Help: Very Basic Home Studio Setup

[HF Theory]

Okay, i've heard much jargons bout recordings and stuff. Most of the time, we, newbies, get lost in the context of mixers and what not. SO,

Could someone help us, newbies, advice, on Home Recording Setup.

1) Reliable Free Software for recording

Where to obtain the software? If Purchase, what title of the software and where to purchase? + Drum Machine?

2) Hardware aspect

What is the "one" thing we need to have a decent sound recording?
What? How Much? Where to purchase?

*$300 Dollar Range, If, Possible - To start recording*

Recording Acoustic + Vocal, Rock & Metal Guitars.

Seeking to ask your professional advice for us newbies who yearns to do home recording.

Thanks heaps!

 

[logicdroid]

http://soft.com.sg/forum/how-sound/38326-diy-recording-faq-[1st-post].html

http://www.tweakheadz.com/laboratory/index.html

http://www.dontcrack.com/freeware/

Hope this helps.

 

[Liquidribs]

1) Reliable Free Software for recording

mixcraft 2 is versatile. you can record the whole band by just using one person with this software. can purchase download from them or illegally

2) Hardware aspect

The one thing above all is latency. if your soundcard has high latency you will sure become a bolobarbie without a doubt.

Tracks will sound faster than other tracks and the whole song will screw up and become off tempo. (e.g. u record track 1 then u proceed to record track 2 whilst playing track one, over time tracks will not match)

so, get a soundcard with lowest latency. shouldn't be very expensive.


Cable tip convertor ($2 at peninsula) for you to plug your guitar in the sound card directly ( for electric guitar recording)

download some reliable VST like amplitube 2 (really good, to some extent in recording sounds nicer than my home amp) amplitube 2 will automatically install itself with the mixcraft and your guitar tones will sound good.


total cost maybe bout $300, but if your soundcard already has low latency and you really want it cheap it can cost $2 if you know what i mean ha ha.