I'm sure this has been beaten to death...

[miketrondson]

I have never used anything other than a 4 track recorded to record demo tracks.

I just bought this laptop ( http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9167652&st=HP+pavillion+laptop&type=product&id=1218041150023 ) and I want to record some acoustic tracks and demo guitar, bass and keyboard tracks into it.

What would I need to get started? I'm not looking to record albums or anything, just something to toy around with.

Thanks!

[Esrb99]

how many tracks are you recording at once? if you're recording a full drum kit, then an audio interface (takes mic/1/4" inputs into usb/fw digital...) with 8 inputs is what you need, at the very least. if no drums, then think this: how many instruments are you gonna plug in and record at one time? get an interface with that number of inputs, at the very least. if one instrument at a time, just get a one or two track interface.

be sure that your interface is compliant with vista- drivers for vista can be shaky depending on the maker. be sure your interface will plug into your laptop (not all laptops have FW)

most interfaces will come with cubase. if not, look for cubase 4 or 5, or the latest version of sonar.

if you want to record keyboard as MIDI, make sure your interface has a midi in/out, or buy an external midi interface (midi to usb usually) for it. if not, just mic the keyboard amp.


hope this helps!!!

[miketrondson]

I haven't really thought about recording drums. Right now, something just more reliable then an analog fourtrack for demo-ing electric guitar tracks so I can write parts. Also, something that can do acoustic guitar, keyboard and vocals really well.

What kind of interface would you recommend?

[The Boathouse]

I'm going to say something a bit weird, but...

That analog 4 track is already more than you need for that purpose. I use a handheld tape recorder now. This is after several years of using multi-input firewire shit with garageband, blah blah blah...

It just seems that if I need so many toys to write, maybe I should work on the writing a bit more, and less on the recording.

[Esrb99]

http://www.zzounds.com/item--MDOFTULTRA

would be alright to get started- the preamps on budget stuff usually suck anyways, so no worries about that. this would be great to start off with, as it has 6 in/out and midi.

[theguy77]

dude above me knows what hes talking about for sure, but i would disagree about 6 inputs/outputs as a starting point. really the only thing i can think of that you would need more than 2 inputs to record is drums, so if you're gonna get more than two why not just go all out and get the 8 to 10 you need for drums? i just dont feel like having 6 benefits you at all if you cant mic a whole drum set but its not like you need 4 inputs for anything, at least not to my knowledge, unless you're micing an entire orchestra and want to hang a mic over each section or something.

[miketrondson]

I'm going to say something a bit weird, but...

That analog 4 track is already more than you need for that purpose. I use a handheld tape recorder now. This is after several years of using multi-input firewire shit with garageband, blah blah blah...

It just seems that if I need so many toys to write, maybe I should work on the writing a bit more, and less on the recording.

Well, the thing with my four track is that I can never get it to sound just right. It's an old tascam from like 10 years ago. I figured recording onto my computer and having virtual settings for everything would be better than fussing with switches and knobs. Also, when I show the ideas to my band, it's a lot more neat and can be emailed if necessary rather than rewinding through cassette after cassette.

It would help me come up with better leads if I could just get the basics recorded and get back to them easier.

[miketrondson]

If I did go with something like that M-audio, is it easy to format it with different software? Like cubase, garage band or Adobe Audition?

dude above me knows what hes talking about for sure, but i would disagree about 6 inputs/outputs as a starting point. really the only thing i can think of that you would need more than 2 inputs to record is drums, so if you're gonna get more than two why not just go all out and get the 8 to 10 you need for drums? i just dont feel like having 6 benefits you at all if you cant mic a whole drum set but its not like you need 4 inputs for anything, at least not to my knowledge, unless you're micing an entire orchestra and want to hang a mic over each section or something.

Would this be more suitable? http://www.guitarcenter.com/M-Audio-Fast-Track-Pro-Mobile-USB-Audio-MIDI-Interface-103520185-i1126084.gc

[Esrb99]

that would work just as well.

most interfaces work with near all daw (software) the exception being protools usually (need digidesign interface for that one...) I just cited one that had MIDI, that was the first I saw. the one you linked above would work just as well.

[splitsecond]

If I did go with something like that M-audio, is it easy to format it with different software? Like cubase, garage band or Adobe Audition?



Would this be more suitable? http://www.guitarcenter.com/M-Audio-Fast-Track-Pro-Mobile-USB-Audio-MIDI-Interface-103520185-i1126084.gc

if you are going to go that route, you may as well pop for an Mbox or Mbox mini. I have avoided learning protools, and I wish I hadnt, because it would have been really helpful when we were in the studio to be able to get fully into what we were doing.

[theguy77]

Would this be more suitable? http://www.guitarcenter.com/M-Audio-Fast-Track-Pro-Mobile-USB-Audio-MIDI-Interface-103520185-i1126084.gc

yeah i mean since both are different segmentations of the same model i'd assume they use the same preamps on each input, im just saying the extra 200 dollars for four more inputs will probably be a waste for what you're using it for. when you want to record drums then just go all out and get something with 8 or 10 inputs.

[miketrondson]

I appreciate everyone's help. This is the first time I've ever gotten into digital recording on my own.