My circuitous journey and a long-winded answer.

I got into recording fairly recently, over the past three years or so really. I don't count 'Noteworthy', or recording into the mic of an old Yamaha cassette deck, or my failed attempt at using a Fostex something-or-other in the '90s. Luckily I was able to sell that thing.

I found out about Audacity and did some kitchen table recordings that way. Started learning about modern recording. But, I wanted drums, and a bass, etc. I wanted BIAB, but I was clueless, really, about what was out there. In fact, this past Thanksgiving, before I went for BIAB, I was looking at buying libraries of loops etc.

Anyway, I bought Sonar X1 Studio a couple of years ago, because it wasn't too expensive and it had 'instruments', and I went about getting some basic studio equipment. I have upgraded Sonar as the offers came, now on X3 Producer, and with much help have learned to do what I need. I'm comfortable with it. Not so with Real Band, which I just got this past Christmas.

I knew of Guitarhacker from Sonar forums, his recordings speak for themselves. He was kind enough to explain his method and I copied it. I drag-n-drop Real Tracks from RB to Sonar. I mix and edit in Sonar X3.

My songs are here:
https://soundcloud.com/scott-h-olson