Wot to get right now?

[walt8]

I have an opportunity to get a base desktop (tower) computer to do music production.
My partner has Sonar 8, I've been learning on 3. I'm learning MIDI.

Where do we start?

What we have is a house in the country, space.

To be able to catch mandolin to vocals to crunchy blues and huge drums. Hardware we got.
I think we need a mixer w good mic pre's first, then firewire'd to the mainframe.

RAM? Gig's? Tera's?(?)

I'm just starting w my laptop and all of a sudden I'm helping w something lots bigger!

 

[guitaristic]

My mind is blown by your English.

 

[brother rat]

My mind is blown by your English.

Mind doubly blown.

I have an opportunity to get a base desktop (tower) computer to do music production.
My partner has Sonar 8, I've been learning on 3. I'm learning MIDI.

Where do we start?

You start by giving the specs on this computer, and then we can let you know if it's adequate for music production or not.

What we have is a house in the country, space.

Wonderful. Take a walk and enjoy it.

To be able to catch mandolin to vocals to crunchy blues and huge drums. Hardware we got.
I think we need a mixer w good mic pre's first, then firewire'd to the mainframe.

Then you actually don't got hardware.

RAM? Gig's? Tera's?(?)

I'm just starting w my laptop and all of a sudden I'm helping w something lots bigger!

A physically larger computer (desktop vs. laptop) doesn't mean that your projects will be any bigger. You really gotta give some better info for anyone to be able to help you out.

 

[mjbphotos]

A good audio interface will have good preamps. You probably don't need a mixer. Choose an interface based on the maximum number of inputs/channels you want to record at one time.

You said you had 'hardware', but not what you have. Monitors? Mics/stands/cables?

 

[arcadeko]

I have an opportunity to get a base desktop (tower) computer to do music production. I think we need a mixer w good mic pre's first, then firewire'd to the mainframe.
RAM? Gig's? Tera's?(?)

A desktop computer is not a mainframe.

But since you want some answers - I am just going to give you a shopping list.

1. Newegg.com - HP Compaq 6000 Pro Core 2 Duo 4GB 64-bit
2. Alesis Multimix-16 USB 2.0 - 16 Channel Recording
3. Instrument Mics Shure SM57 - microphone
4. Vocal Mics https://homerecording.com/bbs/equipment-forums/microphones/mics-under-$100-just-may-work-you-302579/





A little research will answer most of your questions.

USB/Firewire Computer Interface:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...ltitrack-computer-interface-recording-323561/

General Recording Resources:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...es/internets-best-recording-resources-292253/

https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...iques/acoustic-guitar-recording-101-a-290919/

https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...mputers/music-making-computer-dummies-301908/

Phantom Power Explained:
Phantom Power Explained

https://homerecording.com/bbs/gener...le-multi-track-recording-setup-advice-323423/

Great Book On Mixing: Amazon.com: Mixing Audio: Concepts, Practices and Tools (9780240520681): Roey Izhaki: Books

And for software, if you haven't already get Reaper
REAPER | Audio Production Without Limits

 

[guitaristic]

And to add to the information stuff...

Tweak's Guide to the Home and Project Studio

It's a great read.