Pure n00b question but still...

[Walls]

Hey, i'm currently considering getting into home recording, just using like audacity (which can handle 16 inputs at a time according to their website so that's grand) but am wondering what to do about an interface?

It's probably gonna be a laptop or an iBook i'll be using, am lookin something kind of portable. thing is i'm not really sure what way to interface this with the computer, soundcard wise.

Like if i buy one with say 8 1/4" TRS inputs, and i'm looking to use mics with XLR plugs, can i just use a converter, as long as its wired up correct like? I mean like will this result in decent enough sound quality?

Anyone any suggestions on soundcards that i could use? Not looking to spend craploads of money here like.

I'm looking to record multiple things simultaneously, like a whole drum kit you know?

And when it comes to using a preamp for the mics, i was thinking just like a behringer mixer or something, but if i'm using a mixer like that, does that mean i'm only gonna have a single output from the mixer (or at best an L/R output) and so i won't be able to record them simultaneously onto seperate tracks onto the pc? (like if i was recording 4 mics off a drumkit, put through the mixer for the preamp, would i have to get it down to an L and an R track before i go into the soundcard?)

What can i do then if i wanna have each mic seperate? Do all mics need a preamp before they reach a soundcard?

Sorry for the entire offensive newbieness about all this , lol i'm expecting to be told to shaft myself and use the search function, but no-where seems to be addressing such beginner crap like

cheers anyways

 

[tourettes5139]

No, I'm afrid that the converter idea won't work very well. You will need to preamp the mics in some fashion before they enter the soundcard. If you are using a mixer, the best way to keep the tracks seperate going into the computer is to use the inserts as direct outs (or use real direct outs if you have them). You just take a cable, and plug it into the first click, then go into the interface with those cables.

Since you will be using a laptop, the best way to go would be with firewire, or possibly USB if you don't plan on doing too many tracks at once. I think that the PreSonus firebox would do pretty well, but it all depends on what you want to do with it. There are a lot of options out there though, I just mentioned the PreSonus first because a lot of people like its big brother, the firepod.

Oh, BTW, go shaft yourself and use the search function.

And check out this link. Great article, and great site on acoustics as well.

 

[minofifa]

ya, if it fits yoru budget, the firepod is probably the best way to go. It is firewire so it is mobile, and it has 8 pretty good preamps built in. as mentioned, you do need preamps to boost your mic signals before they go through the A/D converters