Just the basics

[DavidAdams]

Hope this is easy. Me, My son, a couple of guitars, a couple of mics an amp... and a desire to burn a CD - basically to share with the grandparents.

Playing with a 4 track mixer would be fun - but at this point really just want to be able to digitally record a few songs. Don't expect a Digital Voice Recorder will do us justice - although I heard Sony makes a some kind of walkman like digital music recorder with earbud microphones that does a pretty good job.

Any advice on the easiest way to get started?

 

[tdukex]

You can use your computer.

Get Cakewalk Music Creator software ($29 at Best Buy):
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1051806835571&skuId=4865408&type=product


Get a cheap Behringer mixer/preamp ($59 at 8thstreet):
http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=8173&Category=Mixers

Plug your mics and guitar into the mixer.

Plug the mixer into your computer sound card's "line in."

Hit "Record" and away you go.

 

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Or this:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep03/articles/zoom.htm?session=4b4075c820274bec91810aadce53deb5

This review also mentions a few similar units you could look in to if this is the type of thing you're after.

 

[lumbago]

If your PC has a USB connection, and is Pentium 3 or better, with 256 kB of RAM or more, and 1GB free disk space, look at getting

a cheaper well-known mic like a Shure SM-58 ($99) http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/270101/,

a Tascam US122 audio adaptor ($199)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/240868/, which converts mic signal to a USB signal.

download a copy of Audacity (free) (www.audacity.sourceforge.net)

or n-tracks ($69) (www.fasoft.com) (free limited trial available).

You may already have a soundcard and some recording software with it. If this is the case, then a small mixer (Yamaha MG10/2 - $99)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=live/search/detail/base_pid/630048/
will plug into your sound card and will accept a mic. and direct instrument connections, and you can skip the purchase of the tascam unit above.

There are cheaper options, but you need a little quality in these items to make the process simple, and to be able to ask others who use the products how best to use them. Otherwise you'll be grappling with unknown junk which causes more grief than satisfaction.