I am interested in being able to record my piano playing. I started doing some research but I am really confused and most articles talk about a bunch of stuff that I don't think I really need. I am just wondering what would be the minimum software and hardware I would need to do a good quality recording with my laptop. Also how do I know if my laptop is good enoug to do recording? A lot of things I have read talk like you need a special sound card. What kind of microphones would you recommend for piano? I would also be interested in recording my playing with a singer or a chamber music group. Would it be best to have 1 or 2 other microphones for this? I am not interested in any multitrack recording or editing right now but in the future I might want to try editing my recordings.
The ideas of "good quality recording" and "recording my playing with a singer or a chamber music group" sit uncomfortably with the idea of not dealing with "a bunch of stuff that I don't think I really need". If you are thinking about good quality recordings with piano, singer and or chamber group, then at some stage you will have to come to grips with what's required.
You have a lot of questions which suggest that you are relatively new to the field of recording. So you need to start small and work your way into it.
Some thoughts:
1 most current laptops are capable for dealing with general purpose recording and can deliver good quality.
2 you will need to get an audio interface (or a mixer with a built-in interface), because most laptops and PC's have soundcards that are not designed for quality recording. These interfaces usually provide phantom power which you are likely to need for recording piano (or ensemble). Phantom power is required for condensor microphones which would be my recommendation for your recording purpopses.
3 you will need a pair of condensor mikes to record your piano. You can aslo use these to record an ensemble.
4 you will need reasonable quality speakers to listen to your recording efforts.
5 you will need to spend a lot of time learning the recording craft. Recording, like any other human activity (making furniture, being a chef, driving a racing car) requires skill, knowledge and expertise. There is no avoiding this.
