I have been on here a week or two and I like hearing everyone's music.  I was going to start posting some of my song sketches, but I'm seized with doubt.  Here's why:

I'm not a man of means, so I can't afford to buy any gear right now.  I got Anvil Studio a couple of years ago and have been using it for making midi sequences, but it plays back through the "Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth" which I presume is the computer's built-in generic synth (the free version doesn't support VSTs that I can tell).  The sound quality is laughable, and although it at least gives me a rough idea of what something might sound like, I think I would feel ashamed putting mp3s up here which I've recorded from them.

Questions: would another midi sequencer be able to play or edit a midi sequence created with Anvil?  Has anyone else here used Anvil - or any other free sequencers?  Any recommendations?  I repeat: I can not afford to buy any software at this time.

I went to freemusicsoftware.org and browsed through their audio and midi sequencers.  I've downloaded Madtracker and am trying to make sense of it, but I've gotten so used to Anvil's interface with music staves that it's hard to adjust to a different one.  Also, I use all sorts of odd meters which Anvil allows.  (There have been a couple free sequencers I've tried that won't recognize odd meters which I think is dumb.)

What instruments do you want to record?

List ALL the gear you have. Hardware software etc.

Most of us here on the AMP are poor, you will get plenty of help I'm sure.  
EDIT*
Audacity is a popular free software
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

I used Krystal when I first started, mainly for audio
http://www.kreatives.org/kristal/

Funny I met a friend a few days ago, haven't seen him in years, he was the one who supplied me with all my first software....all hacked of course....Madtracker was in there and what they all used at the time, if I see it now I freak, it's not to actually make music is it, it's simply to loop tracks of single hit samples.

Try looking through a few of the links on this page http://forum.bandamp.com/The_Pit/2754.html#id2799

If your not a Pro be a Pirate ... torrents are the most wonderful things ... here's one I prepared earlier : http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4215953/VST__amp__DX_Softsynth__amp__Effects_Mega_Pack.iso

It's a big pack of absolutely everything you'll need to start...as guilty as you may feel at using hacked programs keep in mind that nearly all the programs in that pack have been updated to newer versions and are off the market. And to honest with you I believe the 'big companies' would want you to play with their program first because you are then more likely to buy their product if and when you turn pro.

I have an old laptop with Audacity and Anvil on it, as well as my work computer that I play around on at lunch time.  It has a microphone and the same programs I just mentioned, as well as Krystal and MULAB which I'm trying to get acquainted with and possibly install on my old laptop. 

And I have a microcassette recorder. 

That is all the recording gear I have.  But thanks for the links.

Yeah, I have to use hacked versions of my software (except for software that I can get for free like REAPER or Audacity), mainly because most of my software is WAY beyond my means.  If I ever have enough cash to buy it, then I definitely will, but 500 bucks for software is ridiculous.  I'd rather give them 100 bucks for it or 50 than get it for  free, but I can't do that, then I'll have to go this way.

I'd rather be spending my money on gear anyways.

hey studentofrhythm check out REAPER it's free (well it's a demo that nags you every time you open it, but it never expires out of demo status), and it supports VSTs and everything, and it can record multitrack.

I love it!

BTW, thanks KINGS, I'm downloading your VST torrent right now, it looks good!