Would appreciate the lower-cost stuff. Will be using at home, with basic vocals, instruments, and input. Will be recording one-track at a time (no band here). Will be mixing at home but having someone else master. Am I supposed to get a "dual-core" processor ? Any good effects add-on recommendations are appreciated. Don't need many effects but desire one really good reverb program. I wish there was a magazine that profiled current groups and their recording equipment and techniques. I used a Fostex X-15 cassette multi-tracker back in 1984, and a couple of years ago I had a 2-HD PC with N-Track software, but I didn't like all the hisses / buzzes / clicks / and pops I got on my recordings. Because of that, I am ALMOST leaning towards a "multi-tracker", but unless any of you have any success stories about them, I probably should get a laptop and update my connector cables. This stuff is very difficult for me. It takes a lot of effort just to start things up, but I gotta try something once again after all these years. Thanks.

audacity is about the cheapest you can get

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/



http://www.tapeop.com/

you might want to reconsider those hisses/buzzes/clicks/pops, they seem to be all the rage these days