Musicians -- I'm looking at getting into Home Recording as cheaply as possible -- my only goal is to record about 5-8 tracks. Naturally, being able to put stuff onto CD or on the web is desired. Effects and all the frills aren't necessary really, but I need to be able to record a drum machine, electric bass, electric guitar, electronic keyboard and maybe vocals or a sax.

Wondered if you have any suggestions.

I don't want to drop a lot of coin -- there are a lot of products out there -- one I came across that seemed affordable was this one, but there are few reviews I could find on Amazon, or Harmony Central. Plus I don't know the suitability, as the promo says its for "podcasting and home recording"....

http://www.behringer.com/PODCASTUDIO-USB/?lang=ENG

They also have a firewire version for a couple hundred doll-hairs.

Thoughts welcome...

I'd say get a copy of either Cakewalk or Sonar and spend some long evenings with it. You'll be amazed what you can do with it.
As for inputs, yeah, you need some sort of good quality interface...most of the home recording guys I know think 200 is pretty cheap for a good interface. I have no clue. I do know Mackie Onyx portable is regarded well, and it comes with software called Traction. Several folks I know also really like Cubase.

webpage on Musicians Friend Onyx

Here's another one by Mackie, but it's not available just yet, but soon- u420d

Of course this one's higher, but a guy I know who does contract recording uses it and swears by it. Echo Layla

If you want to go really cheap and don't mind carrying your computer around, you can get a better quality sound card (you'll need one anyway, for mixdowns and editing) and just use the existing stereo line ins....you'd be surprised how good that can sound too.

Thanks for the links bassix -- will look into. The reviews for the Behringer Podcast Home Studio weren't stellar -- people felt they needed a better interface unit than the one provided, but they liked the software.

You used to be able to do home recording on a cassette tape unit for a mere $100 for just hacking around and evaluating your own playing....sounds like you've got to spend more serious money thsee days....

Bward-
didn't mean to imply you HAD to spend bigger bucks- if all you're after is recording to your computer, you can use the line in on your sound card and something like cakewalk or another "home studio" type wav file editor. But, if you're wanting something that'll sound good enough to be "official" recordings for resale, yeah...it'll take some work and a few bucks to get that sort of quality. Mostly though, from what I've seen and heard it's more in knowing the software and how to best mix the recordings of the various instruments.
That's just time spent playing with it and learning it.

OK, thanks -- my purpose is just to listen to my own playing against some band in a box backing tracks for now, so the software only idea might just work...

After much thought, I think this is the way to go -- consistently excellent reviews, not overly expensive, and gets me away from living at my computer as I do in my work, my play etcetera, except at CD creation time.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Tascam-DP02CF-Digital-Portastudio-Recording-Studio?sku=241813

Not exactly the cutting edge way of doing things, but who cares.. its within budget.

I read all kinds of frustrations and mixed reviews with recording software and found far less-than-stellar reviews on the cheaper, all in one interface unit/software combos in this price range. Plus, the need to upgrade as operating systems evolve, etcetera is out of the equation with one of these units.

Time will tell....

Well, I actually bought the unit above a couple months ago and recorded a few songs with it. I love it -- it's simple to use, light, and is a great break from the computer.

That's a nice stand alone unit. I use my Zoom 506II as an interface plugged directly into my soundcard on my laptop and record direct using Sony Acid Pro. Just about 99% of the demos here were done this way.

I liked the sound of your samples -- the first four on your home page. The drums sounded fat and wet, but not overbearing, and the bass sounded like a Fender jazz. I especially like U Will Win and Oh My. Was that a piccolo on U Will Win? Or were you just playing in the upper register of a regular old bass? Sounded like a piccolo bass to me.

Last question - was that you doing vocals on the tune whose lyrics included "take me to your water -- that place that has no time or space..." .. was that you?

If you scroll down the page a bit on the left, I have more samples (about 30+). Yes, a Fender Jazz was used and I was just playing in the upper register. Lastly, no, that was not me singing. That was a guy named Jon Phelps-Steele who I toured with briefly in 1999. The band was killin' but I hated his monotone baritone voice. He wrote those songs though basslines and all.