Advice on Setup? Recording Budget-Hobby-Guitar Songs / Rap

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Member Since: Apr 21, 2009

Well.. I've been putting off this hobby for a LONG time (couple of years), because I don't know what to get. So hopefully I can FINALLY get an answer and start pursuing a little of my dream of making music.

so can I get some advice on my potential setup? I really don't want to spend a lot, as this is 'hopefully' an upcoming hobby. I just want to try it out, see how creative I can get, and just record some songs me and my roommate think of on our spare time 'for fun'.

Recording Type (Genre):
-Guitar (acoustic guitar and electric distorted guitar) (Metal,Rock,Country)
-Rap (downloaded instrumental + our vocals)

My Current Setup:
Computer with Windows 7
X-FI Platinum with Audio Bay for Recording (Too sucky for recording?)
Acoustic Guitar
Shure PG58 Microphone
2 Electric Guitars hooked up to a BOSS GT-8 Pedal'
Yamaha Digital Piano

So in total, we have (3) 1/4" Plugs
And for the microphone, a XLR input.

I don't really want to do an effects outside of using computer software, so what do I need to 'connect' everything together?

A mixer? When I looked at prices for those, they can get pretty high. But since I don't want to do much effects other than volume, highs, and lows, is there anything within a beginner's budget you can advise me to purchase?

I plan to use Adobe Soundbooth/Cool Edit to record, then do the effects and editing with the software.

Whether or not I decide to pursue to start a musical hobby and see if anything happens decides on if I can find suitable parts to purchase.

Thanks a LOT for your help.

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Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006


Apr 21, 2009 11:20 am

The XFI can record, but not well imo. The only thing I don't see you mention is drums so I assume you have something figured out for that.

Now, on the 3x1/4", I know two are for guitar and assume the other is for the keyboard. Will you be playing all three and singing at the same time? That would require 4 inputs of course, something like the echo audiofire 4..

www.zzounds.com...--ECHAUDIOFIRE4

Or if you plan on playing and singing seperate takes you could save some $$$ and get a two channel like the Line6 UX2..

www.zzounds.com.../item--LINPSUX2

If going two channels the Line6 is pretty nice as it can record two at once with seperate FX per channel. I know you say you don't want to do processing out of the box, but this is a different type imo. Skip the Boss pedal and you have the ability to configure a ton of different guitar/bass tones along with some nice vocal setups.

Oh, last but not least, Cool edit pro is not going to let you record seperate channels at one time as it does not support ASIO drivers (low latency multi in/out). You would be better to download a free app like Kristal..
www.kreatives.org/kristal/
Or a fully functioning shareware like Reaper which also supports midi (you can purchase a license for $50 if you love it)...
www.reaper.fm/purchase.php?l=1

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