Hello y'all. I'm no newcomer to Gamedev.net, but I am a newbie to this forum. Basically I'm interested in writing some music for this game I'll be developing, and I've been looking into a whole lot of options when it comes audio interfaces and software packages. I plan on recording primarily my electric guitar. Currently I run it through my myriad of effects into my Tech21 Trademark 120, which comes equipped with a Sansamp direct out on it, so my guitar music is currently coming out via XLR at a mic level signal. I'm just curious what people's recommendations are as far as interfaces and software goes. I've been looking at either Digidesign's Mbox and M-Audio's Firewire 410, and while either of these would seem to fit my immediate purposes just fine, they don't seem to be very beneficial if, for example, I decide I want to start doing recordings for my best friend's band (for something like that, I was looking into maybe the MOTU 828mkII). The only catch is that I would prefer not buying a card that I have to install in my computer (that is to say, I'd like a mobile solution). Also, as far as software goes, which would be a pretty good one to go with for someone who's a relative beginner to the whole computer audio/recording scene? I would like something that isn't totally crippled and has some growing room (like I said, to accomodate the desire to record my best friend's band). And one final question. I'm a guitarist, not a drummer, and I don't own or have access to a drum set, so I was wondering what options are there for me to add drum beats to my guitar riffs that I record? Do I need to invest in some external hardware that I hook up to the audio interface, or are there any (preferably free) software based solutions? Thank you all very much for any help! :)

One last thing that popped in my mind. I was wondering if anyone makes any ADAT I/O cards for the PC. The reason I ask this is because I was looking at Behringer's Ultragain Pro-8 Digital ADA8000, which is basically an 8 channel A/D D/A converter with 8 mic preamps (very nice to have when my best friend's band is miking up their amps and vocals), and the 8 channels are transmitted through ADAT I/O. The ADA8000 is significantly cheaper than either of the three audio interfaces I listed above, so I was thinking if ADAT I/O cards are available, by buying the card, the ADA8000, and a decent software, I could come up with something that better fit my desires.

The Firewire 410 is a good choice for a mobile solution - but consider that you only have two analogue inputs, as the other two are digital (stereo S/PDIF). If you want more inputs then the 828mkII is another excellent choice.

We're trying to get a standard audio interface for everyone at work and the two interfaces I've been trying out are the 410 and the 828. We're going for 828s - they're rackmount, built like tanks, work standalone without a computer and haven't given us the slightest problem driver wise. The 410s aren't bad, but they feel cheap, the front panel is overcrowded and having to use the M-Audio control panel software for basic mixer functionality is a bit poo.

A lightpipe soundcard, like the Terratec EWS88 D, is going to cost about $150. Add on the $250 for the Behringer Ultragain and you're looking at $400 (plus shipping). An 828mkII will set you back $750, but it's firewire and therefore portable-ish. Then again, do you really want to be recording on someone else's machine (is it powerful enough, is it stable, is the hard drive fast enough, does it have enough hard drive space free, do they have the software you require). If you look at it like that then the least portable component in your 'portable' recording setup is your computer; if you're going to be humphing that around then there is no problem going with an internal souncard solution...

Software wise: if it's audio only then go for Sony Vegas. If you need midi as well (to control your drums) then go for Cubase or Sonar.

Drums.

I was curious on people's thoughts on using Adobe Audition for multitrack audio recording. Reason I ask is because my dad got a copy of it when Adobe obtained Cool Edit/Cool Edit Pro and was offering a special deal, and if I could use that, it might tide me until I can buy something like Cubase (because once I buy the interface, I won't have enough to buy Cubase/Logic/Sonar software right up front, unless the interface has s/w bundled with it).