Crate4

I have a general idea of what I need from what's available for someone of my means and lack of experience, compared to professional quality essentials; meaning I'm mostly looking for something a little more than the basic, but that isn't complex to figure out, or demanding financially and resource-wise.

First, I'll state what I'm working with: A modest TOSHIBA laptop that runs on Windows Vista Home Premium, a pretty crappy soundcard with mono audio, and 4GB of ram.

Instrument-wise: I'm looking to mostly do electric guitar/vocal recordings, nothing too high on production. I am afterall, pretty much a novice when it comes to true music recording.

What I'm trying to do: Record acceptably quality recordings without having to buy and install a new soundcard for my computer, with external hardware that's Vista compatible and reliable, with relatively easy to navigate software.

I've tried seeking out the internet for some pretty precise opinions on the matter, but so far have only found wide and varying options that really get me no closer to figuring out what would suit me and my needs best.

What I've been looking into: Mobile USB audio interfaces for laptops. I've read up on things like the Griffin IMic which turns out is Mac-specific, so that's no good. And, the M-audio fast track series, which sounded like more trouble than it was seemingly worth.

Currently, I found myself close to settling on the Behringer UCA202 U-control audio interface, but with some questions still going unanswered in my mind, enough to make me second-guess it. Such as not being able to use just any guitar cables with the thing, issues with volume control while recording, and I've heard some complain about a "dead" lifeless sound in the final product...


So, I'm hoping to find a tad better guidance here when it comes to recording music on a laptop. With what I've been looking at currently, am I the right track, or way off it? And what type of microphones should I be looking at for these options, dynamic or condenser mics?

What would you guys recommend for what I'm trying to accomplish?

If this all comes off a bit too clueless-like, well... I'm trying.

That's why I'm here with this post.

palmerlarryray

Actually, I have had very good results recording with a factory laptop. The secret: Go to radio shack and get an adapter that takes two RCA plugs to a stereo mini plug like the one that fits in the microphone jack on your laptop. Radio Shack also offers an extension cord for the stero line as well which will make your life much easier.

Simply plug the RCA plugs into your amps RCA output jacks and plug the stereo plug into your line in jack on your laptop. Hook up your mic and your guitar to the amp and you are set to go.

This gets very clean results and eliminates almost all background noise.

sheraton

here's what i've got laptop with 1gb ram, and M-Audio black box.
black box is external souncard guitar mic usb recording interface (comes with
recording software) also is a standalone guitar amp simulator with mic input
in built beats and beat sync fx. i use this with cubase and amplitube software
works great even with 1gb ram black box uses asio so direct monitoring and no latency .

Indie_Lover

vouch this M-Audio Black box

Alo

Haha, same problem, I tried using my skype headset once and didn't touch my guitar for a month because it sounded so terrible! (And yes, I blame my laptop and headset, not my skills. )

__________________

I rocked my shoelaces untied

P A N

i never would have thought of that. good idea!

i myself have used m-audio in the past and had pretty good results... on a mac. when i went to PC (i'd rather use a mac honestly, except for the price of them, their parts, and the fact that FL Studio doesn't run on them) i couldn't get the m-audio interface to work.

suffice it to say, if you have good cords and a decent mic, 4gigs of RAM and a way to adjust your buffers, you should be able to get good sound out of whatever you use.

also, generally speaking, it is not common practice to go direct from your guitar into your console. your amp will have a lot to do with your sound, and regardless of many peoples' preference of using amp modelling software, the pros (one of which i am not) swear by miking the amp. from what i understand, there's no heat in the sound without it.