Recording sound using your computer

As long as your computer has a sound card and speakers (as most do) the only piece of extra equipment you will need is you will only need is a microphone. Microphones range in price greatly; if you're just recording simple sounds and effects then a cheap microphone will do.
Plug your microphone to the 'Sound In' port on the back of your computer. (It might have a picture of a microphone above it.)
If your microphone has an 'On' button, turn it on. Otherwise, refer to the instruction sheet that came with it.
Open the Sound Recorder program. (Start menu -Programs - Accessories - Entertainment - Sound Recorder.)
From the Sound Recorder program, click 'New'.
To begin recording, click 'Record' - click a circle that appears at the right-hand side of the Sound Recorder.
When you are finished recording, click 'Stop' - cick a square appears directly to the left of the circle.
Use the 'Play', 'Rewind' and 'Go to End' buttons to review your recording.
When you are satisfied, save your sound file using the 'Save As' command in the File menu. (Give it a sensible name so that you can use it later!)