Please help me!

[berlinschool]

Hello,
I’m trying to find the most suitable means of recording in decent quality for the following purposes.

-Using my synth to record as audio to my computer
-Using my synth to record as a midi controller for a program with nice software synths
-Recording bass audio to my computer
-Recording direct vocals to my computer
-Software with a comprehensive mixing scheme

Assuming I know nothing about recording music which software should I use (I’ve been told protools/logic)? What piece of hardware do I need to physically connect the synth (Yamaha Motif S-90 ES) to a mid-grade computer? I’m looking to spend about $1000 (usually buy things used not retail). If you’re kind enough to respond I REALLY need things spelled out for me in this regard. Thanks in advance!

 

[gecko zzed]

If you intend to just record one track at a time (or possibly two tracks simultaneously) you can get by with a comparatively inexpensive USB interface. This takes over the role of your computer's onboard soundcard. This will capture the audio from your synth, bass (via line in) and vocals (via mike input). If you want to use your synth as a midi controller, then you need to make sure that the interface has midi in and out. (Alternatively, your synth may have USB, in which case you don't need the midi on your interface, and go straight to computer via USB).

This is the key piece of hardware you need. All your recording, monitoring and playing back is done through this. You will, of course, need some respectable speakers to do this with.

There are many choices of software: Cubase, Cakewalk, Logic (now Mac only), PT, Reaper and so on. All will do what you want, so it is a a matter of personal taste and economics. I recommend Reaper. Some come with software synths (VSTi), but there are many that you can download.