Recording 101 - Please Help

[ElGuitarrista]

Hey everyone,

Ok, here's the deal. I'm just starting to write songs and record them. I need some advice with regards to recording- the basics, I need pointed in the right direction. Here's the equipment I have, and what I've attempted:

I have an IBM Thinkpad T30 laptop. It's a higher end laptop, though I have no idea what sort of sound card is in it.

I bought a computer microphone from Walmart, $8, plugged it into the mic jack on my laptop, sat in front of my computer with my guitar, and recorded some things using Windows Sound Recorder (the free thing that comes with Windows). As you might expect, the quality of the recording was mediocre at best. It was scratchy and just didn't sound good.

So I tried something else. I played my acoustic through my amp, and ran a mic into the amp as well (I have an acoustic amp that has an input for a mic and instrument) then I ran the 'Line Out' from the amp to the 'Line In' on my laptop and recorded again using Windows Sound Recorder. The signal was very low (could hardly hear it) and the quality was poor. I tried turning up the volume of the amp, but it didn't seem to boost the 'Line Out' Signal.

So here are some basic questions I have:

1. Is it feasible to record using my laptop, assuming I'm stuck with the current hardware configuration?

2. What equipment should I be using? Someone at school told me that I need an external A/D converter since the one in computers are inadequate for recording. If so, how much do they cost and where do I get one? Basically, I'm looking for the smallest investment, since I'm just 'playing around' with recording at this point.

3. What software should I be using? I've seen a lot of talk about Cool Edit Pro but I checked Download.com and it's $249 to buy.. seems like a big investment for my needs right now. I wasn't sure if the trial version was extremely limited. I'd at least like to be able to save a recording as an mp3 or wav.

Basically, I just want to make some decent recordings of acoustic guitar and vocals, at a minimal investment. Any advice would be appreciated.

One more thing, I'm using an 'Audio Technica' mic with my amp. I got it for $25 at a CD store since someone gave me a gift certificate. It's probably not the best.

Thanks,
Eddy

[AdamCU81]

I'm not sure about the equipment, but for Cool Edit Pro, there is "another way" of getting the software that isn't very kosher, but is free. Check out this groovy program that ryhmes with "Razaa" if you feel like bending the law. I'm not endorsing illegal activities in any way, just informing the community if they don't already know.

[snoopdoug1]

I'm not sure about the equipment, but for Cool Edit Pro, there is "another way" of getting the software that isn't very kosher, but is free. Check out this groovy program that ryhmes with "Razaa" if you feel like bending the law. I'm not endorsing illegal activities in any way, just informing the community if they don't already know.

Huh?!?!?























j/k 8)

[Easy E]

I can't seem to find it on "Razaa", can someone send it to me over AIM.

[jsgksu]

I think what hes trying to say is go on Kazaa, do a search for "Cool Edit Pro" download it then go here for all your questions ---> http://www.dmbtabs.com/tutorial/ hope it helps, let us know if ya got any more questions