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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 4
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Greetings all,
In the next few weeks I will be buying an Ovation, primarily for myself, but also for my 13 year old daughter who would like to learn. I haven't really played in about 15 years, but I'm starting to get the itch again, and all the kids are finally out of diapers and I have a bit of time to spare.
Looking at the $300-$400 price range, so that puts the CC24 and CC44 (I've read great reviews on this one) high on my list.
Any opinions on these two models? I've only played electric guitars in the past, so I'm looking for an acoustic with electric type action (if such a thing exists), also thinking this would be easier for my daughter and her weaker hands. We'd primarily be using this unplugged, but I'd also like to know if these interface with GarageBand. Yes, we're a family of Mac snobs.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Chris |
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Joined:
May 2006
Posts: 97
Location: Chicago | Concerning Garageband, if you just want to get some direct-input sound, buy a guitar cable and a large-->miniplug adapter for the line-in port on your computer. That's what I'm doing, and it works fairly well. There are more expensive options available. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Samson USB consensor mic. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by cliff:
Samson USB consensor mic. Nice mic for the money. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | The Samson works REALLY well. Clifford recommended it to me and I am very pleased with it. Works great through GarageBand.... |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I'm REALLY glad that it worked out for you since (when I recommended it to you), I knew absoultely DICK "about" it . . .
I remembered seeing it reviewed in a magazine, thinking "yeah, . . THAT could work . . ." |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | had I known THAT!.... |
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December 2001
Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | If "plugging in" to your computer. I HIGHLY recommend getting cable style adapter or getting a short extension cable and using an adapter. The idea being to NOT plug a heavy guitar cable with an adapter into the extremely light-duty mini jack on most computers/sound cards. Those jacks are designed expecting to have a cable plugged into it, without constant fussing, tugging and inserting and removal. If you put a short "extension" cable (available from Radio Shack or just about anywhere else that sells that sort of stuff), you can leave it plugged into the input and just unplug your guitar that extention saving wear and tear on the computer jack. |
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Joined:
August 2005
Posts: 3736
Location: Sunshine State, Australia | Regarding connecting to GarageBand, it depends on what Mac you have. For a while, they didn't give us an audio input. (They've fixed this 'oversight' in the current range)
If your mac doesn't have audio in, you'll need a USB input device, like the Griffin iMic. Not sure what it costs over there, but it gives you an input and another headphone output.
It's not professional quality - only 1/8" jack, but it will get you up and running with GarageBand.
If you want an acoustic with an electric action, you can't beat an Ovation. I think the models you refer to are 'Celebrities' (the 'cheap' cousins of Ovations) I can't comment on the Celebrity line as I'm a USA Ovation snob.
Oh, yeah. AND a Mac snob.
Goodonya! |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 4
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Originally posted by Mr. Ovation:
If "plugging in" to your computer. I HIGHLY recommend getting cable style adapter or getting a short extension cable and using an adapter. The idea being to NOT plug a heavy guitar cable with an adapter into the extremely light-duty mini jack on most computers/sound cards. Those jacks are designed expecting to have a cable plugged into it, without constant fussing, tugging and inserting and removal. If you put a short "extension" cable (available from Radio Shack or just about anywhere else that sells that sort of stuff), you can leave it plugged into the input and just unplug your guitar that extention saving wear and tear on the computer jack. Good advice Mr. Ovation, especially considering a teenager will be doing the tugging. Thanks! |
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 4
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Originally posted by muzza:
Regarding connecting to GarageBand, it depends on what Mac you have. For a while, they didn't give us an audio input. (They've fixed this 'oversight' in the current range)
If your mac doesn't have audio in, you'll need a USB input device, like the Griffin iMic. Not sure what it costs over there, but it gives you an input and another headphone output.
It's not professional quality - only 1/8" jack, but it will get you up and running with GarageBand.
If you want an acoustic with an electric action, you can't beat an Ovation. I think the models you refer to are 'Celebrities' (the 'cheap' cousins of Ovations) I can't comment on the Celebrity line as I'm a USA Ovation snob.
Oh, yeah. AND a Mac snob.
Goodonya! Thanks for the pointers muzza, I'm running on a G5 so I'm good to go on the audio in. And yes, I am refering to the Celebrities, but I started tracking the "real" Ovations on eBay (and here) yesterday and I've seen some go in the $400 range, so I just may go that route.
Ditto the goodonya, from one snob to another! |
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December 2005
Posts: 149
Location: New York, NY | Hi, I'm a Mac :)
And I'm a PC :mad:
:mad: : "I buy fancy software and hardware so I can record from my guitar straight to my computer. Pretty cool, huh Mac?"
:) : "Well, I just buy a converter and plug my axe right into Garageband. That way I can jam all day long with no problems!"
[PC walks away]
:) : "Hey PC! Oh, come on, don't be like that! It's OK..."
... sorry, but those ads are all I could think of when reading this post!
Cheers,
JT |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Hi, I'm a Mac :mad:
Hi, I'm a PC :)
:mad: I have to pay high prices for a very limited amount of audio software choices.
:) I have hundreds of choices. Many are even FREE and work great.
:mad: Well, I just buy a converter and plug my axe right into Garageband. That way I can jam all day long with no problems!
:) Oh. You need a converter? |
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Joined:
December 2005
Posts: 149
Location: New York, NY | Hi, I'm a Mac :) .
And I'm a PC :mad: .
:) : "I was playing the other day, came up with a great tune and just plugged in to record it. It was so easy!"
:mad: : "I wanted to plug in but I had a virus, a spy wear problem, and advertisements were using up all the space on my computer!"
:) : "What's a virus?" |
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October 2006
Posts: 4
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Lol. Knew I shouldn't have mentioned the Mac. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Nice one. You got me there, PC's get targeted for viruses, because 98% of desktop computers are PC's. Oh, that's why there's so much software and hardware available for them!
Honestly, I have nothing against Macs, other than the software issue. I hate trying to integrate them into the network at work, but once it's done they're fine. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | You're lucky, Wabbit. I get 'em into the network and then my problems begin. Absolutely gotta have 'em for the design but I find that macs lose settings, erase print drivers, drop font settings, need constant software re-installs and just generally need 10 times the maintenance pc's do. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Absolutely gotta have 'em for the design . ."
Really??
I've been doing it close to 20years without one . . . |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | This is interesting. Jeff and I were talking this week as I'm kicking around the idea of buying a Mac Mini and getting rid of my pc. I'd be interested in further discussion regarding pros and cons. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Originally posted by cliff:
". . Absolutely gotta have 'em for the design . ."
Really??
I've been doing it close to 20years without one . . . Well, you're the exception to the rule, Cliff (I know, "Again?"). I've been in the ad game for about 20 years and I've yet to meet a creative type who prefers a pc. I wish they did. |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Don't get me wrong, Paul. Macs are just as good in some areas and better in others. And pc's have their problems as well as you probably well know or you wouldn't be considering changing. Just in a dual platform network world - and maybe not everyone's but definitely mine - they're a bear to deal with. Pro's and cons on both sides, without a doubt. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1889
Location: Central Massachusetts | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
This is interesting. Jeff and I were talking this week as I'm kicking around the idea of buying a Mac Mini and getting rid of my pc. I'd be interested in further discussion regarding pros and cons. Paul, do you like to spend your time jiggering with the OS and fighting off viruses? If not, think about a mac.
Do you use fairly typical apps, or do your needs go off the beaten path? Games and many specialized apps are not available on macs.
I made "the switch" to mac 18 months ago.. running Tiger on a PowerBook G4.. it has been rock-solid bulletproof ever since. never looked back.
My 75-year-old mother-in-law wanted to move from webtv to a real laptop.. she had absolutely zero computer skills. I convinced her to go with a mac and she's been having great fun with it ever since. She's never had to call me for help. Nothing has ever broken. New printer? just works. Wireless? just works. No worries about viruses, etc. She makes great use of it.
Sent my mom a Dell PC a couple years ago. Constantly had to help her with broken stuff over the phone -- mostly viruses and adware. Finally got so bad she just checks her yahoo mail from work and the PC gathers dust.
Just my experiences. The next guy will have others that are equally valid. We should probably take this to a new thread, eh? |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Oh. I just get them working. If they break after that I remind the user, "I told you when you requisitioned it - We don't support Macs."
Macs are just as good in some areas and better in others. ...and PC's are just as good in some areas and better in others. These days, there's nothing you can do on one that you can't do on the other. The question is more, are you willing to put in the extra effort to protect a PC, the tradeoff being cheaper, more abundant hardware and software choices.
I'm careful with mine, keep it clean and running well (in fact I'm building myself a new one - try that with a Mac!) and I don't have virus or spyware problems and it runs stable. I have more problems with the AIX and Mac machines at work than I ever do with my home computer. |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Blah Blah Blah.
Ask yourself this question... when was the last time your computer crashed/ locked up/ contracted a virus....
My answer.... Never.
(Macs now run Windows (though why would you want to??)) |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . These days, there's nothing you can do on one that you can't do on the other . ."
Run AutoCAD. |
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Ovation newbie seeking purchase advice
