Hi To Everyone..:smile:

I am really an old new kid on the block?I am 55 years old Englishman,Married to a Viking & living In Norway.I am very pleased to have discovered this site and hope very much you guys are able to help & advice me in time.

I am a very frustrated percussionist...long story but have being in poor health for many years and things have become worse,,,which gets to you.I have become lazy..no motivation...and it`s serious.Right I promise not to re visit the misery.But it does have implications for almost everything I do.

To cut a very long story as short as I can...I am receiving a lot of very kind help from great folk...in the world of percussion & elsewhere.

I would just like to ask a few opening questions..to get the ball rolling.

I know from past experience that you guys need as much imfo as possible so as to be able to give the correct advice..I have read so much in such a short time including many threads. so here goes:-

I was thinking of trying to utilise my laptop,by recording some of my lessons /practice and being able to simply play it back?to monitor my progress I am also going to set up live online lessons (we live in the wilds and I could not travel very far)

I have being looking at a few recording options and above all I am trying to strike a continual balance..& keep what ever set up as simple as possible but with a bit of style! quality.I really am not looking for a home studio as such? although I suppose in reality it will be.

I have 2008-9 Dell studio 32 bit laptop that is my nerve centre..
Few tech spec details:
Intel(R) High Definition Audio HDMI
Device ID:HDAUDIOFUNC_01&VEN_8086&DEV_2802&SUBSYS_80860101&REV_10004&A74B963&0&0101
Driver Date: 3-15-2010
Driver Version: 6.10.1.2089
Driver GUID: {4d36e96c-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}007
Service Description: Intel(R) High Definition Audio HDMI
Device Location: Internal High Definition Audio Bus
Device Parameters: HDAUDIO

The Percussion Invetory is as follows:-
CONGAS PAIR/TIMBALI WITH MOUNTED COWBELS& BLOCKS E.T.C.there maybe other hand drum/s later.
but..as I am not wishing to become a recording studio..Mixing & laying down tracks,pro recordings e.t.c. I thought maybe a large condenser mic,may do the job of maybe recording the ensemble rather than every single instrument:Because I have read how folk mic up just the Congas with two near the heads at 45 degrees.or hanging above. & Mic set back a little..(overhaul) and mics at the bases e.t.c.You guys will know all this anyway..

I was thinking a nice quality boom mic stand..with either one or two microphones? but hey what do I know.

These all in one recoders by ZOOM.Tascam e.t.c. wondered if these would be a simple way of doing it..I can hear the groans from here!

I am told I need a audio interface to plug the mics in to,,then I assume that goes to my laptop where I can use suggested free software..but again |I don`t need anything to complex or special.I have already received advcie on audio interface with the sonus set up quite popular and not to expensive good latency e.t.c.:confused:

Then I assume we travel on to the Active monitors/Speakers? I did own a pair of audio engine a5s but sold them..so am looking for suggestions..
Oh the room is small 2 mTRS x 3.8 mTRS x 2.4mTRS high..

If I could buy a pair of monitors and stands (not to costly)which could double up to play my music files of which I have many. then that would be superb.

Do not know how the two functions of recording my lessons (main priority) and listening to my music can be achieved but I look forward to your suggestions..I suspect a outboard DAC will come in to this somewhere to bypass the Dell soundcard?

anyway that is more than enough to be going on with

many thanks in advance

all the best Steve