Basic home recording studio questions

castashadow · New Member Joined: 02 Dec 2010 Posts: 4

Hi Guys
Total noob here!
I am looking to purchase a very basic home recording system. At the moment I have my eye on this set up.

http://www.imuso.co.uk/Studio/Processing/Audio-MIDI-Interfaces/Presonus-Interfaces/8780-/PreSonus-FIREBOX-FireWire-Audio-Interface-with-FREE-Steinberg-Cubase-LE-Software

MICROPHONE:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B000CZ0R42/ref=sr_1_5_olp?ie=UTF8&s=computers&qid=1291032415&sr=8-5&condition=new

OR:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samson-C01-Diaphragm-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0002D080C/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1291033045&sr=1-2

****The system I will be using is:*****

Acer Aspire 5732Z
Pentium Dual core CPU
T4300@2.10GHz
2 GB RAM
Windows 7 Home
64 bit Operating system
2 USB slots

My questions are:
Is this enough to get simple home recordings?

How would I attach the Presonus to the laptop? - Firewire right? The lap top only has 2 USB inputs - what would be my options here?

If the Presonus isn`t compatible with my laptop then what would you suggest I get?

I need:
Recording software
Interface for mics etc
Mic

Many thanks for your time.

castashadow · New Member Joined: 02 Dec 2010 Posts: 4

Oh, and I need a small keyboard too, as cheap as possible really - as long as I can connect it up via the old style midi ins/outs as I only have 2 usb inputs on my laptop!

castashadow · New Member Joined: 02 Dec 2010 Posts: 4

I have now found this - any good?

http://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_audiogram_3.htm

Does this have everything I need (except the mic)?

castashadow · New Member Joined: 02 Dec 2010 Posts: 4

I have also found this but it lacks the midi input so I guess I would have to live without the use of the mouse?

http://www.dv247.com/computer-hardware/steinberg-ci2-studio-pack--71828

Darwin Darker · Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 133 Location: Toronto

polyal · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 177

my advice would be....a low latency echo indigo pcmcia soundcard ( audiophile pci 2496 for desktop )
edirol usb midi interface ( laptop )
a medium size analogue audio mixer(with at least one subgroup o/p )
a small keyboard controller
any full blown version of cubase ..sx3 upwards...dont bother with lite version cause you'll be lacking functions
and wishing you had the full version

a good quality condenser/dynamic mic ....there are loads to choose from

if your mixers got enough channels you can leave multiple sound sources permanently connected (sound modules / synths / samplers etc etc) can be added
in the future at will with no upgrading issues
...this is the basics of pro studio set ups..the mixer would be the focal point