I need some help..please!

[Jo-569]

Ok so long story short, I need to know what I need to do some basic mixing. I know kinda a little bit but not much. I don't need the best setup right now, I just need to know how to do some basic plug the instrument into the box and plug that in to the computer. I will probably download Audacity (I am pretty sure it's free), and I am looking to buy a cheap, used interface. If I get one with only Two I/O's can I just layer the tracks on to one another? I would probably wind up with 4/5, as I would be using a 4 piece band plus vocals. What kind of cords and stuff do I need? And how do I go about hooking stuff up to the computer? If I don't necessarily have all the drums mic'ed (by this I mean we don't have mics for the drums) would I be able to edit just a recording of them? We have a pretty decent microphone.. I realize I probably sound like a complete idiot..haha sorry. I need to experiment with this stuff so I have some samples to put in a portfolio for a college audition type thing. Thanks to any and all assistance.


If I just kinda rambled up there, basically can you just give me general info I need? I did check out some thread about basics of stuff and it was helpful, but I feel pretty lost.

 

[Jo-569]

I also am aware that it isn't even half good to be wanting to go into college for this and not know what the heck I am doing, but I would really like to pursue a degree in recording, and I am confident I can learn quickly..thanks again.

 

[JimmyS1969]

Start here. It will give you the basics. Reaper will be a much better recording software for multitracking and editing. You are going to need to spend a bit of time learning how to use it though.

Welcome to the forum Jo!

 

[MG Eddie]

Tascam us-800 is pretty good inexpensive interface with up to 6 mic/line inputs. I only paid 150$ for it. If there is a music store near by your house that sells used gear you should check it out. Allot of these kind of places have inexpensive used mic's for recording. Any interface that you by should be a usb interface. You just plug it into the usb port of your computer and open up your DAW(recording software) and go to the preferences menu to set up your drivers.

 

[arcadeko]

So you want to go to college for recording, but you have never recorded before, and you want to slam together an audition to get into recording school?

It sounds like you are young enough to be able to spend a little time learning what you are getting yourself into. Wait till next semester. Read up on it, go intern at a studio.

 

[Capt Hair]

I'd check out a tech school if I were you. That's what I'm doing. I have a few friends that are going to get a bachelors in some form of audio and there one complaint is they never get to actually do much recording or mixing. They're in a classroom the whole time...learning about what they're expose to be doing...well that does no good. I on the other hand am in a studio with 3 others and we're sitting down at consoles, sitting in on sessions, and learning how to do everything first hand. This is one of those fields that definitely allows it to be more about how much experience you have as apposed to getting that piece of paper. Just something to think about before you go and dish out 15g's a year to go to school.