Install a professional audio recording program. High-end production programs include Pro Tools, Logic Pro and Adobe Audition, but you can also record professionally on a budget using programs like GarageBand, MixCraft, Logic Express and and ACID Music Studio.
Connect an audio interface to your computer. An audio interface functions as a sound card, with audio jacks for different types of professional microphones and installations, but you do not need to take apart your computer to install it. Just connect it to your USB or FireWire port (depending on the interface type). For even better results, use an interface with a built-in mixing board. This will allow you to control audio levels externally. You can find these devices at music supply stores.
Connect your recording equipment to your interface, using the appropriate stereo cable. Use TRS cables for analogue instruments, MIDI cables for digital instruments (if recording with a MIDI controller) and XLR cables for professional microphones. You must use real instruments and microphones if you want to record professionally. A computer microphone will not be adequate.
Connect a pair of monitor headphones to your audio interface. While recording, you will want to monitor your sound with high-quality headphones, in order to hear your backing tracks without creating unwanted feedback in your recordings.
Click the "Record" button to begin your first recording session. In most professional audio programs, your "Record" button will resemble a red dot or a red circle, similar to the "Record" button that you would find on a stereo or remote control. Play your instrument or speak through your microphone to transmit audio through your audio interface and into your PC. The interface provides a noise-free audio capture, resulting in professional audio quality.
Record your audio in layers. Professional production programs use a technique called multi-tracking, a standard recording studio method for capturing audio in a clean and precise fashion. A "track" corresponds to a layer of music (like a guitar section or a lead vocal section), and your audio tracks will appear on your screen as a stack of horizontal bars. Record each part of your recording (such as keyboards, bass and then drums) onto a separate track. To create tracks, select the "New Track" or "Create Track" option from your menu bar.