Recording To Your Computer
The core of your system will be your computer and your software. There are many programs that will allow you to record into your computer, in fact, many computers come with something already loaded. If you want the best quality with the best features for the best price, I would recommend the express version of Digidesign’s “Pro Tools.”
Once you have the software downloaded and installed, all you need to do is physically hook up your audio feed. Choose an output from your mixer and connect it to the audio input of your computer. I would recommend using a spare auxiliary from your board. There are a host of USB Audio Interfaces that can make this sound even better with more control.
Once you have your audio hooked up, you are ready to go. Check your levels and hit record. It may take a little bit of time learning how to use the software, but it is definitely worth it! Once you have recorded your material and it is in your computer, you can do strange and wonderful things to it. Pro Tools will allow you to manipulate the audio like a word processor manipulates text.
The core of your system will be your computer and your software.
You can cut and paste, chop out words, replace sentences, EQ, and compress. You name it. It has up to 16 tracks for you to work with. This means you can have your message on track 1 and bring some music in on track 2. You can put a little intro voice over on track three to play while the music is going to introduce you. You have up to 16 things that can be playing at once. They can be faded in and out and you can adjust their volumes independently of each other. You can even automate volume changes. There is so much you can do; you will just have to dig into it. This is the same software most studios use to produce big budget CD’s. It’s just a stripped down version allowing only 16 tracks at once.
If you really want to step up your media ministry a notch, this is the way to do it. You can learn more about "Pro Tools" at www.avid.com. Don’t be afraid to dig into this; it’s actually a lot of fun. I hope this opens a few eyes and helps some of you “kick it up a notch!” (In the spirit of Emeril Lagasse)