System Requirements:
1) P3 700 MHz PC with 246MB RAM (at least one open PCI slot reccomended) (may work on lower but this is the oldest system I've used this setup on)
2)Access to the internet

Suggested System:
1)Fairly new PC with 512MB RAM or better
2)Internet Access on said PC

New parts
1)SB Audiology SE or better (at least one line-in/mic with Mic Boost)
2)1/8" mono male to 1/4" stereo female adapter (headphone jack to Amp jack)
3)6 foot extension cable (or long guitar cord)


How to:

1) Ensure PC is working
2)Turn off PC
3) Install new soundcard in an open PCI slot
4) Plug speakers and 1/8" male to to 1/4" female adapter into their proper locations on the back of card
5) Reboot PC, enter BIOS and ensure onboard sound is disabled (if given a choice)
6) This is where thing get interesting. If you're a linux person I suggest using Ubuntu Studio or Ubuntu with the Studio Audio packages installed. Windows people can skip this step
7)Install Audacity, a multi-track audio editor(Ubuntu Studio and Audio Packages already do this for you)
8)Install GNUitar (guitar effects program works with any audio input though)
9) Windows only, install Krystal Audio Engine, another multi track audio editor and Pitch Perfec guitar tuner soft ware (just like GNUitar it works with all audio inputs)

10) Record.

Will post pics tomarrow its late.

This helps me a lot! Thanks. I'm in a band and so far ive just been using either the mic from my laptop or the a connection into microphone from the PA. I'll also look into to that software, it'llprobably help us out a lot in termsof making the band sond proffesional. FWIW, I already use Audacity, so I'm familiar with it, and deffinatley a good choice.

Regards,
TheYoda

Thanks I tried to keep it limited to FOSS but Krystal and pitchperfect are great tools that are free. (Found in BC's Freeware replacement Thread i believe). If you are having issues with volume leve you might try turning on the +20Db mic booster (some guitars dont pickup well not sure if they are active or passive pickup guitars but my passives work well.) A karaoke mic will also help for acoustic instruments. (If you are getting alot of white noise using a mic try using Audacity's or GNUitar's (White) Noise Reducer effects.

I'll see if and when I get teh equipment. I don't know if I'm gunna use that stuff because i find a laptop is much easier, but I am deffinatley going to use those programs. And for the white noise, I usually don't get it becuase I spend a good 30 minutes before practice to adjust the mic levels from the PA system. I only use the Mic from my laptop for the drums, which I only had to do recently because the drummer used to have an electric set, but he sold it for an acoustic one. The bands probably gunna chip in to get some drum mics so they don't come out like crap on the recording. That or we'll chip in to rent a studio for a few hours lol. Until then, this stuff will work out great. Do you think you could send me a link to the sites for them?

Regards,
TheYoda

My lappy does it fine without the added hardware (its just many Motherboards have horrible audio inputs or none at all) all you need are the adapters. There are a few programs for drum machines (to help set a beat when recording alone) I find that this really come into its own when just sitting alone by myself strumming and I find something i like I can record it so I can go back to it later and use it as a riff or something.

Links:
GNUitar homepage
Kristal Audio Engine
PitchPerfect Guitar Tuning Software

Very cool B'Spider. You've inspired me to record some songs.

Hi blackspyder, I tried to download the Krystal Audio engine but the downlink didn't work for me. I am 57 and have played guitar now for about 12yrs. Due I suppose to starting so late in life I tend just to play at home jamming to various backing tracks (mostly blues / bluesrock orientated.) I found this site today through the link on Bleeping Computer.com and found your post very interesting as I have been interested in using my PC to record myself for some time now but not being very PC savvy did not know what I needed or indeed how to go about it. I wonder if you would be interested in helping me get started?.

When the download link wouldn't work I visited Tech Spot a forum I use for various downloads etc. I checked what they had in the audio section and would like an opinion on which of the following would be the best program to use.

Audacity 1.3.3.
Wavosaur 1.0.0.9000
Magic Music Editor
Power Audio Editor
Audio Editor Gold
Digital Audio Editor

My PC is about 5 yrs old and although not anymore it was state of the art at the time. It is powered by an AMD Athlon XP 2400+ Processor, 2.00 GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM and has a Philips Sonic Edge 5.1 Soundcard installed. I have the Audio Adapter jack you mentioned as well as a couple of Karaoke microphones, I also have a Zoom GM200 digital amp simulator.

What else would I need and what should my next step be?.
Bluesjunior.

Welcome to TV Bluesjanitor!

I've always used Audacity with the LAME plugin (allows converting your music to mp3) along with every other plugin available. But what works for one doesn't work for all try anything that looks like you might want to try it (watch out for malware in the downloads, I ran across a few that were bundled with some).

You didn't mention if your guitar(s) was(were) electric or acoustic or both.

For an electric plug in to the LINE-IN or MIC IN and make sure it plays out of your speakers. Then run the Amp simulator in between the PC and the guitar (you shouldnt need a 20db boost from the MIC IN socket with that)

For an Acoustic plug a MIC into the MIC and speak into in to make sure its working. Then set the MIC into a holder and try to play into it. if the sound is too quite you should use the 20db MIC Boost feature found in the Windows Sound Contol panel.

Thanks for the reply blackspyder,

Do I still need the GNUitar program. On the link you provided there are several related downloads do I take them all or just the main one?. I have both electric and accoustic guitars and a Fender Bluesjunior amp hence the name. Thanks for the help I will try what you said and get back to you.
Bluesjunior.

Well I finally got a chance to try this out, and I must say that it works well on my Mac-book. I use the laptops mic, and Audacity. I adjust the volume on my guitar amp to keep the recording from distorting. Then plug the laptop into my guitar amp, and crank it. I especially like the loop feature on Audacity. I can practice the solos without hitting the rewind button. Thanks B'Spyder, who says old dogs can't learn new tricks.