Need advice - home recording

DogSlySmile

Hey

I need advice on what equipment/software I need to record music on my computer. I have NO experience in this area - so all advice is welcome!

What kind of soundcard should I be looking for? Does anybody out there use any specific cpu programs that they can recomend?

If anyone has any advice (or tips on recording in general) it would be much appreciated!!

Cheers

white_falcon

Depends what kind of money you would like to spend on this. Basically what I have is an external soundcard (which is nearly always the best):

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FireWire410-main.html

This is an amazing soundcard for the price. In terms of what kind of software to use, this is like asking how long a piece of string is. The best is Protools, but this costs a bomb and takes a lot of processing power to run with all the plug-ins. Other ones you can use that are very good are Reason, Fruityloops and Cubase. Also with the m-audio soundcard I linked you to, you get a free demo of Abelton Live Lite 5, which is good for starting off.

dino4t3

yeah..M-audio are good budget cards.
and if you are just starting, try some of the freebie software as well..best one i've seen so far is Reaper... fully functional multitrack. Really good

dino4t3

oh, eh..is your computer a PC or MAC?

DogSlySmile

Its a Pc. cheers for the advice on the m-audio card, ill check that one out

Px

Check out the magazine and web site of computer music:
http://www.computermusic.co.uk/main.asp

Lots of tips for the beginner and loads of demo's of software etc.

It got me on my way when I moved to digital

The Boarder Man

Hey guys, I'm getting a new PC and would grateful for any advise people might have with regard to soundcards.
Here's the three I'm considering:

E-MU 0404 Digital Audio System: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/3844

M-Audio Audiophile 192: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/4802

Echo MiaMIDI: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/2380

E-MU seems good for price and software, M-Audio seems good for features, Echo seems good for price too.

Thanks for any help.

Edit: Should have mentioned that I'll need the Midi connections an S/PDIF In and I'll be using it with a Boss GT8.

jimi_t

Good thread

Is there anything cheaper in an outboard USB unit with MIDI than the M-Audio Audophile?

http://www.thomann.de/thoiw6_maudio_usb_audiophile_audiointerface_prodinfo.html

cornbb

I'd recommend E-MU hardware. I'm using a 1616 laptop interface, the converters and excellent and the software bundle has more than enough stuff to get you started. I know people using M-Audio and Echo gear too, and they have had no problems. So really my reply is a bit pointless, isn't it

mike65

Soundblaster Live! Never did me any harm.

For software there are so many choices, if midi is important I'd go for Cakewalk rather than Cubase, I find it easier on the eye and more logical.

For audio try and get hold of the Summer Edition of Computer Music mag as they have a cut down but a still extensive programme called Samplitude V8 for free. When you buy a decent soundcard you usually get a sequencer goodie thrown in for free which you might find perfectly good for your purposes.

Mike.

counterpointaud

I use Samplitude and it's an amazing app....

Beats Pro Tools in my opinion, apart from the MIDI side of things and a few other little gripes like aux automation which is due to be fixed in version 9 this month.

Nathan

gline

great thread

i was just wondering which would be best for using with a set of vdrums (roland td6) into a pc, either midi connection or line in??