Recording Live Music, Recording Live Music Options

[brianjones]

I am new to this and happy I found this site.

I have a new iMac coming tomorrow. It is a G5 2.1 - whatever is the latest version.

I want to record live music. This is the set up.

Jamaican dancehall music is basically done like karioke??, where the sound system plays a pre recorded rhythm track on CD and the DJ sings his lyrics over it.

How do I set up the sound system to record into the iMac and also how do I set it up so the vocal can be captured on a separate track? I then want to mix the two together, along with video I am shooting and make a DVD of the performance.

I am not sure if the vocal should be captured in the mix with the music out of the sound system or if it should be recorded on a separate track.

The only software I will have is garage band that comes with the iMac. I have had two iMacs before and have used Peak, Deck to record music but want to see if garage band can do it before buying additional software. What hardware will I need?

I need some guidance and advise and also and directions to music/mac tutorials that I can read since I will be using the iMac for recording in a studio as well.

Thanks
Brian Jones

[rickenbacker]

I think Garageband 2 now allows eight-track simultaneous recording. If you want to record audio in, you'll need an interface of some sort. FireWire options are better than USB - something like the Presonus Firebox is very popular and also comes bundled with Cubase LE, so then you'd have two sequencer options to try out.

From what you describe, you'd probably want at least three tracks - one mono for the vocal and a stereo pair for the backing track. If you wanted to add extra vocals, add extra tracks.