what can i use instead of my rack to record?
A smaller preamp. You could use a mic-preamp, such as the ART Tube MP or similar smaller device, but without a high-impedance instrument input you'd also be required to use a DI box to get a good signal level. I'm sure there are some smaller, cheaper instrument pres (which would eliminate the need for a DI box), but I can't hand you any names off of the top of my head.
can i get my USB speakers to do line-in playback?
It's probably an issue of your sound card - it probably hasn't got what is called FULL DUPLEX, meaning it can only do one thing at a time. Either it will play back ONE source (one audio file or one MIDI file) or record ONE source. You don't hear any output during recording because the card is busy recording.
would something like that aardvark USB recording box take care of both my problems?
should i even bother attempting to record thru my sound card?
is there anyway i could plug my bass straight into my computer?
USB devices are said to cause some unpleasant instability in DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) if you're unlucky. Seeing as your computer at least on paper virtually is a pile of junk (no offense towards your person, only your PC
), I wouldn't be surprised if you would have issues with it. But you never know for sure until you've tried yourself...
As for bothering or not... well, if you can get it to work for sketching songs then it would be alright, wouldn't it? But since your sound card most likely isn't full duplex, you'd need a new one. And how it would work together with the built-in one is impossible to say without trying it. But it is an unsafe experiment, no doubt.
Also... without a pro-grade card (meaning >$100), overdubs would be EXTREMELY difficult to nail and come out all wrong, since latency probably would go through the roof with your current setup. You THINK you played in time with your previous track, but play it back and, whoa, you're half a second behind!
To get good results with PC recordings, I would not use the E-Machine but first and foremost get a new computer. I refuse to believe that an E-Machine would give sufficient performance, especially since they are rumoured to be useless with other hardware than what's tucked into it when it was assembled (and again, you'd need another sound card!). They are not sold in my country however, so I have no first-hand experience... I only "know" what I've heard.
Plugging your bass straight into your computer
without using a preamp won't give you desired signal level. After recording something, you would be required to amplify it using software, which indeed will increase the volume but also distort the signal and bring up the noise level. Probably won't sound too good.
i just want this to be able to do sketches right now - all it needs to be able to record is bass/guitar/maybe vocals, all just one at a time. oh yeah, i'd rather not spend money doing this...the cheapest way i can get this going will be the best way!
Turn off your E-Machine and get a used 4-track recorder (or a cheap new one, such as the Tascam Porta 02). Far easier to handle than a computer, built-in preamps and it will probably sound just as good as, if not better than your present DAW setup. You can also bring it anywhere.
