Setting up a home recording studio?

Question

I need to know what equipment to buy. im on a budget so lets keep it real please.

Answer 1

When I first started out I had two cassette decks - we would ping pong back and forth adding tracks.
I then bought a cheap, analog Tascam 4 track that worked very well for my band for quite some time.
I now have a ZOOM portable, digital recorder that is amazing considering I paid less then $1000 for it. There are now similar systems for much less - I bought mine over 3 years ago.
If you don't want to go that high you could get a good PC based program for around $100, but then you may need to buy some kind of interface. An interface could be anything from an effects pedal that you could plug a USB cord into, to a mixer that does the same, unless your going to plug directly into your PCs Mic/Aux input jack - which could also work.
If you need more info you could go to this web-site;
http://www.tweakheadz.com/rigs.htm
Have fun.

Answer 2

This is what i did. My pc isnt great mind.
I got a cheap little mixer with a preamp built in.
A microphone.
Hooked it up to my pc and downloaded audacity and i was away. That's it, thats all you need to get started.

Once you get the most out of your budget stuff start upgrading, get a better soundcard if your current one hisses too much. Get a decent mic, they get expensive so save up and get a decent one when you are ready.

I was shocked when I found a rubbish pc mic and hooked it up to my pc. It was all i needed. I recorded about 40 songs that way till i though, hang on, i can do this properly with a little cash.

One problem is you can never stop adding. You got a mixer but then you want a compressor, then you want some pedals, then you want an even better soundcard. It gets expensive but is cheap to start!