Best answer you could get: Read the forum for 1 year and do not post a thing.

Follow glide advice and read as much as possible, very important. I will put in my 2 cents for what is worth, I don't like computer based recording, I much prefer a stand alone recording device and use the computer to mix down your tracks. My reason has to do with two computer based recording issues, latency and many problems you will encounter trying to get it working properly. Now all these can be resolved but it may take changing your computer (more money) and for sure will take lots of your time. If you want to spend more time recording get a stand alone unit. They work out of the box and record just as well as a computer based unit but NO LATENCY!

Your going to need a circular saw, framing square, chalk line, sledge hammer, a few shovels, some nylon string, let's see, several 12 gauge extension cords, preferably one with a pigtail, shoot, a four foot level....

....5/8" sheetrock, 2x8's, battery operated screwdriver with drill bits and phillips, Owens Corning 703 panels, a hammer, paint, burlap covering, spray adhesive, track lighting, green glue, 2x4's, R-13 insulation,......not necessarily in that order....

I'm with vdrummer. I much prefer a dedicated recorder and full choice of microphone preamps.

Of course you cannot get away from the fact that many people are utilizing Digi Designed consoles running real-time ProTools & RTAS plug-ins, while running PA & recording 24 to 32 tracks, of high-resolution audio, live. But that's not quite the system you have and likely not for some time.

Of course many of us trust & rely on our computers to deliver. Most do, after you have spent weeks, no, months tweaking the computer, its operating system & software along with other outboard hardware to function reliably. And even when you think you got it right it will bite you in the ass during the best paying job you've landed. No take 2. No callback. No more business.

You may even want to consider purchasing a used 2 inch 24 track analog deck? They've been known to work.

I'm a little biased. (Former Ampex, 3M, Scully, MCI, factory service Tech)
Ms. Remy Ann David

I bought the M-Audio Delta 1010, for I think about 500 or so. And some pretty cheap near field monitors, a small soundboard and that set up records pretty well. If I start collecting microphones, it will work a lot more effectively. Preamps are expensive. So, a few microphones like an sm57 or sm58, a small soundboard or cash out a microphone preamp, a recording interface like the m-audio, hooked up to your computer with a few cheap powered monitors and it works. NOT professional, but a diggable sound I've tried to capture for a year now.