Originally Posted by: downwithcheezeall this jazz about signals, compression, drum machines, ports, and all the weird mixing boards and just everything confuses the hell outta me

i'd say try and leave all the wierd mixing board etc out to start with and concentrate on becomming competant with cubase, then start on all the weird stuff one at a time until you end up with an arsenal of equipment that will confuse the hell outa everyone except you