help..programs and hardware?????

[madroad]

I really don't know what I'm doing here, but I'm trying to set up a home recording studio on my computer. I have a Darla 24 card coming in (thanks to Dkempers advice) and I have a 16 channel peavey mixer (a little dated, but I think it will work for now).

I have cakewalk and cooedit pro but I don't even know the difference between these programs and which one i should use, if not both. I realize I have a lot of research to do here, so bear with me.

my computer is a 933 Mhz 256k ram 30 gig.

so what other hardware should I get?

and what other programs should i get and so on.

any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
sochek@hotmail.com

[chesterfield]

madroad......... sounds like you're fine for now. What are you trying to record - instruments, vocals, etc.? How many players at once? You're computer is fine; the Darla soundcard has 2 inputs and excellent D/A converters; Cakewalk and Cool Edit will both allow you to record multitrack. Plenty of advocates for either platform, just a matter of preference. You'll eventually need monitors, and you probably need a mic; otherwise save your money and start recoding with what you have. Good luck

[madroad]

I will be recording guitars and vocals and using drum and syth programs. I have a 58 for vocals and it will have to do for now on guitars. I wil need to get monitors (what I have could get me by for now, but monitors will be next). What kind of drum programs and syth programs are there out there I should check out? Are there effects programs? I don't understand how these things work.
Thanks for your help Chester

[chesterfield]

Which Cakewalk do you have? Cakewalk usually has Drag and Drop drummer and PA9 has Session drummer. I usually record with guitar(s), bass, vocals, and use "fake" drums sparingly - check out this link - http://www.hitsquad.com/ - lots of free downloads - fruityloops, which I've heard folks here mention frequently, and many others. Cakewalk and Cool Edit come with their own effects - more to choose from in CE, I believe.

[madroad]

I have cakewalk 9...I'm assuming this is the latest version..but I see stuff about plugins and addons that I know nothing about. Thanks for the link, chester...bookmarked it.

So I wouldn't use both, just one or the other (cakewalk or cool edit)? What about Pro Tools??

Thanks again, Chester
sochek@hotmail.com