4-track to CPU

[Strat Man]

Need a little advice and help:

I've got a Tascam 414 MKII which I use for recording guitar, bass and
vocals.
I wanna mix-down in stereo to the computer in wav files and then put
them online as mp3s (eg mix down to one wav file and then convert to
mp3). I assume this can be done easily enough - can anyone recommend a
program to do it?

I'd also like to start transferring prerecorded tracks individually
into a computer based mutlitrack program. I'd use my 4-track to record
everything and then transfer it over so I can end up with more tracks
in the final mix. I would also like to use it to add drum tracks which
i would make using drum programming software - recommendations?

I was considering using Pro Tools free to do the the recording but
have read that people have had a lot of problems with it. I need a
program which is not too system draining and is fairly easy to use -
once again recommendations?

Thanks,
Neill

 

[Queue]

Get n-Track by FaSoft. (I don't use it, but others rave about it.) It is pretty robust, easy to learn and cheap ($39 for 16 bit, $59 for 24 bit).

Queue

 

[Gidge]

For just recording the stereo track and posting mp3's you can get away with Goldwave at www.goldwave.com ......when you get into recording them separately, youll want N-Track.....

What are the specs on the computer you have...you may want to consider recording the tracks straight into the computer...you will have a heck of a time getting the individual tracks lined up in the computer and then matching a drum track to it....even a stock sound card will get a decent sound....you can still use the Tascam for the preamps, just hook the outputs to the soundcards line in....if you want to experiment with what kind of recorded sound you can get, record in Goldwave...remember that with digital, you have to use the recording software meters and DONT go over 0db.....