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So a CEO buddy of mine wants to do a podcast with me and wants me to help him setup a small podcast studio at his place. He has a PC laptop and some kind of a MAC tower. (New.)
He wants to use the MAC for some reason and has zero recording technology experience. I know nothing about MACs.
I want to get him an interface and am guessing I will just get a focusrite since I assume they will work with a MAC?
Also, want to to put Audacity on his computer but don't want to download the latest one because I hear it is buggy and some people are screaming about it. I have 2.5 and I *assume* that will work with a new Mac but am not sure, don't see why it would not unless I am missing something.
I just want the most basic Fred Flintstone setup to record a single track or two in Audacity, and get the .wav and then I can take everything else from there once I take it back home.
That being said, I wonder if anyone has advice or insights on the above, like if you do have Audacity on a MAC, where are the files located? I have never touched a MAC.
Finally, anyone got any ideas on the best little podcast Mic to put on a table top to run into the audio interface and record a podcast? I don't want to get the same kind of setup I have at home, just the best and most simple "tabletop" option.
Thanks if you have any insights.
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"Mac" is and abbreviation for "Macintosh", so no need for all caps.  You can find the instructions for installing Audacity on a Mac here: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/installing_and_updating_audacity_on_mac_os_x.htmlOlder versions of Audacity required installation of the LAME library to handle MP3 compression. I see in the notes that the software patent has expired, so this is no longer necessary, but I'm not sure what older versions might need it. If you're planning to work with .wav files, it's not an issue. The download page has a link to FossHub, which has versions of Audacity that go back to 2.0.0. "Best" is a relative term. You'll generally want something that sounds good, rejects background noise, doesn't pick up tabletop noise, and is easy to set up. Here's a link to some popular podcasting microphones. The author recommends the Q2U, as it's easy to set up, supports USB and XLR, and sounds good.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
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I do not know Audacity but others here do. I used to use Focusrite but switched to Presonus because I prefer their control (routing) software, but Focusrite will be fine. I’m the tech advisor at a church with Mac laptops, and I bought a Scarlett 3 for them that works fine. My small Presonus Revelator also works fine with the Mac laptops so I suspect their whole current line would. For one thing, their desktop interfaces switched to USB C a few years ago.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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No need for Audacity on a Mac—way too complicated when the need is simple. GarageBand is built into the macOS and will do everything he needs and has telephone support. Any Core Audio compliant interface will do the job. I recommend one with a balance knob between Output/Input over USB — there are about 50 or more interfaces on the market with this feature. Number of them made by Focusrite = 0. I like the M-Audio Air 192|6 for this use. These can be found for around $100 used — including a NIB test unit that I used to write a review and haven’t touched since. Another I like is the Mackie FxPro6v3 (version 3 is important). Although this review is aimed towards iPad compatibility, it also applies to the Mac, it contrasts two of the units I mentioned above plus another. The MOTU M4 has the balance knob I like, the reviewed M2 does not. Review: 3 inexpensive interfaces
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia/Tahoe, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, Logic, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro/Notion6/Overture5
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Thanks David!
When I said I know nothing about Macs that includes spelling.
So I guess I will just go log back into my wendOZe computer where it is safe.
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…
So I guess I will just go log back into my wendOZe computer where it is safe. If podcasting on a Mac is the only goal, there are microphones that also function as USB interfaces. The software is already part of the macOS. The AKG Lyra and a decent pair of headphones is all that anyone really needs. The 4 polar patterns are quite versatile.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia/Tahoe, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, Logic, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro/Notion6/Overture5
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Perhaps these links might provide some hardware directly aimed at the problem Although they might be of some use, none of those are necessary for podcasting on a Mac unless multiple microphones are required—which we don't know.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia/Tahoe, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, Logic, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro/Notion6/Overture5
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Precisely...
It is unknown.....
Like sands through the hourglass.......
biab2026(Mac) Latest Build
Mac OS (Latest)
Apple Mac Mini M2 pro 32GB Ram
Logic Pro (latest or pretty close)
Blue and White Sea Star
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