what do you use to record?

[Old Fashion Cliche]

what'll give me the best results?  

[Angry Guitar Shredder]

For starters you need a good recording software like Protools, Acid Pro, etc.

Then you'll need a good mixer or interface.

Next, grab some good condenser mics for vocals and some drum mics. (If your recording drums.)

That's the basics. Mess with the software to see what you can do with it.  

[Old Fashion Cliche]

what if im not a rich kid?
i mean reasonable recording stuff  

[Angry Guitar Shredder]

Just look up some software on musicainsfriend. They'll have what you need.  

[ElendarIlikessa]

I record using Audacity, which is free and a Blue Snowball usb microphone, which is a pretty good microphone and can be had for a decent price.  

[Old Fashion Cliche]

ElendarIlikessa

I record using Audacity, which is free and a Blue Snowball usb microphone, which is a pretty good microphone and can be had for a decent price.

tell me more  

[Blabbershark]

@ OP:
What instrument do you play?  

[Old Fashion Cliche]

this would be for my solo stuff, so acoustic guitar and ukulele.  

[Derek Destroyed]

On This Night

this would be for my solo stuff, so acoustic guitar and ukulele.

Uhh, let's see.
Mic wise, you could run over to your local target and pick up a really nice podcast-type usb mic with really nice sound for like $30.
Then, just grab a mixcraft demo for free, or hit up audacity.
I like mixcraft better.
I use a lot more, though we play a lot of shows.  

[Sarcasmics]

My setup is thus: (totaling a grand total of ~ $3000, super cheap, craigslist is awesome)

Yamaha MG16/4 - Mixer (very low noise)

Tascam US-224 - Interface

Korg Triton LE - Synth/Controller

AudioBuddy DI

Philips Monitors

A suite of mircophones AKG, MXL, and SHURE

Mic stands and cables can run you a small fortune.

Behringer power amp for live setups

POD X3 LIVE <- My baby, great for recording guitar, modeling and DI

POD 2.0

BOSS GT-10

This is isn't including the instruments.


FOR YOU HOWEVER: I recommend a free linux DAW, and decent Interface probably a firepod. Definitely invest in good microphones. Do your research. And a decent DI.

Check out: http://www.soundgadget.net <- my blog for cheap audio engineering. It's just starting up but I've already covered equipment there.  

[Sarcasmics]

Look into getting Sterling Audio Mics.... fricking great mics.  

[bonitachocolat]

Well, I'm new to this whole "recording" thing also, but personally, I like Audacity. I'm not a computer nerd and so switching through effects and playing with a bunch of buttons to find out what they do is not really my thing. Audacity seems simple and straight to the point to me. But since I just got it recently, can anyone tell me how I would record piano/keyboard on it?  

[Old Fashion Cliche]

GlassworkContinuum

On This Night

this would be for my solo stuff, so acoustic guitar and ukulele.

Uhh, let's see.
Mic wise, you could run over to your local target and pick up a really nice podcast-type usb mic with really nice sound for like $30.
Then, just grab a mixcraft demo for free, or hit up audacity.
I like mixcraft better.
I use a lot more, though we play a lot of shows.

i'll look into it. i play shows, but i'm taking it easy this summer, cuz im with my gf, but i'll be back at a bunch of local places starting again in september.  

[Only Shades of Gray]

erm...im fixin to be 13 this friday so idk much about recording equipment, but when i recorded my cd with the song i wrote all i had was sibelius 5 and a laptop with that program and it worked great for me