| Recording on a computer can be a great experience. | | | | price is the most important thing to you. By having a |
| It also can be bad if you do not get the basics right | | | | budget in your mind you can clearly see which |
| when you are setting up your computer. You will need | | | | soundcards fit into this price range. |
| to research what type of equipment you will want to | | | | The next thing you need to look at is how many |
| go with before you start shopping. This article will look | | | | tracks will you need to record at one time. If you are |
| at some things you need to think about before | | | | only going to record yourself or you and a buddy your |
| purchasing that all-important sound card. | | | | needs will be modest. If recording a whole band at one |
| There are a few different types of soundcards you | | | | time is what you want to do you will need more inputs |
| can buy such as the PCI soundcard and USB | | | | in your interface. Audio interfaces can be bought with |
| interfaces. We are not going to get into what type of | | | | as few as two inputs, which is fine for one or two |
| card you will require as you need to look at the | | | | people. You will need a more elaborate setup if you |
| features you or your band will need in a soundcard | | | | want to record eight tracks at a time. |
| before you decide what type to buy. You need to | | | | You will need to decide if you want the preamps built |
| know how many tracks you will want to be able to | | | | into the audio interface or whether you would prefer |
| record at one time. Will you want to record your audio | | | | separate preamps. The advantage to using built in |
| using microphones and if so you need to decide if you | | | | preamps is everything is in one tidy package and will |
| will need to buy separate preamps. Deciding how | | | | be designed to work with your setup. If you already |
| much you have to spend before you buy can save | | | | own some good preamps you may not want to pay |
| you hours of looking at equipment that is not within | | | | for them again in your recording setup. |
| your budget. | | | | Everything should fall into place if you think about what |
| Deciding how much am you are willing to spend is | | | | features you need before you start shopping. Buy the |
| essential to get in your head before looking at that first | | | | best soundcard you can afford, as a lot of your sound |
| catalog or website. You can buy a soundcard or USB | | | | quality will come from the card. In the end you are the |
| interface in many different price ranges. You may not | | | | one who will decide what you need and want in an |
| be able to get as many features as you want if the | | | | audio soundcard. |