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[Shred The Ganja]

I am looking to quit using my crappy 4 track for recording and want to move on to something computer based. I want to be able to program drums and record several tracks to make decent demos..in a good price range.

So, my question is...what gear do i need to accomplish this goal within a decent price range, 300$ or less.

I have a good labtop with windows XP on it. I have heard many people talk about the "V-AMP". Does this unit require an interface? Will I need to purchase a recording program?

Drums, FORBIDDEN i hoping you can point me in the right direction with programming drums (i saw your TBDM covers, awesome job!). Whats the best way to program drums? I have heard putting samples into fruity loops works great and DKFM is good too.

Finally....Once i record guitars and program drums will i need a program like cakewalk or something to mix the different tracks in?

any advice will help, thanks.

[Subjugate]

wish i could help you here, also i was wondering if anyone knew a good way to learn about audio engineering in general, like where to start and stuff like that. May be i should make a new thread about that

[INCINERATE]

I am looking to quit using my crappy 4 track for recording and want to move on to something computer based. I want to be able to program drums and record several tracks to make decent demos..in a good price range.

So, my question is...what gear do i need to accomplish this goal within a decent price range, 300$ or less.

I have a good labtop with windows XP on it. I have heard many people talk about the "V-AMP". Does this unit require an interface? Will I need to purchase a recording program?

Drums, FORBIDDEN i hoping you can point me in the right direction with programming drums (i saw your TBDM covers, awesome job!). Whats the best way to program drums? I have heard putting samples into fruity loops works great and DKFM is good too.

Finally....Once i record guitars and program drums will i need a program like cakewalk or something to mix the different tracks in?

any advice will help, thanks.

Well, the V-Amp is a amp modeler - not actually needed if you already have an amp.

For recording software, I believe you can pick up the light version of Cubase for $50. Sometimes with lower end recording interfaces, this software is included.

As for a cheap computer based recording interface, I'll let someone else answer that one as mine new was $700.

You'd also need one or two mics to mic your amp, and either a mic preamp or mixer

Amp-->Mic-->Preamp/Mixer-->Computer Interface-->Recording Software

[ChAAPY]

I recommend EZDrummer with DKFH for drums, BUT at the same time I would discourage it too. EZDrummer rules cause it's meant to be "mix ready" (everything is already compressed and eq'd so more compression and eqing tends to be a losing battle) but it sucks because almost EVERYONE now uses it so it's very easy to hear a song and go, "that guy used EZDrummer for drums".

FORBIDDEN hooked me up with Fruity Loops 4.1 and all his samples waaaaay back so I would suggest that to start off since that's how I started.

and yes, get the VAMP for direct in recording. shit is wonderful!

as for the software program where your recording/mixing will be done in - I suggest the obvious 2, Pro-Tools or Cubase (SX3 or 4).... d/l them to try it out before you shell out hundred of dollars for them (or keep the downloaded version, hehe). But I've heard you can't crack Pro-Tools. I say Cubase SX3 if you want to d/l it cause 4 hasn't been cracked yet. I bought Cubase 4 and fucking love it, but it's $800 unless your a student (I got it for $400). Check out SX3 though.

BTW, your recording of guitars and drums doesn't need to be exported into another software program to mix (you can, but I don't see the point), you usually mix where you record (as far as home recording goes). so if your record everything in Pro-Tools, you'll mix everything in Pro-Tools as well.

so in summary:

VAMP (just get the regular one, no need to get the Pro version if your not looking to spend more than $300) - $50-$80
Cubse SX3, Cool Edit Pro or Adobe Audition - virtually free if you know where to look. <3 torrents
Drums - Ask FORBIDDEN for FL4 and the samples. I think he's got a zip of it all already.
Interface - Something with really good AD/DA converters. Don't worry about the sample rate and bit depth too much. Spend the rest of your money on this though - $220 - $250

just my 2 cents

[ruonitb]

I would recommend you an audio interface; I think thats the best solution for a laptop-user.

What I´m using at the moment is the toneport ux2 by lin6. It´s an external audio interface with 2 instrument inputs and 2 xlr inputs.
You can basically record guitar, bass and vocals with it...though you could also record drums with 2 mics with it or connect a mixer to the interface and record the drums with more mics.

The toneport is of course also a soundcard...so, its all in one...and it´s pretty cheap. It includes the modelling software gearbox...you can upgrade it with more sounds and if you have all upgrades it´s the same as the podx3 (soundwise) + you can upgrade it to use it as vst effect in your sequencer.

I´m using cubase sx3 at the moment and ez drummer to program drums.

I don´t really recommend you any version of cubase when you are getting started...you will have no idea what to do!
I started out with some simple software like cool edit...there are also free progs like audacity or cristal which should be enough for a beginner.


Though, if you want to use vst plugins (like ez drummer) you need a sequencer which supports vst plugins.

And usually you will have a sequencer software with which you mix and record.
I record/program everything in cubase and mix everything in cubase.


Hope I helped you a bit. :)

[Ouroboros]

Interface - Something with really good AD/DA converters.

Yeah that is the most important thing. If the conversion from analog (electrical) signal to digital 1's and 0's sucks, then all of your recordings will suck. You will constantly battle with digital distortion and/or aliasing problems.

I would personally say, stay away from Pro Tools. Don't bother shelling out the money for an MBox, because their pre-amps are garbage. You could get an M-Audio interface for Pro Tools M-Powered, but I personally think dealing with PT is really a bitch. The interface is ugly as fuck, too.

I recommend Cubase, Adobe Audition, or if you're a Mac user, Logic 8.

Look into FocusRite pre-amps, they used to make the pres for earlier MBox's which are actually decent. The ART Tubefire8 (http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?id=130&cat=1&type=79) is amazing. I have this one myself and it is excellent for a mid-range interface ($450).

As for something with only two channels, I'm not sure what to recommend. The TonePort seems decent, but see if you can find the brand of AD/DA converters, and I could tell you if it is worth buying.

ART also makes some tube driven 2 channel interfaces, but they use cheap electronics for their MP line, so I wouldn't recommend it.

[F0RBIDDEN]

Cheapest setup for stuff you're doing would be sort of what I do at home here...

V-Amp 2 for all direct guitars $100
Fruityloops for drums $Free$
Cool Edit Pro 2.0 for recording (super simple and awesome program, no good for full on productions compared to what's out there, but I still use it all the time, it owns) $Free$

You can either plug the V-Amp straight into your computer's soundcard (will work fine in most cases, works for me) or you can buy a small external interface such as an M-Box, or one of the small EMU or M-Audio units. Tons of stuff available. I use an M-Audio Fast Track Pro. I wouldn't recommend it though, it's a buggy little piece of shit.