What are you baseline goals? You could get by with say an M-Audio Mobile Pre (2 channels @ 16/48) and some mics. Or something like a zoom H4n for roughly the same abilities less a computer. Or something more extensive.
# of channels?
sampling rate(s)? 16/44.1 or 24/96 or
?
budget? (mics + stands + cables + room treatment + (the rest of the chain))
My current options (although I don't have a proper space to use it well in).
soundcard(s):
- M-Audio Mobile Pre (2 inputs / 2 outputs)
- M-Audio Delta 44 (4 inputs / 4 outputs)
- Korg MR-1000 (2 inputs / 2 outputs / but it doesn't multitrack)
preamp(s):
- Korg MR-1000
- Sound Devices MM-1 (x2)
Mic(s):
- Audio i5
- Avenson STO-2 (x2)
- giant squid eletrets (wouldn't use them really, but in a crunch, or for effect)
Cable(s):
- mogami XLR -> XLR x4 (2x 25' + 2x 15')
- radio shack TRS -> TRS (4x 6')
Extra(s)
- Radio Shack mic stand (tripod base)
- Proline boom arm
- Presonus HP4 headphone preamp (monitor attenuation and headphone outs)
- Senn. HD 280 headphones
- RCA -> TS adapters
- 1/8" -> 1/4" stereo adapters
- OnStage stereo bars (T-Bar) (x2)
- other gadgets
Software???
A small sampling of what you'll need. It gets costly quickly. The advantage of multitracking is that you can get by with fewer mics + cables + stands. The disadvantage is that you're doubling your time (at a minimum) to get a result. I prefer to just do a live 2 channel capture. Much cheaper, much quicker, and it's all that most people seem to want anyway.