Ok, here's a list of stuff that will get you some good "pro" sounding tracks without breaking the bank:

Small mixer: Behringer or Mackie (used)
Compressors: 2 RNC (new or used)
Reverb: Lexicon Alex (used)
Multi-effects Box: Boss SE-50 (used)

Mics:
Behringer ECM8000 Omnis x2 (Overheads, Misc.)
Shure SM-57 x2 (Snare, Guitar Cabinets)
Marshall MXL-603S x2 (Acoustic Guitars, Overheads)
Marshall MXL-V67G (Vocals, Misc.)
Radio Shack 33-3020 x3 (Tom Mics)
Audio Technica ATM25 (Kick)
Shure SM-7 (used) (Vocals, Misc.

Hey, except for the mixer Harvey just cut and pasted that from his own gear list! And left out the more expensive mics.

Anyhoo, can I move in to your parent's basement? Rent's killing me, an' I could help ya record stuff!
-kent

Well, it's true that I own most of those mics that I recommended, but I chose them specifically to fill certain applications at the lowest possible price. You can record just about anything with that combination of mics.

Just ribbin' you, Harvey. If anything the fact that you own the mics you recommend is testament to their worthiness.

Now, if guitarman will just get back to me about his parent's basement...
-kent

hargerst's list will run you about $2000 (give or take a couple hundred), which leaves you with some money to buy a new sound card. You'll need it after you've experienced what it's like to record with a Soundblaster

Destron

Thanks for all the help guys, but.....

I'm afraid more help is needed.

Since i'm a guitarist, i've decided on your advice that i'm going with the 2 Shure SM-57 microphones and the 2 RNC comressors. For right now.

If I were to get a new sound card such as the Delta 1010, would i need a mixer with that since i have a program that came with my sound baster card (Cubasis VST) that has a mixer?

When I test drive the microphone/compressor with my current set up, would i sound "good" on a recording without and kind of pre amp? I'm not really familiar about pre amps.

If I decided to get a Waves package such as the Native Platinum, would that mean that i don't need the compressors or the lexicon reverb, or even a mixer since everything is in the software package of the Waves Native Platinum?

Thanks again for the help.

You can get an MXL 603 for the same price as the SM-57, and it will be better for recording any acoustic guitar stuff. What would you use two SM-57s for?

As for pre-amps, you'll need something, as the Delta series of soundcards doesn't have them. Try something like the Midiman Audio Buddy or buy a mixer (a used Mackie or new Behringer) to use the pre-amps in it.

As far as outboard effects vs. software effects, I'm too new to have a good opinion. I don't think you can go wrong with a least one RNC. They're stereo, so you can run two mics through it at the same time, albeit at the same settings.

I'm a beginner too, and anything with Harvey Gerst's name on it is something you want to read. Go to google and/or dejanews for a free education.

Glenn D.

A mic pre brings the signal level of a microphone up to that of a line so you can record it. The reason people are telling you to buy a small mixer is mostly because it is a cheap way to get multiple mic pres.

You cannot replace an external compressor like the RNC with an internal one. One use of an external compressor is to give you the ability to record your signal hotter which gives you more headroom for mixing later.

The reason you have gotten the recommendations for equipment that you did is because you said you want to record "bands" not just overdubs. To record a band, you need to have a larger arsenal of mics, mic pres, compressors, AD, etc... then if you were just overdubbing. There are very few bands that you can record with only 2 SM57's and a Delta 1010...

... but, lastly, just having the gear isn't enough. I suggest you buy a complete signal chain (i.e. 2 mics, 2 mic pres, compressor, better ad) and learn how to use it a little bit before you get along to recording whole bands because you will run into troubles you didn't even know existed.

Destron