POD into computer?

[starman65]

Hi, I'm a newbie here. Just starting out with home recording and wanted to know the following. I have a Line 6 POD 2 and a laptop computer. Am I able to plug my guitar into the POD 2 and then connect the POD to my laptop and record the guitar and POD direc into laptop? If so, what software do I need to install? Any good recording software for free available on the web?
Look forward to your advise. Star

 

[TimOBrien]

A) You need an external soundcard (interface)
Here's a good guide and tested suggestions: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm

B) Reaper www.reaper.fm

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My obligatory standard reply-for-newbies that I keep in Wordpad:

First off, immediately get a good beginner recording book (spend $20 before spending hundred$/thousand$) that shows you what you need to get started and how to hook everything up in your studio:
Home Recording for Musicians by Jeff Strong - $15
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/07...ce&n=283155&n=507846&s=books&v=glance
(Wish I'd had that when I started; would have saved me lots of money and time and grief)
You can also pick up this book in most any Borders or Barnes&Noble in the Music Books section!

Another good one is: Recording Guitar and Bass by Huw Price
http://www.amazon.com/Recording-Gui...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215734124&sr=1-1
(I got my copy at a place called Half-Price Books for $6!!)

And you can get a FREE subscription to TapeOp magazine at www.tapeop.com

Barnes&Noble or Borders are great places to start --- they have recording books and you can go get a snack or coffee and read them for FREE! Don't pass by a good recording book --- this is a VERY technical hobby and you REALLY want to start a reference library!!!

Good Newbie guides that also explains all the basics and have good tips:
http://www.tweakheadz.com/guide.htm
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/page/computermusic?entry=free_beginner_pdfs
http://www.harmony-central.com/articles/

21 Ways To Assemble a Recording Rig: http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm

Also Good Info: http://www.theprojectstudiohandbook.com/directory.htm

Other recording books: http://musicbooksplus.com/home-recording-c-31.html

Still using a built-in soundcard?? Unfortunately, those are made with less than $1 worth of chips for beeps, boops and light gaming (not to mention cheapness for the manufacturer) and NOT quality music production.
#1 Rule of Recording: You MUST replace the built-in soundcard.
Here's a good guide and tested suggestions: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm


Plenty of software around to record for FREE to start out on:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net (multi-track with VST support)
Wavosaur: http://www.wavosaur.com/ (a stereo audio file editor with VST support)\
Kristal: http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Other freebies and shareware: www.hitsquad.com/smm

Another great option is REAPER at http://www.cockos.com/reaper/ (It's $50 but runs for free until you get guilty enough to pay for it...)
I use Reaper and highly reccomend it...

Music Notation and MIDI recording: Melody Assistant ($25) and Harmony Assistant ($80) have the power of $600 notation packages - http://myriad-online.com
Demo you can try on the website.

And you can go out to any Barnes&Noble or Borders and pick up "Computer Music" magazine - they have a full FREE studio suite in every issue's DVD, including sequencers, plugins and tons of audio samples. (November 2006 they gave away a full copy of SamplitudeV8SE worth $150, November 2007-on the racks Dec in the US- they gave away SamplitudeV9SE. It pays to watch 'em for giveaways...)

 

[starman65]

Thanks for the reply Tim, there is a waelth of information here, all good and will delve into further. A couple questions:
1: I checked out the Reaper and it certainly looks like a great recording software, though you mention it is for free, yet it says it is only a "paid" download?

2: I recently purchased a Boss BR micro digital recorder. Would this cover alot of ground with my recordings, whereas I wouldn't need to downlaod computer software etc? Any tips on using this using this with a computer or the best way to utilize its' capabilities?

Much appreciated.

Star

 

[TimOBrien]

Read the license info on reaper.
It is $50, but the "demo" is the fully functioning program that just nags you at startup until you get guilty enough to pay for it (its worth it, but you can do some learning before you have to shell out any money.)

You can certainly start out on the Boss, but you will have MUCH more editing capability on your computer.

As with any audio device, you can take the line-out of the Boss to the line-in of a decent computer audio interface (and vice-versa) and shove files back and forth.... it's all up to you to decide how you want to work.