Help me get started

[stork]

I never though recording at home could be so frustrating, but here it goes...
I am a guitar player, acoustic and electric, but for now i just want to record mostly acoustic tracks. I also sing and play harmonica. I just want to know the simplest way of recording these three thing (guitar, vocals, and harmonica) without spending an arm and a leg. I want to use my laptop. I have nothing for recording and i have no idea what i am doing. So basically, i need someone to tell me what i need to get and how to record myself. Thanks.

 

[scrubs]

A couple of good startup tutorials:

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1818861,00.asp

http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm

 

[mikemorgan]

Here's the list:

1-condenser mic

1-dynamic mic

2-stands

2- cables

1-external soundcard (USB2, firewire, or PCMCIA)

1-small mixer with phantom power (unless your soundcard has provisions for external monitoring, pre-amp, and phantom power).

1-pop filter

2-reasonable monitors with cables

1-closed back headphones

1-software for your laptop


That should get you started! Which ones should you get? Search this board for recommendations and as always, Google is your friend.

 

[drummerboy_04AP]

Do you have to have an external sound card? Can you just use a mixer and then plug into your comps sound line in?

 

[mikemorgan]

Well, in a word yes. But sound quality, latency issues, and full duplex operation are generally not up to par on any laptop soundcard. Will it work, maybe. Will it sound good, no.

 

[rayc]

Just buy a cheap 4 track cassette machine from eBay & a couple of cheap mics & goof around until you know what you're doing & can afford to upgrade.