Color me clueless

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Zone26

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I'm just starting to record at home and I'm experiencing a few problems. I'm running a HP Dual Core, using Acid Pro 5. Plugging an acoustic directly to the mic jack has worked well, but taking the electric from the headphone jack on a Line 6 Flex is not good at all. From the little research I've done, I guess I need an interface product. This is just for throwing down musical ideas, not a serious recording project. If anyone has any input it would be greatly appreciated. ..............S

HP Intel Core Duo 1.66GHz
RAM 1024 MB 677MHz DDR2
2X80GB 540RPM (160GBtotal)

Line 6 flex Tone 2
Gibson Firebird
Ibanez S470
Gretch Clipper
Fender 12 Acoustic
Takamine EAN 70C
Casio CTK631

Acid Pro5
CoolEdit
Cakewalk
 
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Some info like How many Inputs you need and how many Tracks you will be recording would help us recomend you something.....

If you are Looing for something really Cheap with only a couple Inputs and you have a Regular PCI slot in your PC then something the the "M-audio Audiophile 2496" or tyhe "EMU 0404" might be what you are looking for...
These Cards are in the $100 Range and Offer I believe 4 Inputs and 4 out(You might have to verify that)....

Most other Recording interfaces will be More expensive but will also have more features and In/Outs.....

If you want to record a Whole Band then something like a Firebox with maybe a Mixer would be Good or a Mackie Onyx 400F which is a Firewire Mixer interface....

There are so many different interfaces out there that it is Hard to keep track and which one you get would depend on your Needs...

I personally have a Pretty simple Setup which is a "M-audio Delta 44" (4 in /4 out) and I have a 8 Channel Mixer and I use 8 Mics to Mic up My drum Kit into my Mixer then out into the Delta 44"s 1 and 2 Inputs in stereo and I record Guitar and Bass through Inputs 3 and 4 and Track vocals Last that way i can record a Whole Band Live (Minus Vocals) while still not spending a Fortune in Gear....

Cheers
 
Thanks Minion, It's just me recording guitar parts, so just one at a time, and maybe a (really bad) vocal. The 'puter does have a PCI slot. I'll check out the M-audio. I'm looking forward to some fun with this, thanks for helping a newbe out. .....S.
 
I would definatly go with the EMU 0404, the DSP software is so configurable and easy to use with usable effects. The M-Audio card is pretty dificult to set up depending on the software your using, my friend had a hell of a time setting up MIDI with it. I didn't help him cause i told him to get the 0404 and he ignored me. Really cant recommend the 0404 enough.
 
To connect your pod to your sound card, all you need is an adapter to go between your sound card line in and pod. Stock sound card's are'nt really as hideous to record thru as some people let on. For vocals, you need a mic preamp that will connect to your sound card line (if you're using a real mic), via an adapter. If you're using a pc mic (it is usable for capturing ideas), skip the preamp.

Although spending money for some gear will get you nicer sounding recordings, they won't be studio quality. If I could go back, and I was in your shoes, I'd get a simple adapter to go between the pod / sound card for now. You'll only spend a couple of bucks and if you're not happy after a while, no harm done.

The biggest things you notice by buying a nice sound card are lower noise and a little more clarity. Unless you have some nice headphones or decent monitor speakers, you may not notice a difference at all. Just my 2 cents.
 
I hope I'm not digging a hole??lol

Thanks for the input guys, Last night I went down to the corner music store and picked up a Lexicon Omega & a SM57. The mic works well, the acoustic/elec. works well run through the Flextone (not a POD, not sure if the powered signal makes a difference? I'm running the amp from an XLR cable,
(studio setting,speakers off) and I'm still getting nothing from the electric. even when unplugging the acoustic and coming right back with the electric.
I could mic the amp, but the dog barking, that might pass as a nice touch on one recording, would wear thin fairly soon. With as much time as I've invested into this home recording ( all 3 days now) you think I could figure this out on my own. Any advice is welcome and appreciated. .......S.
 
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