MonoStone

...here's The Master! That's live.... One man with an incredible voice, one accoustic guitar, one cheap drum machine, and a tape delay (or a 'looper' as you call it... no doubt HoboSage's suggested device will do the same but better (since JM's is just doing a long delay))...plus some effects pedals/Volume pedal.... Don't need much! But a lot of talent...hard work...and a good dose of luck, to get signed. Good luck. Post some stuff in the song critique section when you have it...I'd love to hear.

Hey Dan, I had a quick look. I have some opinions/experience personally and I'm interested to help.... but I wanted to quickly scan the questions first (which I couldn't do in its present form). Maybe if you post a preview of the type of questions in there...

Marc Bolan might have said the same to Noel

I have a tascam US-122 external sound card. Plug in to your comp with USB and you're up and running. 2 xlr's. 4 jacks. Phantom power. No doubt there are newer and better around now, but same idea. Low cost too. Or when I want a more old school approach with faders and recording outside the comp, I have a boss br900 digital recorder, easily plugged in to the computer via USB. So I can record tracks diredctly on it and just use USB to transfer. Again with xlr's, phantom power, and jacks, plus on board effects. I'm on a budget and my stuff is old, there's better ways for sure. But you need to have some connection to the comp, the external card is super simple and pretty cheap.

I'm in an honest mood.......... I write songs for myself first. I enjoy doing it. I sometimes enjoy listening to them too (if I think they're any good...if not I bin them), even if no one else enjoys them. I like what I like. If I don't like my own stuff...I might as well not bother because my door isn't being battered down by admirers. I hope just a few people will appreciate the rough songs I put on here or wherever, to some degree. What to do with my music beyond that - Possibilities/goals (however unlikely) - When I get something finished to a decent standard, I'll put it out there online. I hope that maybe a hand full of strangers might one day really enjoy a song I've made (whether performed by me or someone else), and listen to it purely for the pleasure of it or because it speaks to them in some way. And I mean really enjoy it, not just stick it on in the background...put headphones on and LOVE it (I can't have a goal of someone maybe thinking my song is ok but disposable). That's quite a goal. We all need a goal...even unlikely dreams. I'm way too old to trade on being cutting edge, current, cool, handsome or sexy. I'm not talented enough to trade on being the muso's favourite vocal acrobat or guitar genius. Not got a lot going for me really....hmmmm...what the hell am I doin makin music...what's the point!!?? Oh and my ultimate goal is to get stupidy rich from making music and spend my days in a custom made studio in the converted underground chambers of my own renovated castle. It's not much to ask. Just kidding (I'm not).

Jeff Buckley - Lover you should've come over. The words, the performance, pure unhinged emotion. I don't wish I'd written it it's his song and couldn't be mine, but I'd like to be able to turn emotion into something so powerful and beautiful without holding back at all.