Help Me Get Set-up Options

[aptmunich]

Hi i'm new to recording in general and am even newer to macs.

I have previously done some gentle recording and mixing/editing using maxix audio studio 7, but haven't done much else.

I ordered the iBook 12" 1Ghz recently (had ordered the 800Mhz version last friday but thank god they had problems with my bank details so i'm getting the faster one!)


When i get the iBook i would like to record a few demos with guitar and vocals.
The guitar is hooked up to a line 6 pod 2.0 and we currently use a shure microphone (forgotten the exact model, it's the one everyone has for the vocals.

Now the questions:

1) The vocals are fed through a Peavey power mixer, does this count as a 'preamp'? I'm assuming it does as the preamp is mainly to boost the microphone signal for recording, have i got this right?

2) What is the best solution for getting a line in connection to the ibook. I've seen products like the tascam u22 and the m-audio audiophile usb box, but they are all fairly expensive.

Could i get away using something like griffin's iMic? Or can you recommend something up to $100?

As for software, will Garageband be enough to get me started? I don't need a midi sequencer (never bothered with midi...) just something simple to record and do a bit of basic editing/mixing.

3) I'm going to be using shure e3c in ear monitors, anything i should beware of when mixing with headphones and not speakers?

4) Can i use the compressor/limiter in the line 6 pod 2.0 (designed for guitars) to compress vocals?


Any other pointers would be gratefully recieved!!!

Thanks

apt

[editbrain]

i am using it now. 10.3 with tascam us-122. just get the driver off there site. www.tascam.com
if you get it don't even mess with the cd. go straight to there site, download the driver, install it without the tascam plugged in, shutdown the computer, plug the tascam in, turn the computer on.
the light will not come on the tascam until you have logged into your account. so if you have to login and you see the mac os x splash screen, but do not see the tascam light on don't worry about it. it will come on when you login to your account.

yeah. you can be totally portable. i take my 12" and tascam to meetings w/mics, to musicians houses around the city, to independant movie filming. it is a cool thing for the money, and the pre's are really good. the downfall is the headphone amp in the tascam is really quite.

happy recording,
editbrain