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How do I record into my computer?

I'm looking to start writing stuff and doing covers of favorites in the near future, but I have no idea where to start with equipment. I've got a Tobias Killer B from '97, and a fairly new Ashdown Mag EVO II. What kind of set up do I need to create to record directly into my computer? I've tried just going into the mic port on my computer and that gave me terrible sounds. I have no software and no equipment as of now. I don't have a very large price range to work with on this.
 
You can go as simple as a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter into your soundcard and then into some kind of DAW. Reaper is free to use, although you are supposed to pay for it after demo'ing it. You might experience pretty nasty latency going that route though. The key to this is a USB or Firewire interface. There are plenty out there for not too much cash.

This is all fairly useless without knowing your price range and what type of computer (and its specs) that you're using.
 
Just picked up a TASCAM US-122mkII from GC and so far so good. My 13" MacBook Pro doesn't have the 1/8" audio in like my old 15" has so I needed to get a firewire interface. The only set up was having to download the 10.6 drivers. Using GB mainly to take our drum/guitar ideas home to work out my parts. Sound is great, no latency. Pretty simple, but very effective. All of my basses sound great through it and with all of the GB effect options, the possibilities are ginormous.
 
An Audio Technica AT2020 USB condenser mic (or any USB condenser, this is just the best one I know of) is another option if a live off the floor approach works for you. Kinda like what you tried the first time plugging the mic straight into the computer with no interface....except this works really.
 
I reccomend getting a Protools Mbox2 Mini. It costs about €250 but it's a good interface with great software. If you get confused with it (which you probably will) there are good tutorials on youtube.
 
If you already own a PC, and if you are lucky enough that it is compatible with mbox/pro tools le, then the mbox is probably not a bad option. Before you buy an M-Box, though, you should visit the DUC at http://duc.avid.com/ and post your computer system specs and ask them if there are any mbox/pro tools versions that will work on your system. If not, if the version that will work is too pricey or too out of date, then some kind of interface ought to do it, like this one http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/M-Audio-Fast-Track-MKII-USB-Audio-Interface?sku=703669.

The M-Audio Fast Track linked above is reportedly a really good interface with awful software bundled with it, and a lot of people get it and use it with Reaper instead of the bundled software. As mentioned above, Reaper is free for a while, and if you like it you pay something like $60 or $70 to keep using it, without having to uninstall it and reinstall it once a month or so.
 

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