Total rookie..I want to plug my guitar/bass into my computer.

Download audacity, then, what I do, is plug in the headphone jack into the microphone jack, using a male to male lead and an extender. Word of warning, be careful, if you turn it up too much, the input will be distorted.

 

i use a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter and plug it into the microphone jack

 

I DO NOT recommend just using an adapter to plug it in or using the headphone jack on the amp. You're way better off getting a proper interface.

I use the MBOX2 myself, but I've heard a lot of good about he M-audio Fast Track Pro aswell, and it's a lot cheaper!

 

this is a much better choice than the adapter...i just use the adapter because it was like $4

 

I use the headphone cord/adapter/Audacity combo, and am desperately trying to find something better. The sound quality is tolerable at first, but it'll wear you out after a while for being so bad. It works if your budget is under $10, but I don't recommend it.

 

My Target has some of the USB - 1/4" in the discount pile right now for $11.

 

Don't know what your PC is, but many have excellent Audio I/O
At least PC's I have do.

You can also get good quality external interfaces fairly cheap
Lexicon Alpha | Sweetwater.com

Little mixers also, these work with USB or Standalone, Nice feature
ART USB Mix | Sweetwater.com
Behringer Xenyx 302USB | Sweetwater.com

I'm looking at the new behringer mini USB mixer so I can use it for quick mixing and PC use.
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/Q502USB.aspx
$60 street when it releases.
Hoping that IOS is also supported.

 

An interface with simple recording software is $100 to $200. Cheap, but you don't get the drum tracks, or any effects. A package that has everything... interface - recording software - instrument generators (including drums) - effects, all of that stuff together starts at $300

 

Any of those that seamonkey suggested will work.

I use a Presonus USB Audiobox and it works great. Mine came with Cubase LE 4.0, but it now comes with Studio One Artist. You could use it with Audacity as well. Probably more in line with what you're looking for, and less than $150.

 

+1
And speaking of Studio One, there is a Studio One Free!

Studio One Free « Studio One

You can try it now, and if you get the Presonus you'll get the Artist edition with even more features.

 

I just picked up a Boss BR-80 mini recording studio a few days back and have been having a blast with it.

It's easy to use, you just plug your bass/guitar/mic straight into the input and start recording, really easy to use and understand after a quick read of the manual.

You don't even need to be at your computer to lay down some tracks, the device can stand-alone, you do need some headphones or speakers though.

Check out the walk through here: BOSS MICRO BR® BR-80 Lessons - MTR Mode

 

I learned a lesson from a friend. He bought the whole package. All of the parts were designed to be used as a package. Therefore, my friend had to learn all of the package to get any part of the package to work. He got it all installed pretty easy. Then he spent months trying to learn how to use all of the parts, all at the same time. He got frustrated and quit.

So, I went the "spend time" route. I researched, then bought, one piece at a time. I learned how to use each piece, one at a time. All of the parts I got were more generic. Not dependent on complete knowledge of all of the other pieces. Along the way, I found out that a lot of the software can be acquired free. I got several parts used. Yes, it took time to acquire all of the parts. But, I didn't need all of the parts to learn how to make recordings. At first, the recordings were simple. As I learned more, I added more stuff. The recordings got better. Six years now and I'm still at it.

But, absolutely, the first piece is the audio interface, and multi-track recording software. I read up on stuff for weeks. I got a Presonus Firewire interface. It came with a recording program, but I soon learned that it was too limited for my needs. I got a more complete program second hand from another studio that was upgrading. I got microphones, I got effects software, I got instrument generators. I got a midi controller... All over time. It all works together, but it didn't come as one package.

That's my experience.

 

i got a behringer ucg102 usb interface which cost like 30$ and it works like a charm! very awesome very cheap. ive been using it for a couple of months now doesnt look like its gonna go kaput