Topic: Laptop recording

[hillbilly8714]

I'm completely new to this, but I am going to start taping shows for a small band that plays the area who said I could just hook into the soundboard.  I will be using my laptop, but my question is, are there any programs like Soundforge that allow you to have a free trial version first so I can test some of these out?
Also, as far as hooking my laptop into the sound board do only need L and R RCA jacks that form into a single headphone/microphone jack into the computer?

[TNJazz]

Record into CDWave - it's free and will do the job nicely.  http://www.cdwave.com

You'll need several types of cables, depending on the soundboard.  XLR, 1/4 and RCA are the most common outs.  You'll go in on the LINE IN on your onboard soundcard, which is undoubtedly a 1/8 jack.  Best bet is to buy a high quality RCA -> mini cable, then buy 2 1/4 male/RCA female adapters and 2 XLR female/RCA female adapters at Radio Shack.  That means you carry around 1 cable and 4 adapters, and you're ready for pretty much anything.

Eventually you may want to consider stepping up your interface (maybe go USB or get a PCMCIA card) because on board laptop sound cards have a tendency to be noisy.  I'd try it out first though before you commit to buying hundreds of dollars of gear.

Good luck!
Dirk

[hillbilly8714]

Thank you very much

[smokydays]

Great advice Dirk!  Always someone willing to help out around here!  +T's