Newbie needs help Gear and Vaio anyone?

[LAXPatrick]

Ok, my goal is to record my acoustic with vocals and also my electric as well (probably just mic it - Twin Reverb) secondarily.

I've got a Sony Vaio PCV-RZ24G - it's a media computer with plenty of A/V inputs. Are those going to be useful for my task?

Predicting the hardware I'll need -

Mic
Preamp
Mixer

Software - I'll do the try-and-buy and supplement with great info from this board.

Main question is whether or not the PC will fit the bill or if I need to mod. I don't know if the A/V inputs will do the job I need for sound - looks like I've got right and left inputs up front and then 1/8 inputs in the back - both on the sound card's A/V channel and also a Line In on the PC (not with the A/V plugs).

Thanks,

Patrick

 

[ssscientist]

I've got a Sony Vaio PCV-RZ24G - it's a media computer with plenty of A/V inputs. Are those going to be useful for my task?

Yes, your computer is fine but the onboard sound devices are not useful.

I recommend this for a microphone, this as a replacement for the sound card, and either this or this as the software you'll need.

 

[LAXPatrick]

Cool...

Ok - that sounds like an ideal unit - especially since I've got Firewire built in.

How about a combo mic - like this 990/991?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/273166/

Or a 990/993 combo like this?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=rec/search/detail/base_pid/273168/

Though it looks like the one you've recommended has better frequency response.

Thanks for the help!!!

Patrick

 

[LAXPatrick]

Tascam?

What about a USB unit like the Tascam? I can get one locally for a great price - the US-122...

I've seen lots of good/few bad reviews on that one.

Thanks,

Patrick

 

[ssscientist]

There are lots of good microphones out there now, unlike five or seven years ago when a decent mic cost as much as a good used car. MXL makes fine mics as do Rode, CAD, StudioProjects, Samson, Behringer, Oktava and many others - all human-priced. If you think a different mic looks better than the Audio-Technica that I recommended --- buy it.

I have a Tascam US-122 and if it's the same price or cheaper than the Presonus Inspire, by all means grab it. It has a big advantage over most other audio interfaces in that it has an insert point in the mic/line path which allows you to insert a compressor (or EQ or any other 'through processer') which will eventually be a very good thing to have. When you buy a compressor, that is!

Computer recording doesn't need to be a complex or painful process - as long as you start with inexpensive, good quality gear and you put a little time into messing around with it and learning it you're almost guaranteed to get good results.