This is a query more than anything; I've written a handful of songs which I'd like to record and upload for my solo project, Planes Above Us. There's several parts to each song and I'll play the instruments myself but i'm not sure about the best way to put it down. I have a cheap tape 4 track but i'm worried that I wont then be able to transfer that to a computer - then being able to make cd's, put online etc.

So is there a program I should buy? Is it as simple as plugging in a microphone and just recording different tracks? I'd also like to experiment with some beats on a couple of tracks. I've been listening to Pinback and Get Cape Wear Cape Fly recently and I've been inspired by how much you can enhance just the basics of a simple song with electronics etc.

How hard is it to you use drum samples etc.? Where can I get them from?

Any tips would be much appreciated, I want to get some of these down before I forget them...