can you solve my dilemma on a near zero budget?

[jamram]

Hi...I'm new here and have a big problem, I hope you can help!:

My sister often sings on my recordings, the problem is that now she lives in the uk and im in denmark.
My solution is to email her backing tracks that she can then load into a sequencer, sing to, then send the raw file back to me for processing.
SO, what do I need?
As I only want basically 1 raw audio file from her, I figured a free sequencer would be fine - any suggestions?

She has a fine mic...we just need to know the cheapest, best way of hooking it to the computer? The mic needs phantom power and an xlr input....what are the possibilities, how cheap can it be?

To reiterate...I need only to get her vocals in a usable, .wav format....no pre-processing/post-processing...nothing required apart from that. Is it possible on a next-to-nothing budget?

 

[TimOBrien]

My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad so this is just a paste (I don't want to re-type this all the time):

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/04...mp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0470385421
(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.

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/tips-techniques/168409-tips-techniques.html

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

For an interface/soundcard, ere's a good guide and tested suggestions: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm

For a CHEAP sequencer to look (and try the free demo) of REAPER (www.reaper.fm)

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 and July 2009 issue they put out Samplitude10SE. FREE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)