layman's terms for home recording

I don't fully understand exactly what I need to us my laptop for multitrack recording. I currently have an 8 track mrs-4 but would prefer to switch to my PC. I just want vocals, guitars, bass, and programmable drums as I have with the zoom mrs-4. I think I understand but I may be wrong I have seen audacity in person but where do I get the amps, cabs, stompboxes, and preamps models like the pod line6 has? I would like this to be as cheap as possible.

I know I will need and interface- box with xlr and 1/4 inputs such as maudio fasttrack

from there I know I will need some sort of software to record to such as audacity but i would like to have the amps, cabinets, stompbox models that the line6 software has.

Is there a software that has this as well as the "tracks to record to" all in one. I would like as cheap as possible.

Will I need something like line6 toneport ux2 to get my amp models and recording software such as audacity or ableton live or am I way off?

I would like as cheap as possible.


What would you call cheap?
50.00, 100.00, 500.00... :confused:


Audio Interfaces: The Best of the Cheap (http://tweakheadz.com/audio_interfaces_low_cost.htm)

$200 or less possibly. I found an M-audio fast track for 40$ on CL, just not sure what I need after that

I just ran across this while surfing... :grin:

Refurbished M-Audio Recording Studio Equipment, PC or Mac (http://dealmac.com/lw/artclick.html?1,390145,1257028)

M-Audio Pro Tools Recording Studio for $59.99
M-Audio Pro Tools Vocal Studio for $59.99
M- Audio Pro Tools KeyStudio 49 for $59.99
M-Audio Torq Mixlab for $59.99
M-Audio AV30 Studiophile Speakers for $59.99

1-year M-Audio warranty

Let's say I get the M-audio interface that comes with Pro tools. Do I still need torq mixlab or will the Pro tools essentials get me a finished project I can save as a file and do as I wish.

The screen shot for pro tools looks like it has the faders and the amp simulations needed just not sure what else I would need if anything.

Pro Tools will certainly get you a finished product ... what amp simulations are you seeing that you like? For guitar sounds, the POD will take you a lot further. (Torq is more of a DJ program.)

mostly interested in Fender and Vox tones. Low to mid gain levels. The Pod UX! looks like it may have all I need except drums. If I go with the the UX1 are there different versions? There are two on local CL for 80$ bit they do not mention amp farm.



Pro Tools will certainly get you a finished product ... what amp simulations are you seeing that you like? For guitar sounds, the POD will take you a lot further. (Torq is more of a DJ program.)

Pod Farm is part of the UX1 package. I would inquire of the CL sellers to make sure everything's intact — there's probably a software CD you would need. (I don't own one, but that's usually the way these things work.)