your onboard built in soundcard will limit the quality of your recordings.
If you don't have drums, a drummer, or space for either between the bed and the 'studio' you can easily fill that role with software....our choice being the reasonably expensive but excellent Reason by Propellerhead link ...which also offers software synths, samples, mixing desk, effects....all connected by supple cables accessed by pressing 'tab' to show the back of the realistic rack (you can simply add an effect and it will patch itself in without your input...sort of free roady). Simply fill a songs length with a suitable beat and then use it as the clicktrack for your tune. Save, close Reason and....

- ~(our preference again)...

"We..then open Cubase link.Choose 'NEW'...on track one open the 'devices' dropdown and click on Reason (how did that get there?)in the 'REWIRE'window that opens select the top option (mixL-mixR)....now open Reason and open the track you saved..You have now used 'Rewire' so you can operate both Reason and Cubase from the same position from either programmes transport controls(play, pause, rewind, stop, go to beginning)..and both programmes will respond in sync..(I think that's one of the main reasons we like these)

you can now make a recording of a track of guitar or bass in Cubase while the drum track plays in Reason...etc...etc...if you allow Reason to have control from a keyboard(midi or usb) you can click on the Reason screen and add keyboard tracks to your recording....it doesn't matter that it's not being played onto Cubase as both play as one...even when you export your finished piece(which you can come back and finish again and again).
(...and hopefully do the same with the drums...)

When you export finished tunes that you wish to be converted to mp3's dont use the highest 48kbps setting as 44kbps works better for some reason...


- PLEASE feel free to contribute suggestions for alternative or less expensive recording software etc..by submitting a request on the contact us form...we will probably like to add your input here..
The quick run through above only skims the tip of an enormous iceberg and is based as I said originally on my preference which I found very early and was so happy with I never checked out the other alternatives ( so it stands to reason that I'm not knocking any of the other software..)..there's another tip. If you don't have a problem with the software you already use, then changing to something else will cause stalls in your creativity...ask yourself if it's the right time to be doing this or if it's even necessary.
At frequent intervals you should export your track so you can hear how it sounds played on the CD player in the lounge, the waterproof duck mp3 player in the bathroom link, the portable in the kitchen, the DVD player in the bedroom, three different in-car systems and see how it sounds on the couvert recording equipment in the guest room if you're "Elvis...link";
Having recently tried Cakewalk Sonar Home Studio software(breaking my rule about sticking with what you know) I was pleasantly surprised. The starter price is comparable with Cubase starter products and Cakewalk supports Reason too (that's me happy). The Cakewalk site and forums are very helpful too.

Tiestomonial:

"Just a quick note to say Priscilla loved the Reason Software that I bought her for our Silver Wedding and she is currently playing along to her music on there and recording the grand piano onto Cubase...I think it's a classical piece by some composer called Tiesto"
- Gary Briteland-Smythe, Doncaster, UK