Best direct recording hardware at a low price.

[themanautomatic]

I live in an apartment, and i've been playing acoustic guitar for a while now, and i'm looking to buy an electric guitar plus some hardware so i can play with different sounds and record it decently on my computer. I'm interested in using my computer for composing mostly, although i would like to learn how to actually produce and mix. My budget is limited to about 500 euro's, and for now i've come up with these options:

- Digidesign mBox: big plus that it has pro-tools, it has the ports to hookup the guitar, but i'm not sure about the guitar software that comes with it.
- Line 6 Pod XT: has a big diversity of sounds, i can hook it up to the computer via USB and probably play guitar right into Reason (i'm not exactly sure of that though).
- Tech 21 Trademark 60: What i gather, it gets great tones and it has a direct XLR output, which should be able to hook-up to a cheap semi-pro soundcard (right?). If anyone knows how this actually works, please do explain.

Also, when not using the mBox, i'm kinda lost as to what software to use to put everything together. I've made some drumtracks in Reason, but i haven't gotten to know the program enough if it could serve all of my purposes. If you guys know of any other options, let me know.

I'm completly new to recording in general, so if any you can fill in any blanks (and i have quite a few when it comes to this) it'd be greatly appreciated.

edit: Whoops, i guess i posted this in the wrong forum.. could a mod please move this post? thank you.

 

[ssscientist]

- Line 6 Pod XT: has a big diversity of sounds, i can hook it up to the computer via USB and probably play guitar right into Reason (i'm not exactly sure of that though).
- Tech 21 Trademark 60: What i gather, it gets great tones and it has a direct XLR output, which should be able to hook-up to a cheap semi-pro soundcard (right?). If anyone knows how this actually works, please do explain.

First of all, Reason is not an audio recording program. It records only midi information needs to be 'ReWired' (a Propellerheads invention) with an application capable of recording audio. Second, you are correct that an XLR output can be directly inserted into a mid-level soundcard -

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/cat--USB-Audio-Interfaces--2424

I've got a complete PC recording setup that serves all my needs quite well - a Tascam US-122 USB soundcard, Reason and Tracktion as my choice of audio application -

http://www.mackie.com/products/tracktion/

You can download a free demo version, and if you decide you like it as much as I do it will set you back $80 to buy it.

Of the three guitar processors that you mentioned (well, two guitar processors and the mbox) my choice would be the Pod XT. I like the effects and the imrovements they've made since version one.