BASIC Qn - Computer set up for recording

[prkravi]

Hi Folks,
Dont know if this has been asked many times before, pardon me if its a repeat.
Am quite new to this scene of Home Recording, can i seek some help here to understand what are the basic requistes for getting to go to record some stuff. Im a keyboard player and so far been only playing with Midis from my Entertainment Keyboard and playing them on my Laptop ACER ASPIRE 5920G.
I have noticed that most of the time, the Volume is low and that the accompaniment is missing, but when i transfer the same file to my Mobile, (N95 8 GB), i hear the original instruments and the accompaniments loud and clear. so im thinking there could be something wrong with my Laptop's sound card system.

Let me now list out my questions below.

1. With my current Laptop, if i install say SONAR or CUBASE, can i be recording stuff from my Keyboard? (A synthesiser which i plan to buy)

2. Will i need any additional hardware to do this?

3. If i have a vocalist singing, can i just connect the MIC directly to the Mic in of my laptop and go ahead recording it through CUBASE / SONAR.

Pls let me know.
Thanks!

 

[ATW10C]

Was in the same position as you are.
So maybe what a noob found useful might be useful to another one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf1t1qs0yTs

you will need a USB audio interface (something like an external sound card but will not cause latency (if there is).

The one that guy is using is EXPENSIVE but a cheaper one should do fine I think. Presently working on which ones are better given feature and price.