To keep your setup simple, yet effective.. from your choice of machines to run on, to the software application, as well as the supporting applications.
Who has achieved this, and how did you do it? share it.

My friend, you've knocked on a WIDE door! Many folks would tell you "their" needs, and set ups. But hardware and software is more, must be, USER determined, and to your goal.

Do you play instruments? Or are you depending on synths?

What genre of music do you want to record?

How much money do you have to spend?

Many famous folks, recorded their music on very simple equipment. So, one truth is, content is important. Quality of the content (not the recording!) is everything.

The human ear is forgiving. We hear what we want to hear.

If it's a good song, it doesn't matter how it's recorded.

So let us know what you attempt, and you'll find 100 different ways to get there.

Let us know more about what you want, and blessings to your endeavers!

azkid

Hello, Azkid, thanks for the reply. Let me clarify something, I am not asking how to do it for myself, I think that I have achieved that already for myself, I am asking others that may feel that they have achieved that for themselves and how, keeping in mind that the room for improvement is always the emptiest.
you are correct in many of your points, and they do vary from person to person or organization to organization. I guess there might be one point in your reply that is open to interpretation. You said, " if a song is good that it did not matter how it is recorded " . what if the song being good was not the only criteria, pending it's acceptance or rejection by
a company that wanted it to be well recorded already, then what? I guess the point it is, always try, to get your compositions to sound like you hear them your head, do not take anything or anyone for granted especially the listener. Anyway, I'd like to hear from individuals that have made a modest investment in their setup, and perhaps are interested in publishing their work, and they feel the work came out well on a simple setup. I know there are some out there.
I myself am just a writer / publisher / engineer / musician.
my set up is simple, I use my Imac, internal plug-ins, instruments and editing software, and sometimes various external hardware units, without getting into a lot of specifics.
To me it's a simple set-up, I, write, publish, and sell, original instrumental compositions.

azkid.... Well said. Amen.

Hi Will '09! Thanks kindly for your benefit of the doubt. And you also are correct. If you're recording for someone else, then it should be as pristine as possible.

As this is posted in the Mac Intel link, I'll bow out now, and wish you well, and that folks with Intel set ups will reply in droves.

My only advice would be to know what your goal is, save your money for the good stuff, long term well appointed equipment. And pray for enlightenment. Simple is always good.

Thanks for your kindness!