New to Home Recording

[Ruefus]

Sorry for the lengthy post, but I'm looking to get into home recording for the first time. I'm a guitar player who has been in the studio numerous times, but never had equipment at home. I'm certain my PC is up to the task, and I know I need software and probably a card better than the SB Live! if I want good results.

Could some of you let me know what I really *need* to get started and/or point me to sites and magazines with good information? Right now I just want to get a feel for using the PC to record and capture my ideas to create some basic songs. Can I use the SB Live! as a basic starting point? Are there any shareware programs I can download that will let me at least capture my guitar and perhaps a drum track?

Any advice is appreciated. BTW - I've got access to a POD 2.0 for guitar stuff.

Thanks in advance.

 

[PapillonIrl]

Hi, Ruefus, and welcome.
N-Tracks ( www.fasoft.com ) is pretty cheap. Personally I like Cool Edit though, www.syntrillium.com .You can record with your current soundcard, but there is a world of difference when you step up. Check out the Delta range from M-Audio. I think its www.midiman.com but I could be wrong.

Also if you get into it, and decide you want to get serious about mixing your recordings. You will need to get a set of monitors. There have been a few threads about these recently, so you may want to do a search on this site.

 

[PapillonIrl]

Oh I forgot to ask...when you say 'drum track' are you talking about live drums or beats from a drum machine or beatmaking software ?

pAp

 

[Ruefus]

Thanks for the quick response. As for the drum track, it'll be from either a drum machine or a plug-in on the PC. Nothing "live".

 

[PapillonIrl]

Yeah, I see where you're coming from. I actually set up a system just the other day for a musician friend who was in pretty much the same boat. He wanted to use the computer as a writing tool while learning something about recording on the way. I convinced him to buy Cool Edit pro as it's what I learned on, and it's a very friendly and powerful program for a beginner.

pAp