PLEASE - what do i need to record....

[harren]

Hey i saw this site on the other site too. it might gonna help me on how to record my own music/song.

i have windows vista, i have FL studio, Wavepad, Audacity and Accoustica Mixcraft intalled. i used to record my songs in my screen of my computer only, and i just use acoustic guitar.

i wanna know if what gadgets do i need to record my stuffs in digital, i mean like professional you know hat i mean huh.

next week im planning to buy a M-audio midi keyboard and M-audio mic. also a electric guitar. would that be enough to record my own songs?

please give me some tips or guides on what do i really need...

by the way, im on solo, i dont have band... just me yhea..
and i got around 300-350 dollers. please please please help me...

[Nightfire]

You need whats called an audio interface. This will convert the signal of your mic, guitar etc. into digital, then send it to your computer via USB, FireWire, or USB 2.0.
I recomend Firewire, but if you only need one or two channels USB or USB 2.0 will probably work allright for you.
Heres a few cheap choices
Mackie Onyx Satelite
http://www.zzounds.com/item--MACONYXSAT $180
I think this will be one of the best bets for your budget. Lots of good reviews on the preamps. Gives you 2 preamps (for mics)
Tapco interface
http://www.zzounds.com/item--TAPLINKFW4X6 $200
also rave reviews on this one

Then you will need a good mic, and good monitors. If you shop around on ebay for Studio monitors, and get a cheap condensor such as an MXL you should be able to meet your budget.

Mike

[Nightfire]

Also, people appreciate feedback, it keeps us posting and helping out. So lets hear it.

[The REAL Jigsaw]

Reading your post made my head hurt. Anyways, Nightfire pretty much covered it.

[siddhananais]

Hey Nightfire,
Thanks for the response. I was going to post a really similar question and then found your answer. You've really helped me out!

[TimOBrien]

My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad:

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076...books&v=glance
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Guit...5734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/..._beginner_pdfs

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info:
http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books:
http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) not quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and suggestions:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards...ome_studio.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $40 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($20) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)

[ermghoti]

Weren't the guys who sold you those recording apps able to offer advice on hardware?

[357mag]

I would stay away from books. The problem is many are written over the heads of beginners. Secondly, so much of the time they don't tell you what you really want to know. And you can't ask a question to a book.

I think a better source of information is the internet. There are several good forums that deal with home recording. Post questions and do a search on Google for recording. It's all free.