$500 to spend now. $1000 to spend down the road. I need help!

[LnTh]

Hey!
I'm gonna be recording guitar tracks for my band very soon and I need to do the best I can at home. I don't wanna bore you with details but the bottom line is, they are recording in a professional studio and I have to record it at home (we live in different countries. long story)

SO,

This is what I'm currently using:
Gibson LP VM -> very sufficient
Mesa Boogie Roadster Head -> very sufficient
Avatar 2x12 Cab with CL80's -> very sufficient
1xShure SM57 -> I've never experimented with 2 mic recording. I don't know if I need to. I really don't know the difference between 1x and 2x mic recording. But I like SM57 to be honest.
Generic mic cable -> Some people might argue that I should change this. Not to sure. Open to suggestions about this issue.
Behringer Ultragain 100 Mic Pre -> Well. Gets the job done I guess. I've never used another mic pre so I don't know any better.
Creative Audigy 2 Soundcard -> Does soundcard make a big difference? I don't know.
Audacity Freeware Recording Software -> I'm not an expert on recording so I wouldn't know what to do with a professional recording software. I am a fast learner though so I'm all ears if you think I should change this software.
Monitors -> I'm using my cambridge soundworks 2.1 system I think I need monitors for sure.
Computer -> I forgot my cpu but I remember it's decent. As far as RAM, I have 1gb. Maybe I should add another 1gb? I remember RAM helps in recordings. I do feel that my computer doesn't track perfectly at times. Let me know what you think about this.

So..

1- The initial changes are gonna be done with a $500 budget. List the changes/additions you think I should go through that are URGENT! monitors might be in this section for example.

2- List the "down the road" changes. Keep the budget at a $1000 max. This is not a $1000 on top of the $500 ill spend soon. It's another $500 on top of the initial.

So, help me out folks!

Additional info: I've been recording guitars for a while now. I don't know thousands of tricks but I can make my guitar sound pretty decent. I can figure out good mic positions and stuff. I usually double track my guitars dead left and dead right. Besides that, I don't know.. There's always room to improve my recordings. I'm just asking for gear related improvements in this thread. If you think I have enough gear to record decent sounding guitars, so be it. I don't HAVE TO spend more on gear. But let me know what you think.

Thanks in advance.

 

[hardwire666]

Sound card does make a Differance. You might want to Go with something other than the Audigy. They are nice sound cards, but there are solutions out there with better bang for the buck.

More RAM is never a bad thing, and Processor speed really comes into play when you start using VSTfx, VSTi's, and ect. Basicly your effcts and virtual instuments.

 

[LnTh]

Sound card does make a Differance. You might want to Go with something other than the Audigy. They are nice sound cards, but there are solutions out there with better bang for the buck.

More RAM is never a bad thing, and Processor speed really comes into play when you start using VSTfx, VSTi's, and ect. Basicly your effcts and virtual instuments.

Should've added,
I'll get all my effects from TC Electronic G-Major. Nothing from software.
And no virtual instruments.

My whole aim is to record guitar tracks on pc. That's pretty much it.

Thanks!

 

[TimN]

Yuo're ok in the RAM department, unless you're going to use a lot of processing on a lot (20 or more) of tracks. Definitely get another soundcard--the Audigy isn't really designed for what you're up to. Try looking here: http://www.tweakheadz.com/soundcards_for_the_home_studio.htm
As the Tweakhead will tell you, soundcards are very important, so I would start there. List your computer's essentials in another post. Oh, do you have headphones? Sennheiser HD 280's or better.

 

[LnTh]

Well I'm not very sure about rest of my computers. Thing is, my cousin had an insane computer for games and he handed it to me to get an apple. I know it's a very decent computer but not sure if it's enough or not. I'm on a vacation right now so I don't have the specifics. What I can remember:
CPU : AMD X2 or something. 3ghz
RAM: 1gb
Hdds: Sata Raid or something like that. Forgot the technical term. 2 hdds working together basically. They are 10k rpm or something. I remember they were one of the fast models.

Rest is probably not that important.

I might go for a good soundcard I guess. I don't know what to look for yet but I'll research.

Headphones: I've looked around and ended up ordering AKG K 240 studio headphones. Current one's are Icemat and a good model but I doubt they are good for recording. They are more like gaming headphones to my knowledge.

Pretty much it.