very basic advice for iBook

[danieljvogel]

hello all, any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. I don't know much about digital recording, so I figured this would be a good place to ask. I am pretty experienced with analog recording, but mostly just 4-tracks. Anyway, I am going to get an iBook G4, and basically want to find a way to set up a high-quality home recording studio on a pretty cheap budget. I have a Roland Groovebox drum machine, and would like to be able to interface that through my machine and use its sounds and capabilities. I also want to be able to record bass, guitar, and vocals. Ideally I would love to have the ability to use built in effects on stuff I record, like flange, phaser, chorus, etc. The greater the level of digital manipulation the better. So I think I basically need some sort of hardware to plug guitars and mics in, as well as software to record, mix, manipulate, etc. I don't know much about MIDI, but that seems like something I might be able to use as well. Again, any advice would be appreciated, obviously my knowledge of this is pretty rudimentary. Thanks in advance...

 

[vollyguy11]

m-audio makes a good external recording box and then you can manipulate the tracks with the software.

 

[danieljvogel]

one more thing

I should add that I would be willing to spend around $500 at the absolute most (less is obviously preferred) on any hardware or software that I would need.

 

[notbradsohner]

Well, first, you will need some kind of audio interface first. If you have firewire capabilities, I suggest using that first. Firewire is much better for recording. I would suggest this

if you want to go lower, or do not have firewire, the USB route is for you. I have had good results with one of these

as for software, it is a dime a dosen these days, its really your pick based on how much you want to spend. Mose software programs can do basic editing and come with basic effects, but you can also buy after-marked effects for your computer. I would suggest something like n-tracks or sonar. These are very good editing programs to start out on, but you can upgrade later if you would like.

MIDI: This is kind of a hard subject to explain, but since you have a drum machine, I assume it has midi capabilities. This will basically allow you to use the drum machine with your computer. You will need an interface like this to interface them. Midi can also be used with keyboards and such, basically to trigger any sound in the computer.

 

[danieljvogel]

thanks

that's a good start. anything else?