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play many different instruments what device would allow me to record these instuments to my laptop?

jimdohg	Date: February 20, 2006 @ 4:16 AM looking for something dirt cheap. I play electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and sing(with a mic obviously) what cheap device should i get that would allow me to record these instruments to my laptop? btw as far as i know i only have usb and 1/8 inch jacks, but i do have alot of 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch converters and vice versa. and i also have a xlr to 1/4 inch converter.
LiQuidMetamo...	Date: February 20, 2006 @ 9:34 PM A mixer, a couple of mics and a decent soundcard (laptop soundcards often suck a$$), (assuming your laptop is up to snuff) is a good place to start. This stuff doesn't necessarily have to cost an arm and a leg - shop around, use ebay, whatever. You might also want to consider a mic pre-amp and maybe a DI box if you can't play guitars loud (live in an apartment with thin walls etc). Then you will need some software to record it all - for free you can download Kristal, a digital 16 track recorder or use Audacity or similar. If you want a little extra power, for 100 - 150 bucks there is Cakewalk or Cubase SE which allow you 48 tracks and extra effects processing.
LiQuidMetamo...	Date: February 21, 2006 @ 10:38 PM I've bought a mackie mixer, an echo indigo IO pcmcia sound card for laptop , an sm 57 and a korg synth from ebay, the mixer and synth were from private sellers and the soundcard and mic from stores who sell retail as well as online - all went well. Research your buys (i.e. check all feedback, don't buy or sell to people claiming to be from nigeria or indonesia etc) and don't spend what you can't afford to lose (I would never buy anything above a certain $$$ figure). 4 trades , 4 real bargains 100% delivered as stated on the ad.
LiQuidMetamo...	Date: February 21, 2006 @ 10:49 PM Sonar is a more complete upmarket product than Cakewalk 9 etc, more comparable to Cubase SX than Cubase SE. Some people would also never consider Behringer products - I have no experience of them, so I will not pass judgement, but there are mixed opinions about Behringer on most pro-recording forums. The M-Audio soundcard seems a popular choice. You could buy a preamp instead of a mixer if you're just recording one or two instruments at a time. See some of the recommendations by BIR and Gene Hilbert on the thread about need help choosing a microphone.
User42	Date: April 29, 2006 @ 12:35 AM for a cheaper option, theres the tascam us122 it only has a few inputs, but you can expand it to whatever you want with a mixer and the right cables.
imemine	Date: April 29, 2006 @ 9:15 AM Chances are your sound card stinks. I’m a bit unclear, do you want to record these simultaneously or one at a time? Nonetheless you will need software. Dirt cheap, how about free! http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ As far as getting the sound into your card, You will need some kind of mixer to move between instruments, phantom power, DI etc unless you want to be constantly looking for the right adapter for the right application. For better sound try to find an USB/ Firewire external sound card http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.list&ID=mobileinterfaces like this. They range from $100 and up. Lots of this stuff is already posted in the forums if you want further details. Good Luck!
imemine	Date: April 29, 2006 @ 9:23 AM A couple of other things: Get an external hard drive—a big one, once you start making music those .wav files start chewing through space quickly. And Ram---especially if you use effects.
EchoMinor	Date: May 1, 2006 @ 1:30 AM can you afford a PODxt? i record with my sony vaio, the processor and memory arent too shabby, but the best and safest way IMO is to go USB. the PODxt is an awsome effects processor, USB device for recording, and preamp all in one. you can record any instrument through it. they have a specialised preamp setting for other instruments besides guitars. if PODxt is a no for you, at least get some sort of USB device for recording. chances are your laptop onboard sound wont be able to handle alot of gain.
junkhead	Date: May 13, 2006 @ 5:32 AM I second Audacity, its a great program. You can record directly in to your computer if it has a line in jack. http://fruity--loops.blogspot.com/
GeneHilbert	Date: May 13, 2006 @ 2:22 PM because of read and write buffers on a single hard drive laptop - expect to have drop out issues. Laptops are fine for midi and light audio work, but when stressed as in the case of complex digital audio, expect issues and when recording keep plugins to a minimum.
Elu	Date: May 15, 2006 @ 11:19 AM What Gene said.
LiQuidMetamo...	Date: May 15, 2006 @ 6:58 PM On my P4 3.2 Ghz laptop w/ 1 Gb DDR 400 Mhz dual channel and Echo Indigo IO pcmcia soundcard and 60 GB 7200 GB HDD, I can record 30 plus audio tracks at 24 bit 44.1 Khz with 5 send effects and and several dynamics insert fx, or 20 audio tracks, 12 midi tracks + fx no probs. However, I plan on buying a second HDD, as I am noticing a bit or a perfomance decline lately due to the small 60GB hdd getting gradually fuller. Centrino machines are not designed for high intensity audio/visual work and I'm not yet convinced by core duo either. The focus is more on saving battery life than performance still. My laptop runs a desktop P4 3.2 Ghz h/t it runs hot, noisy (fans) and has battery life of about 6 milliseconds or something but it whips the centrino machines on audio/visual work if plugged into AC.
Britmick	Date: September 14, 2006 @ 7:41 AM All you need is COOL EDIT PRO and a cable from your instrument to your laptop. Get back to me, I'll GIVE you the software....FREE
Britmick	Date: September 14, 2006 @ 7:42 AM And yes,... Gene is right about the plugins. But with Cool Edit, ya dont need em
EchoMinor	Date: September 14, 2006 @ 11:08 PM well i've found my Sony Vaio laptop to do rather well at recording and it has a core duo processor. now if i load the audition track full of alot of Fx, i end up having some stuttering. but i can still mixdown a track full of FX for each channel (and my latest track, had around 13 audio tracks mixing down with each having EQ fx and such. now dont get me wrong i couldnt effectivily preview the mixdown without it smacking my laptop around but it can handle alot. i dont use my laptop's soundcard though, i use my PODxt to record via USB. "which can be used for other instruments besides guitar."

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