Need some guidance.

[sMoKe sCrEaM]

First off, Happy new years to everyone!

This is my first time on this site. And im really impressed on how the cummunication is between everyone on the forums. (not that my opinion should matter to anyone) But just letting everyone know my point of veiw on the site.

Also, I purchase instrumentals from the streets and i stay writing lyrics to them. I also have a friend who creates beats. (hopefully i can get him on this site) But i wanted to know. If i have a beat on a cd, How can i record myself over them. Dont break my pockets guys. lol.

 

[Carter]

Do you have a computer? if so list the spec's.

 

[sMoKe sCrEaM]

well its a cheap one. im really embarrassed to post em up but here ya go.
20 gb, 300 mhz, intel processor, 128mb, ladies and gentlemen its actually running windows xp.

I had a superior pc compared to this one i have now. but thanx to my lil brother and his obsession of downloading games and all sorts of things i had to get rid of it. It really broke my heart.. But yea thats what i own now.. Do i really need a high performance pc?

 

[Carter]

I say that you need a more powerfull computer than that if you want a powerfull program and high track count and lots of plug ins, but with you doing Hip Hop you will only be recording one track at a time so I would give it a try until you can upgrade, this way you can get your feet wet before you spend a bunch of money.

Go to hitsquad.com and download a multitrack recording software program (different ones to choose from) for free and then also download a CD ripper program, Install both, take the CD and ripp it to .wav format and load it in the multitrack recording software on track 1.

After that you can record your vocals one at a time on the remaining tracks, I dont think you will get a high track count with that set-up maybe 8 if that, but you will get something.

Make sure that you use the line-in on your sound card, you also need a pre amp for your mic.

 

[noisedude]

You need a mic and a preamp. Something such as a Shure SM58 or Sennheiser E835 will be fine, and a little mini-mixer such as the Yamaha MG10/2 (if you can at all afford it) or the Behringer UB802 if you're really stuck for wad.

Then you need a couple of cables to hook it up to your computer as Carter said. You should be ok with that computer to start with at least!!

 

[Rokket]

Yeah, my pc only had 128mb ram when I started out too. If you are careful, you can make it work, but after about 12 tracks, you will start having some problems with your software if you start adding effects to the tracks. Keep them as dry as possible until you can upgrade. Use effects sparingly, and you should be alright with what you are doing.
Good luck!

 

[sMoKe sCrEaM]

Hey thanx alot Carter, i just finished downloading N-track studio v4.0.5 (multi track recorder) and a aone cd ripper 3.0. Now i tried picking out the best ones that are compatiable with my pc's performance's... Im a try to play with them like u suggested, until i upgrade this slug.. lol,

Noisedude thanx for the models of preamps, ima get on that right away. But whats a mini mixer. i'm kinda confused on that part. but its cool to be a padawan sometimes lol..

Thanx for the heads up on the max out 12 tracks rokket.. i'll repost to give u guys an update on how im performing with this.. thx again

 

[Flipmedia]

ram and xp

With those specs, your not going to be able to record boo without choking and crashing. XP takes a mininum of 128 Meg's of ram to run on its own smoothly so that leaves you zip to record with. I suggest either maxing your ram to 256 or 512 to start depending on your motherboard, or if you can't afford that go with win98se as your operating system it requires less ram to run and well allow you to at least record some tracks. In 1998 I bought a pentium II 350 with 128 Meg's of Ram and a layla card for almost 4k lol. This setup worked very well and allowed me to record about 16 tracks of 44.1 16 bit before coughing. Also you may want to check the specs of your hard disk. Anything less than 7200 RPM is gonna seriously affect your recording performance. If I were you I'd hold off on buying the mixer and mic's till you are sure your computer can handle it what your throwing at it. Otherwise drop your money into a new computer first.