José, the song was recorded entirely with the 9000 pro; I used the Live Nylon - two tracks playing the lead guitar one octave apart, plus one rhytm track (arpeggio); then a chorus/string patch and another string patch with two layered sounds (Arco strings and another one; I don't remember the names but I can check later when I come back home).
The output signal went through a Roland analog mixer to my TC electronics MOneXL DSP (I didn't use any outboard effects, but the MOneXL allows me to connect the digital output to the digital input of my Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum. The software is Cool Edit Pro.
The main problem with this setup (soundcard based) is the electrostatic noise, which is non predictable. Yesterday there was a lot of wind and rain and I had to redo many tracks due to unbearable electrostatic noise. For this reason I am about to upgrade to a system based on a digital mixer with hard disk recorder. It will take a bit to get accustomed, but I hope that the quality of my recordings will improve substantially. Too bad the musician will be the same... :-(

Terry, you are really too kind. I check my mix through headphones and the strings seemed fine, but maybe it's time I start to listen through speakers, to understand how the song will sound to other listeners.
I wish I could treat my patients with music...

Andrea:

Thanks a lot for the explanation. I understand that the multi-tracking is all done with software only. All my attempts in recording songs were done playing everything live. That obviously limits a lot the arrangement complexity and sophistication. I begin to realize that with multi-tracking, interesting results can be obtained if we are patient to capture all the voices present in an orchestration. At least your recent recordings sound much more professional and the musician is the same (good one!)

-- José.

José,
my recent registrations sound more professional because I went back to school. There is a lot around to learn, if you have the time and the patience and a good midifile can be an excellent learning tool. Before recording songs like Sweet Home Chicago and Route 66 I spent hours listening to midifiles recorded by professional musicians, trying to play exactly the same notes. This goes for the solo's, the chords and the overall arrangements. Even listening to the Cavatina midifile, I was amazed to hear how the strings were beautifully orchestrated.
With a program like Power Tracks you can display the notes played on a small keyboard in the higher part of the screen. If you slow the tempo down, you can see even the slightest nuances played and actually learn a lot.
When I was a teenager I used to do the same listening to my guitar heroes (Hank Marvin, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and later guys like Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and Joe Pass). At that time all I had was a gramophone and my ear; since the records were 33 rmp there was no way to slow them down to better understand a solo. Besides, slowing down the record had also an effect on the overall pitch.
Today, with midifiles and sequencers, it's all so much easier.
So, if my recent registrations sound more professional, it's not my credit: I am simply copying what much better musicians do.
For those who can understand german, there is an excellent site; for 15 euros they sell you a midifile and also the relative style. First you study the midifile and then you have at your disposal the right style to play your song. I can really advice these styles to anyone; besides, they have styles for all the current arrangers (Roland, Ketron, Yamaha -even a few for the Tyros).
The address is:
http://www.styles-music.de/

I understood that you were using midi file as the inspiration of you arrangements. You certainly deserve a lot of credits for the work of patience in analyzing and studying the several tracks of a song. Although it might seem to be a basic and/or not so creative exercise, I believe it is a great learning tool, useful in understanding how an arrangement is done. It's probably a good start to have our own ideas of orchestrations. Thanks for the site!

-- José.

José,
you are right; of course I didn't always use midifiles as a starting point. For example, to record Wave I did use an arrangement found in a magazine named "European Musician" (now discontinued); there was a guy who proposed to play this song with different voicings; I really liked them and so have spent hours trying to learn them. On the other hand all the rest (guitar solo included) is my own stuff.
The same goes for Malafemmena: I don't know if -unconsciously- I took inspiration from someone, but things went very simply: I began to record the song with the rhytm track, then started playing a jazz guitar sound and I found myself playing those jazzy chords without even knowing. When I did listen to the registration I was amazed to hear how good it sounded.
On the other hand, even if you go inside a museum, you will find painters trying to copy all those masterpieces hung on the walls. Once you've learned the technique, you are ready to start your own (hopefully creative) artistic work.