I''m wanting to get a sound out of an electric guitar like what you hear in that crunchy rock of today -- oh never mind, it can''t be done with just one guitar, I got to have a bass, a lead, and a rythm guitar with each one set to extremely different amp setting. Then I got to record each one on seperate tracks and get a drummer. Would a 4-track recorder do for analog recording?

That "crunchy" sound follows from a combination of the amplifier and the guitar. Different guitars sound different, different amps sound different as well. Another factor are effects pedals - fuzz boxes, distortion boxes, flangers, chorus pedals, wah-wah pedals, delays and so on.

A crunchy sound can be done with just one guitar. What takes two guitars is to put a lead on top of the crunchy sound. During a recording session this can be acommplished by an overdub - that is the lead can be recorded separately from the rhythm and then mixed in subsequently.

When it comes to recording drums - you''re probably better off using a drum machine for your demo.

Afaik, a 4-track recorder is an analog recorder - but maybe the tech has changed. At any rate - you''ll probably find it easier to use your PC to store tracks. There should be an output signal that you can run from your amp to your sound card - but double check the specs to make certain that you don''t fry your sound card.

a 4-track recorder would work just fine! They are not always analog nowadays.. but a high quality analog 4-track would work great! (even better than a digital imho). Here''s some stuff that might be interresting to read: http://www.intermusic.com/article.asp?ReviewID=113&ArticleTable=Features&FeatureType=TUT&Channel=RCD

To get a good guitarsound you need a good guitar, good amp + good pedals (if the amp doesn''t have enough with that). You should not use any output signal from the amp to your soundcard/fourtracker.. especially not to your soundcard if you don''t have a really good one. One of the problems with for example soundblaster cards that most people here use is first of all cheapass electronics on the recording part. Another problem is that sucky compressor that is fixed on the input ports
Anyway.. that''s not how it should be done to get a good guitarsound.

Here''s probably one of the cheapest ways to get a really good sound: Get a good fourtrack (or good soundcard!), guitar, amp, pedals (if needed), rent a good micpreamp and a condensermicrophone (i think that''s what they are called in english). Put the microphone in front of the speaker, connect it to the micpreamp, connect the micpreamp to the fourtracker/soundcard, connect everything else, press "rec" and rock on. Try moving the microphone to several different positions.. experiment as much as possible.. record everything while you try and then listen to what sound (what micpositioning) you like the most.