SmartMusic Input
Setting Up Your Microphone

Do not use your computer’s microphone as the input to SmartMusic, especially if it is built in! I have to confess that I do use my laptop’s built in microphone when teaching students but this is because I teach at two different studios and have to set up my computer each teaching session.

MakeMusic sells a very inexpensive microphone which has at least a 10 foot cord. If you’re using a Mac, you will also need an iMic USB Audio Interface (which can also be purchased from MakeMusic - remember, you only have to buy these items once).

The SM microphone works very well with SM - so use it.

Microphone Placement
There is a diagram for Microphone/Speaker placement (I suggest using earphones rather than speakers).

Microphone placement for FLUTE - left shirt collar or lapel - works very well.

Microphone placement for CLARINET - shirt above the stomach - doesn’t work that well (often because there is nothing to which you can attach the microphone). I usually attach the microphone directly to the Clarinet mechanism on the lower joint, the long rod just above the last (low E) pad. Have the microphone face up (towards the mouthpiece) and be very careful not to interfere with or damage the spring or any of the mechanism. Make sure that the low E key moves freely.

Please remember that you (or your instrument) are attached to the microphone. Be very sure to disconnect the microphone before you walk away from your computer, otherwise, you may cause damage to your instrument, the microphone, or the computer. I know that this might seem like rather obvious and unnecessary advice but you will find that at the end of a long practice session it is very easy to forget that you are attached to a microphone.

Microphone Setup
The drop down button at the bottom left will list the sound sources which are available. Do not choose “Built-in Audio”. If no other choices are available, you will have to go to your computer’s controls (on a Mac, this is “System Preferences - Sound - Input”) and choose another source (Line in).

Microphone Volume
The Input Meter shows how well the microphone is “hearing” you. Play your instrument and adjust the Mic Level so that it rises to about half way up - into the green but not into the red. Play different notes - using the full length of the instrument (on Flute: low D, C# & C; on Clarinet: low E, F, F#, G) and the shortest length of the instrument (on Flute: middle B, C & C#; on Clarinet: “throat” G, G#, A & Bb).

The “ideal” is to have the microphone react equally to all notes. This isn’t really possible but make sure that it is recognizing (i.e., reacting to) every note, otherwise you will encounter difficulties (and frustration) with SM “tracking” features (Assessment, Intelligent Accompaniment, Wait for Note, etc.).

Experiment with microphone placement and input level. You might find a different placement of the microphone works better for you. I use different input levels for different functions. For example, if I am just practicing and know that I won’t be recording my performance, I often set the microphone level too high (slightly into the red) to ensure that all notes will be “heard” by SM. Experiment!

The SM Mic Level appears (and can be adjusted) in the SM Play module when you play any file.

Clicking “Next” takes you to MIDI Keyboard setup (Input).

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