I want to record multitrack...

[JoeyJoJo]

I'm quite new to home recording but I've had some nice results with my PC, Acid Pro and a rented APEX 420 microphone. Here's the problem. I want to record drums properly. This means I need to be able to record multiple tracks simultaneously. I have a pretty standard sound card and can only record one track at a time given the one input on the sound card. Here is my question: I understand that I can purchase a "mult-input" sound card on my PC but I've seen prices like $600-$800 for an 8 input card. Is this my only option? Is ther anything else I can do to create the interface? Given the great sounds I'm getting this seems to be my biggest obstacle.

 

[jrosenstein]

soon i'll be getting myself an M-Audio 1010LT ... $280 for 8 in / 8 out. only 2 of inputs are balanced, and there's no breakout box, but that's why it's cheap. obviously i can't give you much of a review yet, but i have yet to read a negative opinion of this card.

 

[postalblue]

if you want live drums you need more inputs. i use 4. it's enough, but not ideal. my ideal number of inputs would be 12 to 16. you can do it with only 2 inputs, but then you'd need a mixer with at least 4 preamps, which is the least i'd record a drum track with. you'd have to mix it all while tracking, which means you'd have to make a lot of decisions about eq, compression, reverb and stuff. if you get at least a 4-input card, you're business.
alternatively, you can use samples and soundfonts with a sequencer.

 

[AlChuck]

By the way, even cheap soundcards typically have a stereo input -- two tracks -- though there's only one jack, it's a stereo jack like the headphone jack on a Walkman.