Computers

This new page just got started to give tips for computer users on a budget and especially for those who love music. I have this PC hooked up to my retro-nineties home stereo with an audio digital interface and I can listen to internet music on the speakers, record my friends in the living room, and make my own CDs. This part is still under construction and I plan to continue with more details in the near future. Here's some photos and info just to get things started.

This is just an ordinary average home computer. Fancy stuff like effects and processing use a lot of computer memory--for folk-style music that isn't so much of an issue. The audio digital interface is really just a little mixer that hooks up to the computer via a USB port or a Firewire, which is the higher-tech connection. It has inputs for XLR mic cables and guitar cables and then it has outputs to connect to the stereo or other monitoring system. The USB or Firewire connection feeds the signal into the computer. The interface usually comes with the software for a basic recording program--for less than two hundred bucks you can be doing multi-track recording on your home PC or Mac.

Here's a very popular online retail outlet with lots of musical instruments, recording gear, P.A. equipment, and software. They have detail descriptions, customer reviews, and articles about the gear and how to use it. That's www.musiciansfriend.com

Another one is www.samash.com another online music store. If you like music and production, the sites are good for hours of fun.

Another great site is www.musicbooksplus.com they have references for everything you could possibly want to know about music production and the music business.

Clean your computer! If you live in the desert like I do. the thing is probably full of dust. Go get some of that spray computer cleaner, open the thing up, and blast it (a dust mask and safety glasses are recommended for this.) Mine is working WAY better since I did this. Thanks to Middle Eastern drummer Issa Malouf for this bit of info (he is a computer nerd in real life.)

Amara recording traditional dunun and djembe music from Mali in my living room.