Quote:

Is there anything less resource hungry than Protools?



I don't want to say anything bad about Protools, so I won't say much about it.

+1 for Sonar with a lower cost home studio right up to their Producer 8. If you buy a cheaper
version, you can always upgrade to next years bigger version at a steep discount.

pgmusic has PowerTracks which is supposed to be pretty good, and there is also
the new Realband which is sort of like a BIAB and PowerTracks put together.

As far as your original question, have you considered a guitar amp modeler / USB interface?
Line6 has some really affordable i/o boxes with big software modeling bundles, also with preamp modeling. I have an M-Audio Black Box which also works stand alone without a PC, it is my PC
"soundcard", has a MIC input, USB. Haven't had a problem for years once I turned of the MS USB sleep mode - M-Audio has a tech description on their site. Has knobs on it.

A huge variety of interfaces including a really cheap and portable Beringer USB cable/audio IO for under $50.

Think more about what your requirements are. Also, try the Cakewalk forum - even if you are asking about a guitar/ I/O - USB.

good luck.

Let us know what you pick and how you like it.

Finally, I have found a cool signature with sufficiently dry humor.