Is the m-audio what i want?

[Powelly]

For recording tracks using my r3, is the m-audio fastrack pro the right thing?
And what software would i need?

[Pastor-of-Muppets]

that should work (there are lots of other similar interfaces that would also work)

It should come with a copy of Ableton Live Lite, which would let you record

[DaniH]

I use Behringer's UCA-222 for my laptop recording and a M-Audio 24/96 for my desktop. In my opinion they both work better than the Fast track pro. Also cheaper too.

[LancetheDJ]

my set up is R3 > behringer xenyx1204 mixer > m-audio FTP >cubase studio 5

this set up work a-ok for me

[Powelly]

What does the xenyx do?
And what software would be the best?

[DaniH]

The XENYX is a studio mixer. You would plug multiple instruments or what ever into it then route it to your speakers and/or recorder.

Software is a personal choice. I use Adobe, Acid Pro, Cubase, Reason, etc...

[Powelly]

One thats the easier to get started?

[DaniH]

The XENYX or a computer program??

[X-Trade]

Get yourself a fairly decent piece of software. It doesn't have to cost much, there are many fairly fully featured software available for free.

I can say that Cubase (Mac & PC) & Logic (Mac only) are very popular for general recording and MIDI sequencing and are very similar. Protools is also very popular although the licensing is a joke.

Then there is Ardour (free/donation), Garrageband (comes with most Macs, Mac only), Kristal, Reaper, energyXT...
Audacity is also popular but it has absolutely no MIDI capability and not really much in the way of pro features

Anyway, the point I was going to make is that the more advanced software will take you further. It is fairly easy to just ignore the features that you aren't ready to explore yet, but will be there and waiting for when you do want to. With all of the software above, it is incredibly easy to (for example) just make an audio track, record audio to it, make another, record audio to that too, and layer up and build an entire song.