Newbie with Too Much Gear and Not Enough Knowledge

[pwaters1]

Hey there,

This is embarrassing to admit, but the title of this thread says it all: I kept purchasing gear and plug-ins thinking that somehow I was going to understand it all and be able to improve the quality of my recordings...but it's just not happening. So, if you care to help me, I would love it. Below I have listed everything I've got. If someone could take a look and advise me to focus on a few particulars or perhaps let me know how you would set it up, that would be great. A bit of background: I am a singer-songwriter who primarily just records for gifts to friends and family. Occasionally the guys in my neighborhood will come over and we'll record a live jam. We play acoustic and electric blues mainly. Vocals, too. Here's my gear:

* Sterling Audio ST55 condenser mic
* Shure SM57 mic
* Sterling Audio PHP1 Phantom Power Supply
* Line 6 Pod X3
* E-MU 0404 audio interface
* M-Audio Keystation 61es
* Beyer Dynamic DT 770 headphones
* Harman Kardon Soundsticks
* PC computer with Reaper, Audacity, Luxonix Purity, AmpliTube 2 Live + X-GEAR, RiffWorks Standard, Classik Studio Reverb, TRack S3 Vintage Compressor

If you were just setting up to record a song, what would you use? How would you set up? What would your workflow look like? Can I get rid of some of this stuff? Would it simplify matters if I upgraded my interface (god forbid I buy something else) with more ins and outs? (Currently I run S/PDIF between the interface and the Pod X3, which has caused some problems in the past in terms of the PC recognizing input.) Any help is appreciated.

PJ

 

[Chibi Nappa]

Get monitors. Then you can learn to use all of that stuff. Right now you have the audio equivalent of trying to learn Photoshop on an iPod screen.

 

[TheChikenMaster]

I know your not gonna like this but check this site out it might do you alot of good http://www.tweakheadz.com/ It is very important to learn your gear in and out. Experience will get you there.

Have fun.

 

[mjbphotos]

read read read.

Then start out simply. record a 2 or 3 track song one track at a time (keys/vocals/mic-ed guitar) using one mic, the EMU interface (you don't need the separate phantom power supply if you use condensor mic) and whichever software you have tried and know how to use (Reaper would be best/easiest to learn out of the choices - Audacity is easy but limited). Learn what you can do with sound, mic placement, etc before diving into heavy processing and 64-tracking.