How to use GarageBand to record Skype calls on a Mac

Use Podcast, no effects and turn off Reverb and Gate

If you're recording calls off Skype and you have a Mac, you might want to use a program called GarageBand that comes with the Mac. You can get excellent results with it, but you have to be very careful about the settings you use.

You should choose Podcast, "no effects". In addition, you must also specifically turn off the "Reverb" effect and the "Gate" function. The "Reverb" creates a sort of echo and the "Gate" function makes the audio cut out whenever the sound gets low, so any time someone lowers their voice, the ends of words and sometimes even phrases are lost.

Even if you've chosen "no effects", the "Reverb" function is still on by default, at least on some versions, so you have to specifically turn it off. When you turn the "Reverb" off, that automatically turns on the "Gate" function, so you have to specifically turn that off as well.

See the link below for instructions and screen shots on how to turn off the "Reverb" effect when recording in Podcast mode. As noted above, after you've done that, then you'll also have to turn of the "Gate" function. Although these instructions are for an older version of GarageBand, they also apply to newer versions. The instructions are clear and easy to follow.

http://www.podfeet.com/wordpress/recording/garageband-09-get-rid-of-reverb/

How to adjust the volume on a Skype call

• • To adjust the incoming (remote) audio volume, you can use the volume slider in the Skype chat window. If you don't see a volume slider, make sure you have the latest version of Skype.
  • To adjust your own (local) volume level, use the input volume adjustments in the "Input" tab of the Mac's System Preferences Audio pref panel.
    

A few other important tips

• • Buy a good quality headset with an excellent mic. Logitec makes excellent headsets.
  • Buy a "riser" from an electronics store. These go under the laptop and plug into its USB port, but they use almost no power. They have a tiny fan in them which keeps the laptop cool. This is important, because laptops tend to overheat.
  • Use an external power source to make sure the power doesn't run low while recording.
  • Put the laptop on a soft surface to avoid transmission of sound from the environment.
  • Don't have any electronic equipment like cell phones or microwaves near the computer.
  • Don't touch the computer while it's recording or it may cause electronic static on the recording.