Has anyone mentioned Hi-MD? you can upload to a pc via USB, and some hi-md recorders have mic inputs as well. 45 hours of playback and you can store data as well.   I have recorded a lot of stuff, and put it on pc, using just a cable from md headphone output to pc in.   The sound quality does lose out a bit. You can compensate for that slightly and remove hissing etc but, as was mentioned earlier, you can't polish a turd.   As far a software goes, I've used pro-tools, logic, audacity, wave lab and soundforge..Mostly I just stay with soundforge, it's not as extensive in options as logi or pro-tools but it has enough for most of my uses and I find it relatively easy to use.
I'm off to look into Hi-MD
moo