Where Do I Start?

[BRog9053]

I'm looking for information and recommendations on the gear nessessary to begin home recording and using recorded tracks for live performance.
I play guitar, and I'd like to record rhythm tracks, lead tracks, bass tracks, and drum tracks. Although I don't play drums, I understand there is recording gear available with built in drum effects. Use this device to put together songs that I play,(mostly covers and some originals), and use these recorded tracks as accompaniment when playing live.
My basic understanding is that I'd need a multi track recorder(with drum effects), or a seperate drum machine, a storage and playback device, and a P.A. system.
Am I on the right track? Or am I way off base?
Can anyone recommend some entry level or intermediate level gear to make this happen?
Thanks

 

[LfO]

I'm an avid computer nerd, so this may seem like a horrible idea to you, or you may not have a workable computer, but if you do:

Check out: http://www.flstudio.com/
Fruity Loops (I guess its now called "FL Studio") is software that can be had for cheap, and once you buy it, they give you future upgrades for free. It was originally designed for building beats, and has since expanded to include audio. If you can run it, you REALLY should download the demo to see if it would work for you.

If you're willing to take vanilla soundcard quality, OR shell out $100-$200 for a better audio interface, you can use your computer instead of a hardware recorder and drum machine. I think software drum machines beat hardware hands down, because you can easily get new drum sounds. FL Studio comes with a mediocre set to begin with, but you can easily tweak them with all the available effects, and you can find cheap additional sounds all over the place online. And, the interface is FAR easier to work with than any hardware drum machine I've ever seen.

From there, you could burn CDs, and just use a CD player live. I've played with a walkman on stage before, though it probably shouldn't be anyone's first choice

When it comes to PAs, I'm clueless.

 

[ssscientist]

Here's a LINK to a Zoom 8 track recorder with a built in drum and bass machine. There's also a microphone built in to get you started. It records to SD cards which are available online in all sizes.

 

[thesobe]

My advice would be to go with a DAW setup, using your computer, a soundcard (M-audio 24/98), an sm58/57 which will do you for vocals and micing amps, a cheap pre-amp (Audiobuddy) and some cheap software like cubasis. Over time you may want to expand your collection but i'd say that would be a good start to learn the basics.