If you answer some of these questions it might help to narrow down your scope:

-What kind of instruments are you recording?

-Do you use VSTi's or external intruments or both?

-Are you recording "live" or layering one or two tracks at a time?

-Do you use Midi?

-Do you need phantom power for condensor mics?

I will be recording guitar, vocals, I do my drums with acid pro (as i dont have a drumset yet) and some bass guitar and hopefully piano in the future.

to be honost i am new to the sight and have been self taught in all my recording ability. i dont know all the terminology, what are VSTi's?

I don't usually record live, i like the option, but ussually i record every track individually and layer and mix with cool edit.

I dont really use midi as i have not been taught alot about it and never used it in the past. but i am ope to all options.

also with phantom power i have never used it but once again am open to all advice and suggestions.

I don't mean to insult - it's not my goal at all, but I have to ask.

If you have no clue about recording at all, then why do you want to start a home studio?

1 - there's a lot of money which needs to be spent to get even a passable rig for recording (starting with getting new "owned" software - the only people that I know that still use Cool Edit Pro (in favor of Adobe Audition since it was a free upgrade to registered users) are people who use the cracked version of Cool Edit Pro.)

2 - There's a lot of education required to begin recording. Despite what many on these boards state, it's a lot more than just "trial and error." The people that rely on trial and error and no (or little or poor) education don't make good music. They mess their recordings up and come here asking why it doesn't sound right when it's over compressed and over EQ'ed, etc.

3 - There's no money in recording (trust me, I've been in business for 10 years and I have to be creative when it comes to my taxes sometimes to "show a profit" as to not piss off the IRS (once every 5 years). If you are making a profit in a small home studio, you're probably doing something wrong - meaning - you're using low-priced budget gear, hacked software, and generally doing more harm than good for your clients.

I guess my point is, people don't wake up one day and say:
"Gee, I have a fascination with teeth. I think I'm going to open my own dental facility. I'll start cheap and do it for friends at first. Oh...by the way, what's a bicuspid?"

Sorry if I am seemingly insulting, it's definitely not my intent. I just want to know.

I dont take it as an insult Cucco, i understand where you are comming from.

I think i was misunderstood with my intentions of a home studio.

I am a musician and have been recording my own music to put on my myspace account

http://www.myspace.com/christopherflitton

I have just been wanting to upgrade my sound, and build somehting wehre i can get decent quality for my own music. i am not looking to have others come in, this is solely for my love of music and creating it.

if you listen to the stuff ive done you can tell its not professional at all. i am just looking for tools and tips to make it better

i dont mean to be an insult to the industry, musicians or recorders. I just do it for the love of it and am looking to make it better

Cucco:

3 of 5 years ("hobby test")

Don't be shy. You are working those number more often than you remember!

*smile*
It is indeed a shame what people have to go through to do small business in peace.