In most cases, your Mac's already set up to record audio by default using the Built-In Microphone, and play audio through the Built-In Speaker. TapeDeck is set up to record and play back audio using the devices you have set up in your Sound System Preferences. However, you may have something else in mind.
If you want to digitize a vinyl record, attach an old cassette player to your Mac for recording, or plug in a guitar or high-quality microphone, check out the sections below for further help. If you can't find what you're looking for below, feel free to contact support.
Vinyl record and cassette players typically have white & red "RCA Jacks" for attaching to other components, such as an audio amplifier, or an A/V receiver. Your Mac doesn't have those jacks on the back, so you'll need a male stereo RCA to 1/8" "minijack" cable that will let you attach your component to your Mac. If your Mac does not have a line-in port (consult your Mac's user manual if you're unsure), see the section on "Other Audio Hardware" below.
Once you've hooked up, open TapeDeck's Preferences by choosing TapeDeck > Preferences from the main menu. Then, select the Sound icon in the top bar of the Preferences, and choose your recording device with the 'Record Using:' popup button. If you're using the Mac's Line-In port, this will be called "Built-In Line Input," or something along those lines.
Because Macs will not play the sounds from the line-in port through your speakers by default, TapeDeck offers a mechanism to replicate this feature using software.
By checking the 'Monitor Recording Device' checkbox, you will hear the audio being captured by the recording device. So now you can monitor the audio coming out of your tape recorder or record player as it is being captured by TapeDeck.
Some manufacturers, such as Blue (http://bluemic.com), make high-quality microphones that plug straight into your Mac's USB port. This saves you a step (and money, in many cases!), and will give you a huge bump in quality over your Mac's built-in microphone.
To use your USB microphone for recording, just choose TapeDeck > Preferences from the main menu, and select the Sound icon from the toolbar. Click the 'Record Using:' popup button, and then choose your microphone's entry from that list.
NOTE: Some microphones may not appear in that list in an obvious manner. For instance, if you purchased a 'Best Ever Mic', the entry in the list of recording devices may appear as 'USB Audio CODEC' or something equally generic. If you're unsure, unplug the USB microphone, and take note of what device entry has disappeared from the list in TapeDeck.
If you are trying to connect a microphone with an XLR connector on it, you must purchase a separate device to facilitate this. See 'Other Audio Hardware' below.
Guitars have a 1/4" jack that cannot be plugged into your Mac directly. You may purcase a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter to hook up your guitar to your Mac, and follow the steps above in "The Mac's Line-In Port."
Alternatively, you can purchase a USB or Firewire audio interface---some are even made specifically for guitarists. See the 'Other Audio Hardware' section below to find out more about using these devices.
There are a myriad of hardware devices on the market for capturing audio on your Mac, and they all supply different plugs and options for recording. The Apple Store actually has a reasonable selection of these devices, and staff that would help you find something to suit your needs. In addition, you can contact support for some further advice.
To use your audio device for recording, just choose TapeDeck > Preferences from the main menu, and select the Sound icon from the toolbar. Click the 'Record Using:' popup button, and then choose the device's entry from that list.
NOTE: Some devices may not appear in that list in an obvious manner. For instance, if you purchased an 'ART USB DualPre', the entry in the list of recording devices may appear as 'USB Audio CODEC' or something equally generic. If you're unsure, unplug the device from your Mac, and take note of what device entry has disappeared from the list in TapeDeck.