OK, let me have it!

[backbone]

Let's start by saying I'm ignorant.

This is what I have:

old PC w/ firewire adapter
NEI 1622 16ch mixer
Peavey M-2600 amp
Alesis midiverb 2
old cabinets

This is what I'm getting:

MOTU 2408 II
2-3 SM57's

This is what I need:

?????


I haven't done ANYTHING musically in about 15 years.
But my son who's 10 listened to one of my old punk bands the other day and wants to try it himself. Especially after I told him how young Redd Cross was.
After I told a friend about his interest I was gived the above cra... err stuff.
Some of it I think was my old stuff from 15 years ago.

Anyway's I really am clueless about this PC type of recording.
All I really want is something to sound at least as good as the old Tascam 4 track.

Is there anything I'm not thinking of.
I know I need recording software for the pc, any free ones?
TIA

 

[notbradsohner]

you need good monitors.

free software- www.audicity.com
cheap software- www.fasoft.com

 

[backbone]

Thanks for the software links.
So I'm not too bad off w/ what I've got /getting?
If you can think of antything else please let me know.
Thanks

 

[jimmycs780]

what is your son doing? Guitars? Drums? remixing your old demos?
This will help to determine what you will need

 

[Chris Shaeffer]

Welcome aboard, backbone!

Nothing wrong with old stuff!! I've actually built a great sounding studio around 20 year old gear. The stuff you've got is fine. Hooking it all up to make the best us of it might be a little tricky, but you've got a better start than most.

As for what else you need--- Jimmycs780 has the right question: what are you planning to do? It won't be hard at all with what you've got planned to better than 4-track sound quality, but HOW you do it depends on what you're doing.

So... whatcha doin'?

Chris

 

[backbone]

I'm going to record his vocals w/ new rocordings of some of my old stuff w/ a friend playing guitars.
Also (when I can afford a real 2 real) remix some of the original w/ his vocals and mine. Should be intersting Christmas gifts. hahaha.

I'm lacking in mic's right now tho.
Today I just got enough cords to even get it up and running.
I have these very old PolyTone jazz cabinets that actually sound pretty good considereing how old and what they look like.

Put the kid on the mic and he already started writing his first song.
My friends and I freaked, A song about me called Timebomb.
About how all of a sudden I blow up when he's messin around. I love it. lol

What should I keep in mind for this type of recording?

 

[DavidK]

What should I keep in mind for this type of recording?

The learning curve for the software is steep.

I have been cakewalk and Sonar for years, easy for me now. I just got Ableton Live with my soundcard, and its like reading chinese. I forgot just how much it takes to really learn these programs.

Computer recording kicks ass, but be prepared to hang out here, ask a lot of questions and mainly read a lot of threads.

 

[backbone]

I just dnloaded n-Track.
Just looked at it so far, as I have no interface as yet.
Is this studio OK to start w/?

Also, If I get a MOTU 2408 w/o the card can I still connect it somehow?