Simple audio recording software...

Audacity. Free, and relatively simple.



I have heard Reaper is also very easy to use as well.



And if you have the need to make MP3s, you would need to download the LAME MP3 dll for it.

Never used it, but here's what the online manual says:

Effect Menu



The items in this menu only work when you have audio selected. Audacity does not have any real-time effects; you must select the audio, apply the effect, and then listen to the results.



Most effects have a Preview button. Clicking on this button plays up to three seconds of audio, allowing you to hear what it will sound like after the effect is applied. This is useful for fine-tuning the effect parameters.

Echo - very simple effect that repeats the selection with a decay, sounding like a series of echos. This effect does not change the length of the selection, so you may want to add silence to the end of the track before applying it (using the Generate Menu).

Audacity as Bent pointed out does NOT have REAL TIME effects. You can only apply them after the fact. If you go back to Audacity's page, there is a download link for a vst enabler that will allow you to use freely and legally downloaded plugins from3rd party developers. There is also an [="http://audacity.googlecode.com/files/LADSPA_plugins-win-0.4.15.exe"]LDSPA[/]="http://audacity.goo…"]LDSPA[/] plugin pack which includes many plugins.



That all being said, you might also want to try [[url=http://="http://www.kreative…"]Kristal Audio Engine[/]="http://www.kreative…"]Kristal Audio Engine[/] which is also free but a little more complex and allows for real time use of plugins.

I would'nt necessarily call it an effect because when listening to songs you might not even notice it.

It is an effect - totally, undeniably, 100%.



A Hall is just one of many flavors of the effect called reverb, same as 'echo', 'spring', and numerous others.

My question is how are you getting the vocals into the computer? The reason I ask is the most common way would be an interface and nearly all of them today come bundled with software. So you might want to consider which one comes bundled with a software program you can live with though all the above suggestions are great as well and most are free or very reasonable in cost.

"I thought I'll just use a typical microphone pluged to my laptop with a mini-jack."



If you want to sound like your vocals were recorded from a Skype conversation over dialup, go ahead.



It's a decent enough way to get started, but after cursing and swearing a lot about the lousiness, you'll go the way of the pros and drop some cash on something better.

what is this thread doing in DAW PRO AUDIO???

Acoustica Mixcraft. Record - Mix - Burn. The GarageBand equavilent for the PC. Made for beginners and wankers...

Not really. I myself still use a soundblaster (oh, the hypocrisy - but I prefer to call it leading by counter-example). But I only record spoken word for web distrubution.



Other people (and threads already posted) are far more suited to "what should I buy" questions (see Budget Gear/Home Project Studios sub-forums)