I don’t think you can go wrong. I’m not a big fan of cheaping out when it comes to buying anything, really, so if you’re looking for a $40 microphone, then you might want to go somewhere else.

With that said, if you do want to purchase a similar microphone for a much cheaper price, you could grab the Shure SM48 (also from Amazon), which is essentially a numbed down version of the SM58. It’s a fraction of the price.

Ultimately, it’s not as good, but the option is there for those of us that are on a budget.

The Shure SM58 is a very solid, well-constructed dynamic microphone that has served people all over the world for many years. As I just mentioned, it’s a dynamic microphone, so it’s more versatile than other microphones, such as a condenser or ribbon microphone.

I would opt for purchasing the Shure SM58 that doesn’t come with the on-and-off switch, because if you’re ever singing with it during a live performance, or even just speaking with it on stage, you don’t want to accidentally turn it on and off.

What The Shure SM58 Comes With

(When you buy it off Amazon from the link I suggested at the top of the article, you’ll also get an XLR cable. If you buy it from the store, you won’t get the XLR cable).

• A microphone cable (when purchased off Amazon).
• A bag
• Instruction Manual and other documentation
• Microphone Clip
• Microphone Stand Adaptor

The Shure SM58

The SM58 is a cardioid dynamic microphone, which means that it’s unidirectional, or coming from one direction only.

This is in contrast to bi-directional and omnidirectional, which are coming from two directions and all directions, respectively. In other words, a cardioid microphone only picks up on the sounds coming from one side of the microphone.

You can check out the image below to see what I’m talking about:

The idea behind the cardioid pattern is that it makes it a better option for isolating particular sounds over others.

For instance, if you’ve recorded a YouTube video and you’re speaking into the microphone while also typing at the same time, you don’t have to worry so much about the mic picking up on extraneous noises, in this case, the sound of your fingers hitting the keys.

Due to its construction, the Shure SM58 is a great microphone for a number of purposes, including speaking, singing, and recording instruments.

The microphone is concealed with a steel mesh cage, making it so that if you drop the Shure SM58, you don’t have to worry so much about it breaking, in contrast to a condenser microphone, which you may have to worry about a bit more.

Build Quality

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The Shure SM58 is a very well-built microphone, due to its steel construction. If you’ve ever read my review of the iRig HD 2, you’ll know that plastic is a pet peeve of mine.

There’s something about a plastic product that just screams low-quality, but thankfully, the Shure SM58 doesn’t have this problem. There are all kinds of YouTube videos and tutorials online which show how sturdy the SM58 is, including some clips where it shows trucks running over it and whatnot.

Frankly, I find that a bit unbelievable (and also gimmicky), but the point has been made. The Shure SM58 is a reliably constructed microphone that’s going to last you through the ages on account of its insane durability.

The body is made out of metal as is the mesh protecting the actual microphone. There is also some foam on the inside to protect it from bouncing around.

The durability of the microphone is what makes it such a popular option for live performances.

For instance, if you ever go to a karaoke night at a bar, chances are, you’ll notice that they’re using a Shure SM58 because they can take a beating from the drunk patrons who drop it on the ground repeatedly and do all kinds of nastiness to it.

How It Sounds

The SM58 is known for its emphasis on some of the mid-range sounds and the minimization of bass frequencies. This makes it great for back-up and lead vocals. Just another reason why many people around the world use it on a regular basis.

While it does have somewhat of a bass roll-off, the minimization of the bass frequencies isn’t so intense that it’s annoying or noticeable in any way. It just sounds as it should.

The spherical filter within the mic reduces undesired sounds and effects, such as the “pop” sound and wind sounds. The whole idea behind a cardioid pattern is that it’s meant to emphasize certain sounds over others.

The effect of this is the emphasis of the desired sounds rather than background noises and other sounds.

Moreover, there is what’s called a pneumatic shock-mount system which is supposed to minimize the noise when walking around with it. This is also one of the reasons why Shure SM58 is such a popular option.

In other words, due to the shock mount system, if you’re up on stage with it, you can easily pass it around to person-to-person and you don’t have to worry about it making all kinds of crazy noises.

Specifications of the Shure SM58

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Frequency Range: 50Hz to 15,000 Hz

Weight: 298 Grams (10.5 Ounces)

Impedance: 150 ohms (300 ohms in reality) – Low Impedance.

Sensitivity: -54.5 dBV/Pa (1.85 mV) at 1,000Hz Open Circuit Voltage

It also comes with a two-year warranty afforded directly from the manufacturer. So if something is wrong with the mic, you just have to send it back to them and they’ll likely mail you a brand new microphone.

Cons of the Shure SM58

The number one con of using this microphone is the fact that it’s not the most sensitive. In other words, you’ll have to use your audio interface’s gain to drive up the power of the signal so you can hear everything (more on audio interfaces in my guide).

Another thing worth mentioning is that due to the cardioid pattern of the mic, you have to be right on top of it in order for it to sound the best. I would argue that the Shure SM58 is not the best for recording, it’s more for live performances. However, with all that said, it’s still going to work just fine for recording in your home studio.

While the Shure SM58 is not the greatest mic out there in the world, it is one of the most durable and reliable, which is the reason why it’s so popular.

How To Set Up The Shure SM58

It’s important that you have an XLR cable to hook this into your audio interface. So either buy one from the store or use the Amazon link I listed above at the beginning of the article.

Hooking up the Shure SM58 is pretty easy. I grabbed all of my equipment and set it on my bed so you can see exactly how it’s done without all of the cables making everything look convoluted.

1. Plug your multi-port adaptor into your computer (here’s the laptop from Amazon I recommend).
2. Use the USB to Firewire cable and run it from the adaptor into the audio interface
3. Grab your XLR cable and plug it into the audio interface input and run it into the microphone jack.

Other Things To Consider

As I’ve mentioned already in the article, you want to make sure that you sing or speak directly into it due to the cardioid pattern. The sweet spot on the microphone is right on top of the microphone, which is going to emphasize warmth and clarity.

Also, there is a lot of talk about the Beta version of this microphone, which is supposed to be the improved version of the same unit, however, a lot of people say it’s much worse and not worth the money.

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Due to the mic’s popularity, there are also quite a few counterfeit versions of it online, so there are definitely some things to watch out for.

For example, there doesn’t exist the SM58SK version, which is a common counterfeit version of the mic seen online.

The pop filters are made out of aluminum, and not plastic, like some of the fake mics.

Chances are if it comes with the price tag of $50-$60, it’s likely a counterfeit version.

There is no “caution” label on the original microphone either.

I would opt for purchasing it directly from your local store, or on Amazon from one of the sellers who have thousands of reviews. The link I suggested above is one of them.

Typically, I like to have the pre-amp gain on the audio interface set to about 7, which is quite high, but this mic needs the power.

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YouTube Video Review

Conclusion

All-in-all, you’re not going to go wrong with the Shure SM58 when it comes to purchasing your first microphone. It’s going to pick up on what you need it to and it’s going to last you a long time. There’s a reason why it has become an industry standard.