you are right of course and thanks for trying to help me!
OK I record heavy rock guitar, bass, vocals, and currently use a Boss Dr 770 drum machine, but it isn't that good 'cause its a machine. I want to be able to use drum loops or a real drummer (I dont have a real drummer yet, which is a prime reason for wanting to collaborate). Guitar is usualy through a line 6 pod, vocals go through
a Joe meek jm47 mic via a joe meek vc3 pre amp.
So it is unlikely that I'll need to mike up a complete band. I already have some Absolute 2 monitors which do the trick (I know they aint the best) running off
a samson servo 170 power amp.
The Roland has 18 tracks plus a whole load of virtual tracks, on board FX midi clock time code etc. It has 8 inputs 2 of which are XLR. it has jack and audio(small) phono ins and outs. it also has an auto mix facility, on board eq, compression etc and a h/phone jack. it also has digital connections.
The PC sound card has a mic input, headphone in, line in,line out. It has a DVI connector (whatever that is?)vide and tv connectors six usb ports (2 front 4 back) and IEEE1394 connectors (whatever they are?). it runs XP and has a pentium 4 inside.
I am pretty happy navigating
the Roland VS1880 but because it is hardware I am not sure how to get my mixes into the computer to convert to mp3 for collaboration. The only way that i can think of is to burn to CD then put it into the computer which is a pain in the backside. I also have no recording software right now.
At the moment i make "demos". I want to be able to produce a release quality finished product on my V Band venture. So it is important that I can recieve stuff from other musicians and vocalists into my set up, remix it with my guitars and take it through to finished master for CD burn.
I dont know if I need to ditch the VS 1880 and move over 100% to a pc based system or link the vs 1880 in someway to the pc?
As far as money is concerned I'd say i have about £500 ($US 800 approx)to spend right now, but could add to that in the future (maybe at the end of the year). I need to be able to navigate the new set up quickly and easily, I am not (as you can see!) I technical guy, the simpler and more musician freindly the better!
Once again many thanks for any help you can offer.
