Ready To Record?

[Masters Of War]

Ok I'm completely new to home recording, but I have been looking into it for the past two weeks and now have a Tascam 488 (not the mkII) in rout to my house, so being as I have no clue what I'm doing I was wondering if someone could tell me if I have all the gear I need to get things going, and also what I might look to pick up next. I've got the 488, a stupio projects b1 mic (boom stand, shock mounts, xlr cable, ect...), a Behringer MIC100 preamp, 3ft. xlr - xlr cable (to connect the preamp to the 488), Gxp-143 xlr - 1/4in adapter (the 488 only has two xlr connections), headphones, TDK SA60 tapes. Any help would be much appreciated.

[The Ghost of FM]

A digital reverberator or multi-effects unit would come in mighty handy as would a decent stereo compressor for controlling very dynamic performances like singing, bass playing and acoustic guitar.

A reverb unit would connect through the effects loop of the 488 and from there, you could add varying amounts of reverb to each part and have the wet effect mixed back into the final mix.

A compressor is generally connected to the channel insert connection of the part you are recording so that you can re-use the compressor again for the next over-dub.

As well, a compressor can be inserted into the final mixdown between the Portastudio's main outs and your mastering recorder's inputs.

A mastering recorder can be a cassette deck, a DAT, Mini-disc, reel to reel or a computer's line input to it's soundcard where, with some additional software, you can make a .wav recording and then concert that into CD-A files for music CDs or MP3's for the web and elsewhere.

Cheers!