You can record without.

You only need an amplifier to hear through speakers. If the mixer has a headphone out, you can and should be able to hear everything that way without an amplifier. However, you will want to use external ( active) monitors that have built in amplifiers.

ok so im going to buy a usb mixer and a decent shure condenser mic, i have a kurzweil sp 4-8 digital keyboard that can be used as a controller. i have the recording software.
what else do you suggest i need to run a functional home recording studio.
i am new to this forum and i am extremely pleased with the speedy responses. thank you so much for the help.
Joe

What kind of USB mixer are you planning to buy?

Depending on your situation, you may be just as well served by a less expensive, industry standard dynamic mic like the Shure SM58 and/or SM57. Condenser mics are by nature more sensitive - which is a double-edge sword, they may hear more audio artifacts from the room than you like.

audiokid, post: 387934 wrote: What kind of USB mixer are you planning to buy?

Need details because not all USB mixers are capable of recording sixteen channels at once!

Why do you need a mixer? I would just get an audio interface that handles the # of channels you need, and use your recording software as the mixer.

gehauser, post: 387940 wrote: Why do you need a mixer? I would just get an audio interface that handles the # of channels you need, and use your recording software as the mixer.

+1