Clueless Newbie - Please help

[rickw08090]

Hi, everyone: I'm a 65 year-old guitar/bass player with 53 years of playing experience. Here's my story - Ill try to be brief. I currently own plenty of music-making equipment, i.e. guitars and basses. I also have a Roland Jam Station, and a Boss DR 670 Drum machine was recently purchased on ebay. I'm studying the latest (I think) version of Audacity, and from what little I know of such things, it may sufficient for my needs. Don't know yet. Like everyone else, my resources are limited. About a year ago, I sold my Roland Guitar Synthesizer - a move I'll probably regret. I have zero keyboard abilities, and not a burning deire to aquire them unless some in-the-know person tells me I really should. I am not much of a singer - oh, I can carry a tune, but my voice is not an object of pride and satiafaction. I also have an old copy of Reason and a MIDI cable, but I have no idea of how to make it work. The Jam Station has MIDI connectivity and an available audio track. So that's my story - enough to elicit hysterical laughter from many of you, but you promised not to. My fist project will be "Christmastime Is Here" by Vince Gueraldi (sp). I have the arrangement worked out, because that is the part I do best. I'd be grateful fo any wisdom or question(s) you'd like to throw my way, including an opinion on whether I'm wasting my time.

-Rick

 

[mjbphotos]

First things first, you need an Interface to get the music into the computer. Whether you use microphones or DI (Direct Input) of guitars, you're going to need that.

 

[rickw08090]

The interface is DI via Audacity recording software, so I guess the 1st step is done. Thanks for your quick response.

 

[showstone]

What about an A/D converter, the interface hooked up via firewire or usb to your computer. It is what the instruments and mics will be plugged into.

 

[mjbphotos]

Rick - Audacity is your DAW (software), as showstone says, the interface is the thing that converts your audio signal to digital, via a USB or firewire connection.

 

[wheelema]

Hi, everyone: I'm a 65 year-old guitar/bass player with 53 years of playing experience. Here's my story - Ill try to be brief. I currently own plenty of music-making equipment, i.e. guitars and basses. I also have a Roland Jam Station, and a Boss DR 670 Drum machine was recently purchased on ebay. I'm studying the latest (I think) version of Audacity, and from what little I know of such things, it may sufficient for my needs. Don't know yet. Like everyone else, my resources are limited. About a year ago, I sold my Roland Guitar Synthesizer - a move I'll probably regret. I have zero keyboard abilities, and not a burning deire to aquire them unless some in-the-know person tells me I really should. I am not much of a singer - oh, I can carry a tune, but my voice is not an object of pride and satiafaction. I also have an old copy of Reason and a MIDI cable, but I have no idea of how to make it work. The Jam Station has MIDI connectivity and an available audio track. So that's my story - enough to elicit hysterical laughter from many of you, but you promised not to. My fist project will be "Christmastime Is Here" by Vince Gueraldi (sp). I have the arrangement worked out, because that is the part I do best. I'd be grateful fo any wisdom or question(s) you'd like to throw my way, including an opinion on whether I'm wasting my time.

-Rick

I'm going to jump in here and confuse the ever-loving bejebus out of you.

You have hardware and software components in a contemporary signal chain. For our purposes the word 'software' applies only to applications that run in a Windows/Mac (yeah, yeah, yeah, or Linux) environment.

Hardware/software components (from your 'voice' to someone else's ear). All components are physical hardware unless the word 'software' is included.

• Mic
• Preamp (not necessary for 'line level' signals)
• A/D (analog to digital) converter (also called 'soundcard', 'interface', etc.)
• DAW (term invented by soulless marketing dweebs to justify a higher price for underpowered plain 'ol computers)
• Sequencing software (Audacity in your case)
• D/A converter
• Amplifier
• Speaker

Manufacturers delight in creating weird mutant gear that combines the functionality above in weird and frighting ways. The latest abomination that comes to mind... for example... is the USB 'microphone'. To cut through the complexity focus on the functionality