Hey people, I hope all is well and am glag to be here part of a site so interactive for the love of music. I bought this set up a while ago with a buddy, he used it all last summer and did not get much done, so I bought his half and now I have the equipment. I run an AKG Perception 220 condenser mic through a Tascam US - 122 MK usb 2.0 Audio/MIDI interface with Cubase LE 4.

I have recorded 9 tracks so far and they are up on youtube, here is a link to my youtube page: http://www.youtube…"]YouTube - AKAMUSICkeepit100's Channel[/]="http://www.youtube…"]YouTube - AKAMUSICkeepit100's Channel[/]

I stopped rapping and singing for like 2 years because the people I was around were no good for me and I almost quit. But I love music to much and it's inside of me wanting to break out everyday.

As you can tell there is no production involved what so ever and I can only do so much with a 200 $ mic and a 200$ interface. I do not edit or mix, although I have learned to fix my levels to eliminate clips.

Basically I would like some advice on how I should be recording, what type of levels am I looking for for first layer vocals to my second and possibly third. I am also annoyed with the instrumentals I import into Cubase, they are always so low and they clip so easily, is there anything I can do with these instrumentals to work with them better. ?

Should I be recording in Mono on my Tascam interface?

I have so many ranges with my voice & I have a hard time finding the right levels for each, especially for singing, my singing is so much better off the mic. for that matter so is my rapping, but I am coming along with my rap structure ( bars). I used to be a really sick freestyle / battle artist but like I said I quit for along time and I am getting it back more everyday. I also record open in my basement and it is quite hollow though it does not echo to the human ear. ( If that affects how I should be recording? probaly does) I have trouble with choruses and structuring them with these industry beats I am using though. Any tips and advice will really help me get an Idea of what I should and can be doing.

thank you for your time.