How to Record Skype Into Garageband With SoundFlower and LineIn

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: DOWNLOAD and INSTALL SoundFlower and LineIn.

   Permanently save your SoundFlower disk image so that you can later run the SoundFlower un-installer for reliable removal of SoundFlower (which is not actually an application). , In the following steps we will create a new project from the Podcast template, but the same objects are accomplished in any project with the two tracks you will dedicate to recording LOCAL and REMOTE Skype callers.,,,,, A visible red dot *when either track is selected* directs recording to the track.
   
   We will use SoundFlower and LineIn to direct input from our microphone to one track, and from Skype's remote calling parties to the other track.
   
   Simultaneous-recording-enabled tracks will be indicated by red dot glyphs, which must be visible (red) when either of the two tracks is selected.
   
   It matters not afterward which of the recordable track targets you select to perform a recording ― both will be recorded from the respective audio sources which we configure in the following steps.,,, This will become your "SKYPE LOCAL" instrument/track after we set the Input Source and Monitor values for the track.,, You may also set Recording Level to the desired Recording Level for future work, as the setting will be preserved in our saved template file (eliminating preparation in further usages of your template)., You have now prepared the local recording track., This will become your "SKYPE REMOTE" instrument/track after we set the Input Source and Monitor values for the track.,, You may also set Recording Level to the desired Recording Level for future work, as the setting will be preserved in our saved template file (again eliminating preparation in further usages of your template)., You have now prepared the remote recording track.,, Then select the Audio page of the Preferences dialog.,, The Ringing option can be whatever you choose.
   
   Close the Skype Preferences dialog.,,,,,,, Click OK.,,,,, You probably will want to keep an alias on your Dock for periodic re-confirmation of configuration values which are not accessible from System Sound Preferences.
   
   Here, we will set our recording volumes to 100 percent for our microphone and for both input and output of our SoundFlower channels.
   
   Failing to perform these steps therefore may preclude getting full desired volume in your recordings.
   
   Like a mixing desk or mixer, GarageBand's "Recording Level" value effectively sets a percentage of 100 percent volume, or of whatever lesser value may be set in your Audio MIDI Setup., (This may be counter-intuitive unless you read the previous instruction.),,,), and that Output is set to the same output device (headset?).
   
   You're now ready to rock and roll., (Repeat this after purging flaws.), Both tracks should record from the respective sources, and you should be able to monitor the remote audio as intended., Generally, if you set GarageBand volume for the remote callers to 100 percent, you can set the Skype remote caller volume just a bit high (in the Skype caller window) to make sure you have sufficient remote recording volume.
   
   This value may vary for different callers and their hardware configurations.
   
   Conversely, being as we have set our input volume to 100 percent in our Audio MIDI Setup utility, we can control our own local volume in our GarageBand Recording Level for the SKYPE LOCAL track.
   
   Remember then that you can use the remote Skype volume slider and the local GarageBand slider (SKYPE LOCAL track) as you would an actual (hardware) mixer or mixing desk., Now with a separate dedicated track, you can readily erase unwanted material from non-speaking sections, and/or you may load the track(s) into free applications like Audacity, which is worth learning because Audacity provides significant and very efficient tools for applying silence to sections, filtering, or otherwise "repairing" unwanted artifacts ― which important capabilities are wanting in GarageBand.,,
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   Step 2: Open GarageBand.

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   Step 3: Open your Garageband menu's Preferences option and select the Audio/MIDI page of the Preferences dialog.

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   Step 4: Set GarageBand's Audio Input to SoundFlower (16ch).

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   Step 5: Set Audio Output to whatever output device you will listen to your Skype call with ― usually headphones

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   Step 6: but possibly ear buds or speakers

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   Step 7: From your GarageBand Track menu

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   Step 8: Enable Multitrack Recording.

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   Step 9: In both of your recording tracks

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    Step 10: click the dot

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    Step 11: track inclusion glyph to the left of the mute glyph.

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    Step 12: Click "Show Track Info" from your Track menu

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    Step 13: or click the "i" Track Info glyph on the right side of the bottom status panel to display the Track Info panel.

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    Step 14: Select the Real Instrument page of the Track Info panel.

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    Step 15: From the left side track panel or track region

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    Step 16: select the Male Voice Podcast track

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    Step 17: or other desirable audio track to be the recording target for the local Skype party.

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    Step 18: Set this eventual SKYPE LOCAL track to No Effects (or other) to inherit desired "instrument" effects

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    Step 19: which desired initial effects (none in most cases) we will preserve afterward by saving the track as a SKYPE LOCAL instrument.

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    Step 20: In the Track Info panel again

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    Step 21: change the Input Source for this eventual "SKYPE LOCAL" track to Mono 3 and toggle Monitor to Off (or you will hear your voice echoed into your headset).

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    Step 22: With the Effects group still selected in your Track Info panel

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    Step 23: now click Save Instrument as "SKYPE LOCAL."

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    Step 24: Select the Female Voice Podcast track

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    Step 25: or other desirable audio track to be the recording target for remote Skype parties.

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    Step 26: Set this eventual SKYPE REMOTE track to No Effects (or other) to inherit desired "instrument" effects

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    Step 27: which desired initial effects (none in most cases) we will preserve afterward by saving the track as a SKYPE REMOTE instrument.

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    Step 28: In the Track Info panel again

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    Step 29: change the Input Source for this eventual "SKYPE REMOTE" track to Stereo 1/2 and toggle Monitor to ON.

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    Step 30: With the Effects group still selected in your Track Info panel

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    Step 31: now click Save Instrument as "SKYPE REMOTE."

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    Step 32: Open Skype.

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    Step 33: Open your Skype audio preferences from the Preferences option of the Skype menu.

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    Step 34: Set Skype's Audio output to Soundflower (16ch).

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    Step 35: Set Skype's Audio input to the desired microphone (headset

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    Step 36: Line in or Built in mic).

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    Step 37: you may optionally drag LineIn from your Applications folder to your Dock

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    Step 38: because in future recording sessions

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    Step 39: you will have to open LineIn to restore the functionality you need for this configuration.

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    Step 40: Open LineIn.

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    Step 41: Change LineIn's Input to the same microphone you've set in your Skype Preferences.

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    Step 42: Change LineIn's Output to Soundflower (16ch).

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    Step 43: Click LineIn's "Advanced" button.

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    Step 44: In the Advanced settings window

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    Step 45: set the left and right Input channels to 1.

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    Step 46: In the Advanced settings window

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    Step 47: set the left and right Output channels to 3.

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    Step 48: Click Pass Thru.

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    Step 49: Now open your OSX System Preferences and select the Sound preferences page.

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    Step 50: Set the same microphone as your Input source.

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    Step 51: Set the Output to whatever device you’re listening with (optimally headphones).

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    Step 52: Open your Audio MIDI Setup utility (Applications/Utilities/Audio MIDI Setup.app).

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    Step 53: In your Audio Devices page of your Audio MIDI Setup utility

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    Step 54: set your microphone's volume to 100 percent (1.00).

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    Step 55: "'Set both input and output volumes for SoundFlower (2 ch) to 100 percent (1.00)

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    Step 56: including the "M" scale.

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    Step 57: "'Set both input and output volumes for SoundFlower (16 ch) to 100 percent (1.00)

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    Step 58: including the "M" scale.

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    Step 59: Return to the Sound page of your System Preferences and verify that Input is still set to your same microphone (headset?

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    Step 60: Make a backup copy of your recording template

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    Step 61: and drag your working copy of the template to your dock

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    Step 62: so that you can open the initial template file and immediately "Save As" to an appropriate filename and place for a recording session.

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    Step 63: Now start a Skype call and Click Record in GarageBand

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    Step 64: before your respondents answer.

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    Step 65: Experiment with your Recording Level and Skype remote caller volume settings to get desired volume levels.

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    Step 66: Remote interview/conference parties will often introduce unwanted artifacts into your recorded session.

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    Step 67: now you have added significant

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    Step 68: professional recording capabilities to your very approach to recording

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    Step 69: to interviewing

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    Step 70: and to podcasting

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    Step 71: which can not only save a lost project after contamination ― you can now apply vast fine touches to both sides of a discussion which otherwise would be mixed as would preclude any reasonable approach to such touches at all.

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    Step 72: Enjoy!

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