Completely Inept at Recording (for a band)

[Orange Fog]

I need information/teaching on how to do basic recordings.

Me and my friends have been trying to use 1 mic, and recording from the computer, but you can't hear the bass/bass drum at all.

I've heard of mixers, I don't really understand how they work or anything though.

So here's my questsions:
1). What basic gear does a band need to make basic recordings? (By basic, I mean total expenditures should be >$100)
2). How do I use that gear?
3). What are effective recording techniques?
4). Are there any obvious things I should know before trying to record?

Thanks in advance.

[RushHourSoul]

I have a couple of sites:

www.homerecording.net
www.getsigned.com
http://www.musictechmag.co.uk/ - click on features and read through the free ones.

[introspective]

$100 for a studio. wow. I am at over 15, 000 and still a long way to go

[Orange Fog]

Not a studio, just some simple recording gear.

[DespisedIcon689]

try this...

Fostex MR-8
MXL 990 Condenser Mic
Phantom Power
2 Mic Cords (One short one to plug into the recorder and a 10' for the instrument)
Mic Stand
USB Cord to plug into the computer
A recording program (Adobe Audition)

Here is what we do. First we record the drum set who is listening to the guitar through headphones plugged into an amp. Then the guitars listen to the recording and record. Bass and singer do the same. Put it onto Adobe Audition. Last, Mix the tracks and mess with the volumes. Its simple. You will need a lot of outlets also. And by the way...you can't get all of this for $100 dollars. I spent about 500 getting all of it. One last thing is look through the site to find out some tips on what to do when you record. The recorder makes decent recordings.

[Sync0pation]

okay, if the drummer is using a click, and the drummer comes in late into the song (say around 0:30) how does that work?

the guitarist has to be in perfect time (use a metronome himself)?

and then, when the guitarists are rerecording over the drum recording, how do they make sure that their tempo is in synch with the drum tempo if drums haven't come in yet, so that when drums come in, they'll be synched together?