Thanks for all reply......

Everything goes through the mixer. Tape-out RCA from the mixer is
converted to a 1/4 stereo to the line-in of the Audigy Platinum. The
room is a rec room in basement, with insulation but no dry wall. It's
about 14x16x9 but it's pretty crowded - a set of drums, 4 amps,
pedals/DIs, couple keyboards, mixer and the computer with a pair of
monitor, 2 mics with stands, music stands, gig bags, wires everywhere,
plus a single bed with mattress standing against a wall, and some stuff
like stacks of toilet paper and a vacuum cleaner.

Here is one of our recording. Please bear with the sound:
http://unitedplanet.homeip.net/music...anet_Final.mp3

How important are these effects for post-record mixing (i.e. software
effects)? Compression, normalization, chorus, reverb, amp sim. I
don't want to use them unless necessary because my lack of skill will
probably make it sounds worse! I have cooledit2 and cakewalk
music-creator... Is there any free fx-plug-in available on web? Or
maybe to be purchased somewhere? Also some other questions:

- When does one use 'gain' on the mixer?
- Drums mic-ing - more mic or less mic (for amateur like me)?
- What are some simple way to 'treat' the room accoustic? Hanging egg
boxes on the wall? Where should I place the drum? Currently it's
against one wall facing out.

Cheers,
Ernest