the first step

[annemitch]

where do i start? i know nuthing about recording except that i want to record some of my songs, vocals acoustic and electric guitars drums, i will soon be buying a new laptop, can anyone help me with the computer requirements, i want to find out everything i need to make my own CD's, i am thinking of two possible outcomes, 1. to get the aardvark24 system and whatever else i need to make CD's and 2. to set up as cheaply as possible to create half decent CD's, i need to see just how much gear i need to buy so i can come up with a couple of prices then decide which way to go, any help would certainly be . . . helpful, regards, mitch

 

[ron82]

- microphone (a dynamic one like the cheap but loved shure sm58 will probably do for the beginning - although u may b dissappointed by the quality, as for acoustic guitar and vocals, depending on how high ur goals are.. but this shure mic is a good mic anyway.. i would start with it)

- good cables. dont get cheap cables, ur signal will only be as good as the weakest link in ur signal chain..

- mixer: get at least a small mixer (behringer makes cheap ones, most pro's hate them, most beginners (also alot of advanced users) love them - they will get u where u wanna go and r sure nice for the money.. important here r the number of XLR (mic) inputs - u may want to record two sources at once, or one source with two mics.. the ub802 is a popular, cheap and small behringer mixer with two inputs (but i would get a bigger one, there is more than mic inputs to a mixer lol)

- soundcard: do a search in the soundcard part of this forum, ppl constantly ask about which card to get etc.. but u will need a better soundcard than the one that comes with your comp (i dont know about laptops, so b sure about the compatibility!)

- mixing software: well personally i use cubase sx, but only because i never touched anything else.. lol

PS: i dunno what the aardvark thing is (mixer, soundcard?) - so i just gave u general recommendations for all the gear..