Are you mac or pc? that will determine what direction will send you-

hey, watch your back out there, man. Can't never be too careful nowdays in that part of the world.

I am using a laptop PC computer. Due to the situation that I am in, I don't have an amp. I won't have any large speakers to play the music back through either so I will be using a nice set of headphones. I plan on recording my guitar direct, which is why I wanted to get the Line6 POD amp modeler. That is also why I would like to get a decent program to create drum beats with. Basically I just want to be able to record decent sounding songs (guitar, drums, and bass) so that I can work with them when I get back home. I've been in a studio with my band abck home, and I've had experience recording on a small 4-track, but that is about the extent of my experience. I've only read and heard about Pro Tools, is this stuff as great as everyone says it is? Once again, I appreciate the help. - JT

yeah, get a DAw- protools is fine, try it. develop your chops so you can get to recording with the band when you get back
home-

to create beats you probably will need a program like acid for your pc- that will allow you to work with loops-

another program that can be a little cheesy at times but can give you a lotta experience working with arrangements is band in a box. its great for practicing and for trying out different styles. then later you can replace the parts with real players.

Some people claim to get great results using a pod but I rather mic an amp- since that is not an option right now, by all means use the pod!

I have Acid 3.0 on my desktop PC back in the states. It came with some samples of packaged drum beats. I am looking for a drum program that will let me do more than loops. Something that will let me create my own fills and get really detailed with it. Do you have any suggestions?

What about computer hardware - am I going to need a pumped up soundcard?

I dont know if this is what you are after but there is a new program out, which apparently chews up heaps of processing power, its a plugin called 'BFD' which is pretty much a drum modelling software program-you can change how the drums sound, the speed, program it all etc...ill just grab the url...[http://www.fxpansion.com/product-bfd-main.php]

that should work...i got no idea what ud need to run it..im in a rush but someone else should be able to set u straight!!!
hope alls well over there man, keep outta trouble[/url]

American in Kuwait

Hamish and Maintiger,

thanks for the information to my questions. I am doing some research on the produts that were mentioned. Hopefully I will have this thing put together in a month or so. I will be ordering a high powered laptop soon, then I will get the software. Right now I have a fender american deluxe strat that I am running through a fender mini-twin amplifier. I took my guitar apart and put it in a footlocker in order to bring it on a plane to kuwait. It made the trip though and works fine! - JT