Here's what I do.

1. Record the real drums LAST. Use Loops, samples and midi programming to make temporay drum tracks to use to record all the other parts first. This lets you hone in on the right sound, feel and part per song. You can keep updating it as you add overdubs; maybe "that fill" was wrong, or you need to add some crahes "there" to emphasis a part that'a taking shape. these things aren't always possible if you record the real drums first...and then you're comprimising the soing. After all the parts are on there you'll really now how the drums should be played.Now your drummer can learn the parts from the rough mixes with the temp drums and really be prepared. PS If you aren't a drummer, have a real one help you with the programming so that you right convincing drum parts. It's not hard if you know how, but if you don't you don't want to have unhuman parts (ususally!)

Go to a real studio for ONE day to cut drums. A great sounding professional room, lots of great mics and compressors, a good analog desk (along with a good drummer, well tuned kit and proper arrangement) makes ALL of the difference. You can't fake a good room. NOW you're really prepared. You can take a couple of hours to get a really great drum sound. You can use a alot of mics, because you can later not use the ones that aren't relavant for each and every song; For instance you can top and boittom mic all toms; but say on a particular song the drummer only uses on tom, you can now get rid of the other tom mics, etc.

See if you can get the room in question for $900 or $1000 for a 12 hour lock-out. Find a little cheaper room...like maybe $600 a day, that has a decent recording console, good size/sounding room and good mic collection, BUT doesn't have an SSL and a bunch of outboard reverbs, fx's,etc. This means it won't be a mix room and will then usually be cheaper.

Get a GOOD engineer. You can get lucky and run into a staff engineer at a studio that's a real good engineer, but I'd do some research and find someone who's been freelancing for a while. Offer them $400 for the day. They will probably have some relationships at some studios and might be able to help save yuo some money. Having a good engineer will amke or break your session, don't skimp.

Try and use a room that has a Neve, API, QuadEight, Trident or MCI desk. Again, SSL's (except for the very latest and then than means mixing/expensive) aren't a first choice for recording.

So you can probably do this for between $1000 to $1500. Maybe less. If you divide this upby the # of son you'll actually save money doing it this way. Also...one LAST thing...if you drummers kit doesn't sound GREAT. Rent a professional kit. It's as least as important as the room and the engineer. Also when you rent a pro kit, it usually comes with more than one sanre for choices. This is HIGHLY recommended by me, probably can get one for $250-$300 for the day.

So..I know were up to the copst of one really good mic or one really good pre. But you'll be way happy. It'll make your final mixes sound 200% better.

Thanks for all the Info RecorderMan Interesting to hear the comments... Ok so drums need to be done somewhere else, understood... So that menas i dont need a 8 channel sound card like the rme multiface. So whats a good 4 channel option?

And are you saying i CAN do vocals here? dead room just buy some gear? I have or will have soon these pres to choose from Langevin am 16s, ssl g series pres and Sabetron vmp2000e.. Whats a good vocal mic for me to purchase to do vocals here? or do you recomend that? is my valley people 610 efficient enough for this or do i need a new comp? whats a good cheaper vocal mic and comp for my male rock needs?