Question on Setting Up Studio/Sequencer

[dmossjr]

Hi all -

Brand new to this, but not new to music. I took the advice on my last post and read "Home Recording for Dummies" - great beginning book that cleared up a lot of my questions. BUT, I still feel like I'm just not getting the connection between where one ultimately mixes - let me clarify my question. Here's what I want to do:

Record some new songs with Vocals, Piano, & Virtual instruments (strings, etc - music is orchestral).

Record accompaniment traxs for a Church Choir, also piano and Virtual strings, etc.

Here's what I've decided to purchase:

Boss entry leve 8-track studio-in-a-box
Audio Technica Large Diaphragm Mic for singing/piano recording
A possible upgrade from Cubase LE -or- another sequencing software
I already have a Yamaha Clavinova to act as midi with Audio Kontrol USB

Here's where my mind breaks down:

I get that I'll record the vocals and piano into the digital recorder. But then what? Do I put that into the computer and then add the instruments? Or do I record the instruments and bring them on the digital recorder? Where do I pull the final mix from?

Can anyone explain the process...(in baby steps? LOL)

Thanks!

 

[mjbphotos]

Make up your mind - do you want to do this "in a box" - the stand-alone recorder - or in the computer? There's really no reason to use both.

 

[dmossjr]

I think that's the heart of my question - making up my mind - because I'm not quite sure of the process. Is the point that I would use Virtual instruments through my Midi and record on one of the tracks in the "studio in a box"? then mix from there? I keep reading stuff about putting your recorded vocals/piano into a sequencer....

Just confused, and trying to make sure I buy the most appropriate entry-level kind of set up.