why would he need 3 Aardvark Q10s?
from that he is saying I'd say 2 at the MOST but probably one...
when would he need to record more than 8 tracks at a time?
For recording your bass stuff (and even some guitar stuff), I'd scratch the Sansamp idea and go straight for
an Avalon U5...which is $500...I've been down the Sansamp road and was not amused. Maybe amused..but not happy.
I agree that you should start smaller...and build up. no sense in wasting 10,000 all at once, you will have a better idea of what you need when you start doing it.
I don't know much about the soundcard Chess mentioned...but, at that price...it has to be good. Heh...but, an Aardvark Q10 is what I use, and it is fine.
I'd start with maybe, an Aardvark Q10 (has 8 pres) $750
FMR Audio RNP $500
Blue Dragonfly $800
Shure SM7 $400
Shure SM57 $80
2x Rode NT5s $300
Avalon U5 $500
FMR Audio RNC $180
that's like 3500 bucks.
I'm not sure why you want a mixer so much...you didn't really give reasons. But, check out a Soundcraft M12...
Great sounding EQ, good sounding pres, good sounding board all together....I like running tracks out of the Q10, back through a Soundcraft mixer...and back to the Q10...just makes them sound a little different to me, the EQ is very nice etc. Thats only like a 700 dollar investment...I'd reccomend it.
That would put you at like 4300 bucks...not even half way there...
and you'd have a lot of what you will need to start making good recordings.
Then you can figure out how many more inputs/mics/compressors you need..decide what aspects are really important to you..and go from there. And that will also give you 22 Preamps at your disposal...8 on the Aardvark, 12 on the Soundcraft, 2 on the RNP.
Software wise, I think you should avoid Cool Edit 2.0...it's ok...but, limited editing features in my opinion. And, for mixing...it is a bear.
Hope that helps...now, where is the "ok, great...I am planning to buy all of this stuff over the next year and a half"...
hehe, these threads always SEEM urgent
-wes