Help getting my setup set up
 

I have a computer. I'm using the Tascam US-224 as my interface.

I am running a guitar in via line in, and a keyboard via line in 2.
Now, the keyboard is an actual keyboard, but I just want to use it as a keyboard midi controller. I also have two pedals plugged into the keyboard.

I also want to use the basic mock mixer controls.

I have access to the following programs:
- FL Studio 10 Producer
- Mixcraft 5.2
- Sonar X2 Producer

I don't mind if I need to buy additional plugins or even a different program, just tell me what I need to buy and I'll do it.
I don't care because once I get this set up it'll save me a ton of money.

I need the following:
-To play guitar via a virtual effects setup
-Use my keyboard as a midi keyboard
-Control my virtual mixer with the Tascam

:band:

If you want to record into the computer with effects recorded into the computer, you either need a really strong computer with a good motherboard and lots of ram or you are better off buying an independent effect to connect to the guitar then the computer for recording

As for the midi keyboard, it depends what kind of keyboard you have

for the virtual mixer, there should be automatic commands within FL Studio and others to read the mixer to work with the program

Well it seems like you pretty much have everything you need. Sonar should do pretty well with the Tascam, although it may not have midi-mapping set up for your particular keyboard. Not sure. Either way, you can get Sonar to "learn" it manually. Check the help file in Sonar. It will guide you through the steps. That should cover the keyboard and Sonar can also learn the mixer part, plus anything else on the unit you want to map to Sonar controls. Just plug the keyboard's MIDI out to the MIDI in of your Tascam. (You usually use MIDI through for this, but in your case, midi in might function the same)

Sonar should come with Native Instruments Guitar Rig (probably the limited edition). That will do well for your virtual guitar rig. If you require more out of it, if it's the LE, just upgrade to the full version.
You should be able to create an audio track in Sonar and set the input to whatever input correlates to where your guitar is plugged in, then add Guitar Rig as an audio effect on that channel. You'll need to adjust your audio settings in Sonar to get the best latency.

So basically, you should at least be able to get set up with what you have now, test it out, and determine where you might want to upgrade or add on.
With that said, I would definitely recommend using Sonar for all of this.

I forgot to mention, I do have a very high end gaming class computer I'm recording on.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
I'll try it out and if I run into any issues I'll post back.
And sorry bout the smiley glitch!
My crappy internet does odd things to my posts!

Okay I'm having some confusion.

Let me break down my situation now.

Instruments:
Guitar
Connections: Line Out

Bass Guitar: Line Out

Casio Casiotone CT-640
Connections: line out, midi in, midi out, midi through

Tascam US-224 "mixer" Midi Controller

I want to put my guitar in through line in 1
I want to put my bass in through line in 2
I want to put my keyboard in via Midi In and use it as a midi controller.

I have it all hooked up but I can't figure out how to use the instruments.
See, the way you normally do it in FL Studio when you are plugged directly into the computer won't work because the only inputs are the ones that are built on your computer.

I don't care which of the programs I listed earlier that I use. If somebody has some experience in any of these programs I'll take what I can get.
In fact, If I have to I'll buy another program.

By the way, I have Sonar 8 Producer not Sonar X2, sorry bout that.

Also, what are some good bass rig plug ins, guitar rig plug ins, and keyboard/synth virtual instrument I can use with my keyboard.

Thanks!

take pictures of what you are talking about because u dont make no damn sense to me

then we could potentially help u with your issue

Use your Tascam for all the inputs. Your guitar and bass will be plugged into their own channels on that. (You will have to put the gain pretty high for those channels if you're going direct in, because there's no amplifier)

Once that's all plugged in, plug in the midi out from your keyboard and put it into the midi in of your Tascam. It should relay the midi messages to the computer.

In Sonar, create audio tracks for your guitar and bass, and set the input and output for both. The inputs will correlate to the inputs on your Tascam, and the outputs will probably go straight out to your soundcard by default. Usually it's a good thing to open up the console by going to View > Console, and on the right side of the rightmost white bar, right click the space and add a new stereo bus. Name it MASTER by doubleclicking the "bus 1", then set the output to your Tascam's first set of outputs that are connected to your speakers.
You'll also need to insert a synth of your choosing to be controlled by the keyboard. When you insert the synth, make sure you tick ON the option for "midi source" if I remember correctly, so that it automatically creates an audio track above the midi track, which is where the actual audio from the synth will play on. This will save you from having to manually set the midi track to output to a manually added audio track and having to set its input.

Set the midi tracks related audio track's output to the master bus you created. (Or, alternately, create a bus for each element which all output to the master bus, and output your actual tracks to their respective buses. This is preferable when you're dealing with multiple tracks that need to be on the same subgroup, like guitars, vocals, drums, synths, etc. This allows you to effect them as a group without having to do so individually for each track. Also makes it easier in the mixing process to control levels on a group basis.

On the midi track, the input needs to be set to the midi represented by your keyboard. It defaults to Omni, which means the midi data will be extracted from the host itself, like if you wanted to use the piano roll to create the notes. Since you want to use your keyboard, you'll need to select whatever representation there is for your keyboard, or your Tascam's midi out. I don't know what you'll see here for your setup. It varies.

At this point, you should be able to use your keyboard to send midi data through your tascam and into the midi track, which triggers the synthesizer associated with it, which outputs sound to the audio channel associated with it. It's a pretty logical flow, and everything works this way in Sonar.

For your audio channels, you should be able to play the guitar and bass and those low-level sounds should be audible on their respective tracks if you correctly set the inputs for those tracks. At this point, you simply add your amp modelling program into the plugin section of the track, whatever it may be, and your basic direct-in sound will be affected by it as it passes through the track.

Again, latency will be your biggest enemy here. If you're getting an unplayable delay, you need to ensure you're using the best driver mode for your system (located in the audio settings) and the lowest buffer size. The trade-off here is that the lower the buffer size, the better the latency, but the performance is a lot worse. Higher buffer sizes = better performance but higher latency. Considering this, you want to make sure that you're recording your guitar and bass very early on in the project when there are minimal amounts of active plugins and other tracks going. Also, not having a sh*tty computer really helps a lot.

As far as programs to use for synths, Sonar comes stock with plenty of them. I would suggest Dimension Pro for your pads, atmospheres and a lot of other stuff. Session Drummer is self-explanatory, but works the same way as any other synth does in terms of setup. Rapture is good for electronic leads and stuff like that.
If you require more, just make sure you acquire software synthesizers that have a VSTi version, and add the .dll to the main VST directory for Sonar, which is invariably located in "installation drive letter"\program files\cakewalk\vst plugins
This may change depending on the bit version you have, but it should be obvious where the correct vst location is simply by going to it and seeing the plugins that come with Sonar.

Not sure if this answers your question, and I usually try to structure things better, but I'm in a hurry and I'm not completely sure of where you're stuck.

Sorry...
Something like this diagram maybe.
The bass isn't necessary but I'd really like to have it set up.

http
://i1132.photobucket.com/albums/m564/egayzsux/Untitled-1.jpg

dali explained it best then

just put everything thru the tascam

Yeah, I did that but I cant figure out how to use the instruments once they are plugged in.

FL Studio is the porgram I'm most familiar with, so that's what I'm trying to mess with right now.

FL Studio does recognize my Tascam as a midi controller but I can't figure out how to use the instruments plugged in to the unit.
Normally in FL when you plug a guitar in you go to the virtual mixer and select the line in, but that only works for when the instrument is plugged directly into the computer. External devices and inputs aren't shown.

Like I said I don't have to use FL but if somebody could point me in the right direction to use my instruments that would be great.