Somebody help me! Confused!

[cfs005]

Okay, I'm a complete idiot when it comes to recording but I want to start recording some in a small studio I'm building in my home (7' x 12'). I basically want to record some acoustic guitar and vocals. Would like to layer harmonies over the lead vocals, etc. so I can do my own harmonies and have the acoustic track in there too.
I have a fairly new laptop computer, and I've heard some people mention buying a new sound card and software to record it all onto the computer and mix the tracks. It has a CD burner as well.
So if I buy the soundcard and some software, then how do I plug in the mics?

I've also saw the 4 track and 8 track (Fostex, etx) digital recorders like on eBay that, from what I'm reading, will allow me to record several tracks and layer them.
But from what I read on here, the PC is the way to go for ease and budget.

I basically just need to know how the most affordable way to get a very basic set-up in my makeshift studio. Would like to spend under $500 for the whole deal and the mics alone are already going to be about $150 or more.

Somebody please tell me exactly what I need to buy in addition to my PC to be up and recording.

Any idea/input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[BoTTanist]

Your signal path will go like this:

mic--> preamp--> I/O (inerface)--> computer (recording software)--> hard drive.

Presuming you have the mic(s) and a laptop, all you need is the preamp, the I/O and the software. I see on Seetwater's site that Digidesign just came out with the 'Mbox 2 mini.' It is an integrated pre and I/O (I/O converts the analog signal (from the mic) into a digital one (that the computer can use). The cost is $296 AND--it comes with Pro Tools LE software! Yaee!

Your DAW (digital audio workstation) will consist of the Mini (if you choose that one), your computer and Pro Tools (the software). You can only do one track at a time but it sounds as if that will do for now--and--you'll be making digital recordings...a FAR cry better than those old cassette 4-tracks! (I know...I've done that too).


http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MBox2Mini/

[brandondrury]

I searched for a soundcard with 2 analog inputs, 2 preamps, and bundled software using my unfinished Soundcard Tool. Here are your soundcard results.

You should have no trouble meeting your budget.

You can only do one track at a time but it sounds as if that will do for now.

This is completely unacceptable in my opinion. The day he decides he wants stereo acoustic guitar tracks, he'll be up a creek. Most of the singer / songwriter types want stereo acoustic guitar.

I can't imagine how it would be beneficial to give up recording stereo guitar just to have Pro Tools.

you'll be making digital recordings...a FAR cry better than those old cassette 4-tracks! (I know...I've done that too)

Which one is better? I've heard some damn good 4 track recording and I've heard some atrocious digital recordings.

Brandon