You need a lot of RAM memory and a lot of hard drive - most record tracks are 60Mb in size, often more.

Your soundcard needs to have a STEREO line input socket - some only have mono. A Soundblaster is a safe bet, and it usually comes complete with the software you need. Added to which, it's likely to be 'cleaner' than some of the others - they tend to put background noise on with the recording.

I personally prefer Sound Forge, but I'm a professional sound engineer for my day job...

REALLY IMPORTANT! The output of your turntable will need a pre-amp, which boosts the signal to line level, but also provides RIAA equalisation.

No need to get too technical - use the record out from your hifi amp, and all this is taken care of! RIAA preamps are as commonplace as rocking horse manure these days!

Your CD writer should come with any mastering software you need, basically there are three formats you can use.

Audio CD is standard CD player format, Joliet is data format for computers, and there is also the multimedia format where the first 'track' is computer data, and the remaining tracks are Audio.

Audio CD tracks are saved as .WAV files on your hard drive, at a sample rate of 44.1 KHz. You copy them on to a CD using the software supplied with your drive, and you have an audio CD! It's that easy!

Word of warning - Audio CD format is not 'multisession' - you have to copy all the files on in one 'session', or the TOC (table of contents) will not write correctly.

DON'T buy Audio blank CD's. These are for hifi CD writers, and are a con! For computer CD writers, plain ordinary blank CDR's are all you need. They come in 74 minute and 80 minute versions (650Mb and 730Mb, respectively).