Recording an EP?

[MisterNobody]

Hey, I'll try to keep this short and to the point, heh.

I've been writing and composing my own music since I was just 13 years old, and now, at the age of 19, I feel that it's time for me to seriously start pursuing a music career. I have a handful of original songs that I'm absolutely in love with, and I'm dying to get it out there. I'll be going to college to become a music producer (hopefully next year), but in the mean time, I want to get a head start and begin the process of recording my first EP.

My questions:

1) What do I need? Please keep in mind the current state of the US economy and the fact that I can't find a stable job due to it.
2) Should I connect with other musicians for the sake of expediting the process or should I go solo? I already have connections with a guy who knows his way around the studio.
3) What's the best way to get heard? I'm already whoring myself out on Tumblr (more-so for my vlogs right now), and I have a YouTube, but what else can I do to promote myself?
4) Has anyone tried FL Studio for the iPod? Is it EP worthy? I know Garage Band for the iPod is way too basic, so I won't even touch that one.

I'm willing to pay my dues and do all of the foot work, no problem. I just need a little guidance regarding where to start.

Additional details: I am a solo artist, my music style is somewhat acoustic, somewhat whatever-the-fuck-you-want-it-to-be; I have a Yamaha DGX-205 keyboard, BC Rich WMD Warbeast, Roland 30x Cube Amp, and a Shure PG48 microphone. I realize I need a pop-screen as well (I know my make-shift won't do, so I'll make a better quality one - hooray for pantyhose and cross-stitching hoops!) And for now, until I get ProTools and a Macbook Pro from my college, I'll be using Audacity (the choice of peasants), and my dad's PC (which is all tricked out, so it's all good - he's a PC Tech). I have other instruments, but I won't be using them for this project, and as far as drums and bass are concerned, I'll just synthesize them.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Thank you <3

[ArsenicCatNip]

I think using any app for starting out would be a pretty bad move :P if you are going to make use of your keyboard and piano playing you should invest into a MIDI keyboard.

The bad thing about the portable keyboards like the Yamaha is the octaves don't compare to that of a more quality keyboard or Grand Piano.

Also it'd be best down the line to invest in a bass because in general guitar and bass played through programs like say Garageband or Ableton always sound like crap.

[MisterNobody]

Just bumping this because I really need the help, guys.
Thanks.

[xXJust Jump ItXx]

All I can say is use real instruments cause like said sound like above, on programs they sound like crap.

[Syvelocin]

You could even try kickstart. Get one of your best songs recorded to present to people and if they're into it enough, you can raise the money to cover the recording studio fees and produce the CDs. That is, if you're goal is independent at least in the beginning.

I guess I'd just second the keyboard thing. If it's just keyboards, I guess the yamaha would be fine. I thoroughly enjoy having both my Privia PX-130 and my stupid Yamaha keyboard when it comes to live stuff at least. The keyboard's great when you're playing... well, keyboards. There really is a difference between the keyboard's piano voice and even an electric piano.

1. Umm. Depends what you mean by that. A job? :P But really, I would recommend a minor or something. I know you want to do this, but you simply need a solid back-up plan you can fall back on. Otherwise you'll be waiting tables for the rest of your life. I'm going to be studying Psychology but I'm minoring in Creative Writing. If writing happens for me, great. But I still get to do something else I'd love to do if it doesn't work out.
2. Depends what feels right. Is it the career or the friendship? Or both? Do you feel all right sharing the decisions? Because when you enter into that, depending how the rest of the band feels, you have less control and you just have to deal with it. In my situation, it works because I'm really not a composer as much as I am a poet, so being the lyricist only is fine by me.
3. Youtube's great. You hear about a lot of people getting heard on Youtube. Nothing else but Kickstart would I really recommend for that.
4. I'm just an Audacity whore so... meh.