chain line

[cabbage]

OK,

I have learnt that it is the chain that leads into your computer that matters more than the actual software....
My primary reason for home recording is so that i can record vocals w/harmony, and my guitar, then add MIDI from the samples that are PROVIDED with the program(piano roll etc), i will not be plugging a key board in etc...just the mic for voc and guitar.

I am looking at getting Home Studio 2004 XL.... so my question is, what equiptment will i need that will optimise the voc and guitar.

I have also heard about mixers...if HS 2004 XL has a built in mixer, is it the same as an external mixer???

Also i understand that normal sound cards do not have inputs like music recording sound cards(is that right??) If I get a music recording soundcard will i need a 'normal' sound card to watch DVD's on my computer as well as the 'music recording' sound card???

I am wanting to get good quality equiptment..not the best as it would be far too expensive, but equiptment that will last and mid/top range of performance.
Thanks,
C

 

[cstockdale]

The things you need in your audio chain are :

1) mic to capture what you are playing
2) preamp to raise mic-level signal to line-level signal


a mixer only comes into the scene when you are needing to route multiple inputs and monitor what you are inputting. The software does the "mixing" for you, but you still need to plug stuff into something. You can buy stand-alone mic preamps, and connect those to the soundcard inputs, and run the outputs from teh soundcard directly to powered monitors, OR, you can buy a mixer, which will have preamps in it, connect one set of mixer outputs to the soundcard inputs, run the outputs of the soundcard back to the mixer where you can plug in headphones or monitors to listen to what you are recording and what is already recorded.

Just let us know the things you plan to buy so that we can save you the headache of buying the wrong stuff.