Home recording setup

I'm new at this so my question is what home recording setup is the easiest to learn for downloading a backing track and then mixing when playing my instrument ( guitar)?
Freddy Boom Boom Odom

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Zoom H6 mobile recorder, two condenser microphones, a Positive Grid Spark Go for the electric signal from the guitar, Steinberg Ur22mk2 USB audio interface, Audacity software, PC or Notebook with EndeavourOS ArchLinux, beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones.
Still missing a mixer.

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I appreciate the info. Will have to look into all that. I have Audacity now and have worked a little with it on backing tracks sometime back but didn't spend to much time with it. As for some of the other items here I'll definitely look into it. Thanks a lot and have a great day.
Freddy Boom Boom Odom

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Hi Freddie, you don't have to have so much gear to jam at wikiloops, I'm sure some guitarist here can suggest a simpler set up, I hope they come by. I can't help you myself but I don't want you to worry, once you get off the mark you'll love it here :)

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here's the iterations i've had while here on the loops:

1 - Initial Setup
*external usb sound card - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LM0U2S
*basic laptop
*zoom g1x four pedal - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MZPR5GP
*audacity
*various cables

this did the job, was inexpensive. it got me jamming and on the loops :) i would say my mixes weren't that good, but that was probably inexperience and improper headphones. i was using earbuds.

2 - Next Iteration
*same external usb sound card
*same zoom pedal
*audacity
*dedicated PC (micro lenovo PC)
*slightly better headphones for mixing (Tascam TH-02)

slightly better setup, but not much. the dedicated PC helped with processing. the usb sound card seemed to work better on the PC than with the laptop for some reason.

3 - Current Setup
*same micro lenovo PC (windows 10)
*ditched pedals, using VSTs (Guitar Rig 6 and various other plugins for guitar, mixing, effects, etc)
*purchased Reaper, it changed the game for me, i feel i have a little more power at my hands
*ditched the sound card, went to a Focusrite audio interface - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QR6Z1JB
*i've tried many headphones and still go back to the Tascam TH-02, i feel it's a very flat/raw sound, nothing boosted

that's my current/basic setup right now. i've been happy with it, but when i start doing multiple tracks with various processing/effects on each track, i do have to tweak some of the Reaper settings as it becomes quite intensive on my little PC. my next upgrade would be PC, everything else i'd keep the same.

hopefully some of this helps, and welcome to the loops!

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Hi Freddy,
If you're interested, here's my gear, which I admit isn't the most affordable, but it reflects my boundless passion!
- Telecaster-style electric guitar made by a luthier.
- Behringer UMC404HD sound card (4 inputs + MIDI)
- headphone beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
- PC GEEKOM IT13 Édition 2025 Mini PC Intel® Core™ i9-13900HK
- GigPerformer to add effects, create a playlist with backing tracks for playing live
- Song Master Pro as a work tool for playing along to a track
- Reaper as my primary music editing software, as I also use Cubase to benefit from more advanced features depending on the type of music.
So, a lot of time and money to indulge in this wonderful vice that is music.

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Hi Freddy, I can tell you that my sound isn't very professional, but it works for me to enjoy some time improvising. And it's quite affordable.
Roland Duo Capture external sound card... I think it's discontinued, but there's a new, similar one.
Behringer 30W guitar amp, with its 4 built-in effects.
Cubase 5
Laptop, Huawei Matebook D
M-Audio AV42 active monitors

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Some good advice here, I hope it gets you going. P.S. I moved the thread to the recording and mixing section ;)

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Hi Freddy. I'm kind of new at all this mixing as well. Been playing guitar for about 5 years but have always been 'musical'. So also being inexperienced I thought you might be inerested in what I'm using. As I've improved on the guitar, I've collected a few more. I started off with my 30 year old 6 string Samick. Then added an electric strat, then my wife gifted me a telecaster and I added a 12 string acoustic. But I guess its the tech stuff you're most interested in. You don't need to spend big. I got my home studio set up for under $500 AUD. But you can go cheaper. I bought a focusrite 2i2 USB interface, ($200+) a good quality shure microphone for $50. Enough leads to do the job and a small Yamaha 6 channel mixer, (which I found out later I didn't need once I had the focusrite, but it's still good to use to jam). Already had a good PC so I downloaded Audacity and also you can download Pro Tools Lite for free. If you want to add drums, look at Acoustica Beatcraft (its free and it's a beauty). I did lash out and buy some studio monitors for $200, but they weren't a necessity, just a luxury. I also bought a 20w Orange amp, but again, not required for recording into a DAW.
Good luck mate, let me know how you go as I'm still getting the hang of my set up, but I'm getting there.
All the best
Snowy

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You need time for learning and getting good ears (Don't trust your headphones- That takes as long as telling a Médoc from a Saint-Émilion!)!

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