My best advice would be- take your time, and ask lots of questions before you spend money. The most critical components will be a preamp, preferably 2 channels. Check M-Audio DMP-3 and M-Audio Audiobuddy. The Audio buddy will do a pretty good job of what you've asked for for about $80. I would choose an inexpensive condenser mic with multipolar capability, such as Studio Priojects B-3. You can use that for the guitar and voice separately, or, if you have a good room, as an omnidirectional mic backed off a ways, to capture both in a live performane. It's about $150. You will need a mic stand and good cables. Get a pop filter and a shock mount. cakewalk/Sonar should be fine. I'll stop there, because I don't do computer recording, so I'll let people who do advise you, but you will need a soundcard or Digital Audio interface. Some interfaces include preamps, and fill that role as well. If you want to use that strat, you will need either a good amp and a solid inexpensive dynamic mic, such as Shure SM57 or Sennheiser e835, which may also be good for some vocals, some of the time, or a modeler, such as
Behringer VAMP 2, about $140. There is, of course, another way, that really does work for what you want to do. Get a small digital recorder. I happen to adore Korg PXR-4. Uses Smart Media cards, and be had for $300 new, has a surprisingly useful built in mic, multitracking, effects, drum loops, tuner, metronome. Fits in the palm of your hand, can run on batteries. I happen to know it works very well with the audiobuddy (which gives you phantom power). It punches, overdubs, has reverbs, records up to 2 tracks simultaneously. Then it converts the file to MP-2 format and exports to your hard drive by USB port, no big time soundcard necessary. From there you convert it to MP-3 with shareware, and burn to CD. It makes great recordings and can follow you anywhere. I've had mine for 2 years and would never be without it. Best of luck-Richie
