What else would I need to record?

[TheGibbousPhase]

I'm new to all of this (the production part) and need some help.

I'm in the market for recording gear, I'm not looking for anything incredibly professional, just something to get the job done decently.

Here's what I'm looking to get:
Audio-Technica AT2020 (Non-USB)

And a Behringer Xenyx 802 Mixer

Is there anything else I would need to record? This would literally be ALL the equipment I would have, NOTHING else. So if am going to need something else please let me know.

Also, I'm running on a Dell Inspiron 530 2GB RAM and I'm not sure about the hard drive but it's stock and so is the sound card. Any and all help is appreciated.

 

[Waffleness]

Well, I am slightly confused. You say that all the equipment you have is a mixer and mic, then start talking about computer specs.

Could you describe your signal chain (i.e. mic-mixer-soundcard-software-monitors)?

 

[TimOBrien]

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...)

 

[TheGibbousPhase]

Well, I am slightly confused. You say that all the equipment you have is a mixer and mic, then start talking about computer specs.

Could you describe your signal chain (i.e. mic-mixer-soundcard-software-monitors)?

Sorry about the other thread, I thought I deleted that one.

Anyways, I don't have that stuff; those are items I want to buy, but I'm not sure if that's all I'm going to need. Here's how I see it: Mic (through XLR) to Mixer and the mixer to my PC (through RCA Audio Cable) directly into the mic input on my PC.

The specs for my computer where posted to see if my computer is 'worthy' enough to record. Thanks to you both for the responses.