how do i set this up?

[iwant2learn]

i've become lost and confused... i have a fairly old board (yamaha sy55), pentium 3/450mhz, 128mb, gina card, SB AWE64 card, Logic Silver 4.1.4, Midiman Mididsport 2x2, Behringer MX1602, Alesis SR16 Drum Machine, Fostex x-18 cassette recorder...
ok, i would be very grateful for any information on how do i begin setting this scenario up for sequencing and recording. are there any essential parts missing? what does S/PDIF stand for? yes, i may be clueless, but i'm eager to learn! thanks for any help!!

 

[tdukex]

Let's see, MIDI: (1) Connect you Midisport to your computer's USB port. (2) Connect you keyboard to one of the Midisport channels. Now you have MIDI. You can use the synth on your board or the Soundblaster. (3) I think you can plug the drum maching into the other Midisport channel, but I've never used a drum machine. Digital Audio: (1) You will need at least one mic + cable--if you want to record anything live, an amplifier, and some monitors and/or headphones (I use an old JVC stereo amp, crummy Realistic speakers I bought for $5 each, JVC headphones and Shure mic, for now). (2) Read the Behringer mixer manual. It will tell you how to use it. The basics are simple. (3) Connect the L R main-outs from your mixer/pre-amp into the Gina ins. Now you can record digital audio if you know how to use your sequencing software. If not, read the manual. (4) Connect the L R outs of the Gina or SB to the aux-ins of an amp. You already know what to do with the speakers and headphones. Now you can hear what you've recorded, MIDId. (4) Plug the Fostex L R outs into the amp's tape-ins and the Fostex L R ins into the amp's tape-outs. Now you can mix down to your cassette, if you want.

If there's anybody who wants to correct/add anything to what I've said, please jump in.