Now, this is a stupid question. I know it for sure.

What do you think of the idea that:
- You get a rough mix
- You slap a limiter on the master bus - drive it hard, so it's almost continually brickwalled - and with a 3-400ms release.

Im looking for a new soundcard

but i dont know the first thing about soundcards just need some sense of direction

Price range: $100-$200
Here are my specs

You may have heard this a thousand times over, or maybe you just think I'm nuts asking, but here goes.

I was wondering if anyone could advise me how to go about finding contact information for A&R representatives from mostly major record companies who accept unsolicited demo CDs or if anyone has this type of contact information themselves?

Set Up:

CME Matrix K (firewire)
DELL M1530 with Vista
PIONEER DJM400 (dj mixer)
AUDACITY SOFTWARE

Aim:

A quick background, I am not as into recording as I once was but I could use a quality 2 channel recording setup. I am finishing up a degree so I don't have a lot of $$ to spend and if there is a way to buy something that can help me in more then one way then all the bettter.

This guy at work let me have his old tube head and cab for $200 and for setting up his old guitars. The head is a 100w (I think) Tube Works with two channels and a switchable 'Tube Drive' circuit. The cab is an old but great condition Crate 4x10.

Check out the pics!

I'm looking at two in particular. Either the AT 2035 which for a while I have considered to be my 'first condenser', or the AT 2050. The 2035 seems to be an intermediate contender with bass rolloff and 10dB pad. Or should I save up my money and get the 2050 with switchable patterns (cardioid/omni/8 )? Or do you think something else entirely would suit me better?

A Jew's harp, for when only that will do? A drawer full of harmonicas? A random assortment of bongos and djembes picked up from garage sales? Fifteen guitars, selected for that specific sound that might, one day, be needed?

Hey up, I'm after some help in how/where I can get drum and simple percussion tracks from to use in either Cubase LE or Sony Acid pro 7. I'm recording some acoustic guitar and vocals but would like to add some simple beats without having to get a drum kit. I thought that both Cubase and Acid had drum loops or drum machine type things in them but I cant frigure them out for the life of me!

How come whenever I see a recording session in commercial/film whatever it always seems that the condensers for vocals are suspended upside down. I have come up with a few possibilities myself.

1. It helps accentuate certain frequencies.

2. It keeps the stand out of the way so the singer can move or read lyrics below the mic.