I am so new that you guys will hate me.

Hello, I just ordered Sonar 8.5 and the same day I received (Home Recording for Dummies; PC Recording for Dummies, and Guerrilla Home Recording). There wasn't anything in either books concerning 'required' external hardware. I have a Yamaha Clavinova with MIDI outputs and I don't understand how these signals can be plugged into my PC (Windows 7). Is there a junction box that takes MIDI and/or Mic'd acoustic guitars, vocals and converts it and plugs into my computer? Is there a specific piece of hardware that is required for that translation? Will I need to add any new inputs on my PC such as MIDI-in or extra USB, or dedicated jacks?

If there is that requirement, please recommend any required hardware. I went to the Cakewalk YouTube collection and saw many other pieces of hardware on his work table (in YouTube search type: "Artist Impression: Jon Lee on SONAR 8.5").

I'm thick-skinned so don't worry that you might be talking down to me - because I am an admitted novice who hasn't even loaded the software. By this time you are probably laughing at me but actually you are laughing 'with' me because I've seen these types of threads on military aircraft and weapons forums. Initially I assumed that the members had a basic understanding of air-to-air or air-to-surface weapons.

My email address is gary@garypenton.com if you have any attachments that might help me out.

Thank you for your time and consideration.
Gary Penton

Here is a list of good interfaces that I recommend
http://www.audio-mastering-mixing.com/FAQ___Q_A.html#33

Hiya Gary and welcome to the forum.

CJay's link above is pretty much all you need to know, pick one of those and
you can't go wrong.

From experience I'd happily recomend two budget priced units from M-Audio

1. Fast Track http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrack.html
2. Fast Track Pro http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackPro.html

As ever make sure that whatever you choose has enough inputs and outputs
for your needs.

Good luck =)

Hi Gary.

For recording with Sonar it's either audio or MIDI, or both combined.

They are different in that audio is analog, while MIDI is digital or data.

MIDI into a PC can be two ways: One via USB and the other via a MIDI port.

If your Clavinova has USB out you can use a USB cable into a USB port of your PC..Your PC has 4 USB ports.

If your Clavinova only has MIDI out/in classic round connection input/output ports, you can use a MIDI-to-USB adapter. Connect the Clavinova to the adapter and then the adapter to a USB port in your PC.

As has been mentioned, also, you can get an audio interface external unit that connects to the USB of your PC, and if that interface has MIDI round ports, then you connect the Clavinova there.

You can also buy a Sound card that has MIDI in/out ports. Those sound cards mount in a slot of the motherboard and its outputs/inputs would have the ports, or maybe some cable harness that comes with it for those purposes.

Ritht now your pc has a built-in sound card that has limited use in music production, although within its limitations you can do some basic recording.

To connect microphones, you need the sound interface with microphone input(s) (XLR type), or an external Mixer, or a Microphone preamplifier.

PC type microphone, or USB microphones for pcs are not adequate for audio/music recording.

What's your budget Gary? Thinking of an interface as a junction box is interesting. But you really want to think of it as a converter. Something that changes one signal-impulse of an electronic nature to another signal-impulse which your computer will accept. By the time you figure this all out you'll have gone from magnets to digital, from ions to numbers, take your time.

skitracks

Do you have an opinion on the Focusrite Liquid Saffire 56?

Probably wasn't mentioned because that's usually overkill for someone starting out and it's reasonably pricey on top of your other expenses. There's nothing wrong with it if you need all it has and have the money.

From original member post:

Thank you all, I bought Fast Track Ultra USB 2.0" and I hope that will allow me to route 1/4" guitar cable to PC... also midi and mic to PC (with phantom power.

I hope I will get as many replies if I screw up the routing and whine for more help. I am very excited to to what you all are already doing.

Gary Penton