Recommend computer recording software/hardware

legologic

Right I'd like to start recording onto my lappy. It's a powerful enough machine for doing so, this i'm sure of. I was wondering tho' what's the best pre-amp or line in system for doing such things. Ideally I'd like to be able to record guitar/bass but also maybe vocal and mic'd brass instruments. Won't be looking to record shredding or anthing more a warm kinda sound (or as close as digital recording comes to such a thing).

My friend has a line6 and adobe audition. While I liked it's ease of use I thought it was a bit harsh sounding and toneless. I'm also looking for good simple multi-tracking software. advanced software I can do but just don't want anything with a lot of pointless add-ons.

Have no planned budget at the moment as I have no idea how much this kinda stuff costs. I'm grand for micing and mixing just looking for the computer side of stuff.

Thanks

cornbb

You'll need an audio interface with mic and line inputs for recording good quality guitar/bass. These usually connect via usb or firewire in the case of laptops and cost maybe 200-400 euros. Something like the Digidesign M-Box or Edirol UA 25. Most of them come with something like Cubase LE or ProTools LE software which are decent enough to start you off recording.

Abby D Cody

If you're starting from scratch, get your pencil and paper ready:

Windows/Mac:
Cubase VST, 400+ euro
Cool Edit Pro (a.k.a. Adobe Audition), 349 euro

Linux (O/S for PCs or Macs):
Ardour, free (http://ardour.org/) or Rose Garden, free (http://www.rosegardenmusic.com/)
Audacity, free (http://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/)

and for those additional necessities,
Office equivalent, OPEN OFFICE, free
Photoshop equivalent, The Gimp, free
Adobe Premiere equivalent, CINELERRA, free
etcetera

For most computer composing purposes, Cubase or Ardour are almost all you need, if your computer can handle the multiple audio tracks plus real-time effects (eq, verb, chorus etc), while for recording live signals Cool Pro or Audacity can multi-track as well as providing all the effects you'll never need.

I recommend you spend the bulk of your dosh on a good sound card. I don't know what's available for lap-tops, but you can probably pick up something suitable that runs off the USB. Be choosey about selecting your MIDI interface, if you're going to sequence external synths/drum machines (recommended, but again potentially expensive) unless your laptop already has one built in, otherwise think about the future.

If you are considering the Linux route, and I believe everyone should if only for the added stability and reliability, you won't have to dump your windows stuff unless you want to as there are plenty of Live Linux CDs about, some music-specific, and you can also dual-boot. But most importantly, you'll save a small fortune on the software (Microsoft licencing arrangements are what makes most Windows software so expensive), and these are savings you can put towards your hardware; though a small word of caution: before buying, make sure your hardware is supported. Linux is designed by the people who use it and not everyone has the same tastes in equipment.

And listen to the guys in the shops with discretion. With a very few exceptions, they don't know what they're talking about when it comes to Linux compatability.

Just saw this article, it's a bit old, but it covers most of the salient points: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/Feb03/articles/linuxaudio.asp
in case you become interested in Linux (which, incidentally, as a powerful and more internet-secure alternative to the Windows operating system, is - can you guess? - free (http://www.linux.org/))

I'm just extolling, not flogging... (it's free, in case I forgot to mention that)

DSLC

Just to follow up on the previous post: if you want to try out a GNU/Linux solution, you might find a thread I started on Free Audio Software useful. While I had a much steeper learning curve when I switched to free software, it was very much worth it. I now have DeMudi/AGNULA - a GNU/Linux operating system customised for multimedia - installed on three different machines. It has more audio software than I will probably ever use.