Starting From Scratch Options

[mpnow]

I want to get a software to start recording music, both virtual music and live, direct input (guitars, voices, even drums sometimes). I find Garageband pretty weak. Is it Pro Tools rather than Logic that I need ? Or something else?
(Please do not baffle me with talk of MIDI etc.)

I presume I also need to buy a soundcard (which will go in one of the empty PCI slots). If so, which one?

Does the fact that I am going to buy that Formac Studio TVR (or CANOPUS ADVC 110) to convert vhs to digital make any difference to anything?

[fishboisfo]

MIDI is kind of easy to understand if you remember that MIDI imput is not audio (or rather) any sound input. Midi is just information, like how hard you pressed a key on your keyboard, or on some systems how long a string vibrates and at what pitch. But MIDI -- musical instrument/ digital interface is just information -- digital information -- that your computer can interpret and turn into sound --and you choose the "control surface " -- i.e., a keyboard.
You can get internal --or external/firewire -- soundcards to "make" or interpret the information, turn it into "sound" or audio input that your sequencer can use, or you can get software like arturia's moog or mini moog for example, that can make it's own sounds directly by just plugging in a control surface ( like a keyboard ).
It took me a long time to get this too, but when the light comes on, you'll go ah-ha, and that will be that.
And, I really don't want to beat a dead horse, but Ableton Live version 4 -- and soon to be 5 -- is an exceptional tool that allows midi input, live audio input ( vocals, etc ) on the fly or in a studio. Download the demo, and check it out. Or, just read articals in a few computer music mags, and then try it. It is pretty amazing software, and surprisingly can run extremely well on a G3 processor and 500MB ram without a hitch.
Hope that helps !!