Newbie here - help please

[NYCRocker]

Hi everyone,
First of all, I've never used my computer to record before, I am BRAND new at this, so please bear with me. I'm used to my Tascam 488 portastudio - but I downloaded "Pro Tools Free" just out of curiousity. I had NO idea how to physically plug into my computer. Okay so I just learned I need some kind of "audio interface". So I went to the Guitar Center and they showed me things like Mbox, etc, so here is my question Do you mean to tell me I have to spend like $400 just to have some kinda port to plug my guitar into? I'm not trying to be a cheap bastid, but I really didn't expect to pay that much. Any advice on what interface to buy? Suggestions please??? Thank you kindly.

 

[c7sus]

You could go with a SoundBlaster card for well under $100 bucks. That will give you two analog I/O.

But you won't be happy with that for long.

You don't need a soundcard with onboard preamps, you're better off buying those seperately, IMHO.

There's tons of options available.

How many simultaneous ins and outs do you need?

Plugging an electric guitar straight into a soundcard doesn't work. You either need to mic an amp (best option) or use a Direct Injection box (DI). The DI will match impedence from the guitar to the LINE IN level that the soundcard wants to see.

Read this for starters. It will give you some of the basics.

http://www.homerecording.com/digital.html

Welcome to upgrade hell.

 

[MichaelM]

A complaint about Pro Tools Free. Not really relevent here ->

It's not meant for Windows XP. Me being curious decided to change the comatibility settings for the install program to windows 2000. Next thing I new I had Pro Tools installed, but of course it wouldn't run under XP, nomatter what the compatibility settings for the exe were. So I free up some disk space... Go to control panel, add/remove programs, click remove ProTools FREE. The uninstall program won't even run in XP, had do delete files by hand.....
Moral of the story? Umm.... Yeah...

What c7 said.

 

[WingaDing]

I'm plugged into my soundcard, but I haven't fiddled around enough to know when or if I'll want to buy a PX-149 Unit with a modified Therman Extension that's compatible with an Amana ice maker. However, if you do buy a soundcard or find you already have one, then you'll probably need to get an adapter for the plug on your guitar cable. I figured that out at about 11:00 at night when I first downloaded recording software. That was a drag. Anyway, I got mine at Radio Shack for $1.24. Yeah, they ripped me off, but it is the triple deluxe ST457.5piR2 model.