To the guitar meepz

Line 6 Tone Port. Works well with most of the software I've tried, and you can pick one up for about $100.

The other option is to re-engineer your sound files with suitable noise reduction software.

Go buy a meeping soundcard. There are a meepload of cheap USB options that will work with your laptop. You can prolly hook yourself up for under $100 if you spend a bit of time shopping online.

Start by Googling "Musicians Friend" or visit a local Guitar Center.

Get a good sound card and get a good mic. FYI though, signals from the computer (mainly the monitor) will cause hiss if you record sitting in front of it.

ProTools

all $800 werth of it.

Thanks people, advice taken I'm thinking This looks like it might fit the bill. ProTools does look great ghost but the idea of GarageBand 2 and Mac looks realy tempting (hmmm, maybe I should start saving)

yeah, GarageBand rawks

i use it to make funny drum loops and samples. get a Mac and i'll send you a disk (wink wink nudge nudge)

I've been recording live music (writing and recording) for a few years. I don't use anything except me, guitars and a laptop. I use the actual internal microphone and i get such a small amount of hiss, due to how I mix the tracks down.

If you log onto Macjams.com, and search for "dent", you can hear a few tracks I've posted. Let em know if you want to know some secrets (like wrapping your mic with soft tissue).

Thanks dent I'll do that, I'm always been interested in hearing what the swarm muzos might create, when I can finaly make a decent recording i [might] put something up for you guys to take-the-meep out of

Ghost: if ever get the spare cash to buy a Mac, I'd prob endup buying a copy to be honest tho' and I like the look of that little control deck thing you can get for it Thanks fer the offer tho'!

That M-Audio card is a good start.

Next, save up for a great mic and a good tube pre-amp.

All of this meep was mixed by moi in a program called n-Track.

It's a great tool built by an Italian dude named Flavio Antonioli that will do anything you need done to audio on a PC for a fraction of the price of ProTools... but with the same quality.

The users forum is also very helpful for PC audio newbs. I cut my teeth there back in 96/97 and I have refered this software to tons of people since.

Have fun.

Wotak: Just listned to your tunes, I somehow missed that entire post - skillfully done stuff and way better then anything I could dream of ever doing [humbled by your presence sir - no I wont suck your meep!] You're gonna regret this tho' coz - guess where I'm coming next time I have questions :D

Thanks for the compliments, but I've grown to hate most of that material. Maybe I've just lived with it for to long and I've picked it apart, but meh. It is what it is.

Anyway, if you need help, I'm always happy to drop an opinion or share something I've learned about the mechanics of recording and mixing. It's always nice to see newbs interested in using the digital medium as a sonic tool. It's a powerful format if you're willing to learn a bit about how it works and how to manipulate your music to get the sound you want.

Have fun with it bro. I'd be glad to help if you need it.

DENT: If you log onto Macjams.com, and search for "dent", you can hear a few tracks I've posted

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see you listed on Macjams???

http://www.macjams.com/artists/dented

I'de make it clickable, but I just woke up.

Oh, so you mean search for "Dented", and not "Dent"......good one meep up, you forgot your own username. I doubt that's even you!

this should be good....

Yeah, it should be...but it won't be.

Yeah, I forgot my own username. I'm also glad you noticed I was a meep up, thanks.

perfect

be the 0m

Dent rawks.

Hey man, no problem... Told you it wasn't going to be good. Uneventfull

about as uneventful as your lousy posting

What about the rest of the meeps in here? Guitarjohn, Ghostie -- you guys must have something for the rest of the Swarm to listen to. Post that meep!

Wotak, you rawk as well.

I'm also glad you noticed my uneventfull posting, thanks.

putterfeld: Your posts are proving a waste of my journal space, I'm even considering the delete option on them - unless you are capable of making better music (or any for that matter) or have something constructive to say rather then make lame attempts at insulting higher standing members please go away and get your mind repaired...

Go right the meep ahead, you meep meep.! I can say whatever the meep I want, where ever the meep I want, about whoever the meep I want. You don't like it, do what the rest of the whining meeps do, delete my meeping comments. OOOOHHHHHh what a punishment, OH NO he's gonna delete my comments, what ever am I suppose to do.

Puterfield -> PMT

All my biaches get this tetchy in the morning, wipe that come off your chin and go to work

Yup, I saw this coming.

Of course you did, dolt!

Let me guess, evildigitz is the lanky pansy on the right who always needs to get his bigger meaner friend to gang up and fight his own battles for him.

Yo digits, how's the recording going anyway?

Dent: Pretty cool, using Audacity and found the bass boost does a good job of removing hiss from a bass track (using that feature and adjusting the level)- plan to buy a Sure mic aswell, the Phillips thing I have is trash.

It all makes for some fun experimentation