On a previous question,
http://mail.google.com/answers/threadview?id=445942, I was given a
good answer, but I need a little further clarification.

1. it wasn?t really discussed in the previous answer...which
recording/editing software is the best combination of ease of use,
quality and price?...in that order.

2. . also, if i was to upgrade my condenser mic, would it be a
Significant quality improvement from the suggested "Samson C01" to the
"Rode NT1-A Large Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphone", or the "AKG
C1000S Dual Pattern Condenser Microphone."

As was mentioned in the comprehensive post to your previous question
the Audacity software is suitable for the task available for Mac,
relatively easy to use and, best of all, free.

Either of the proposed upgraded mics would give you an improvement in
sound but will be different from each other. I would suggest the Rode
is more of a specialty studio mic, likely to show its best on voice
and acoustic instruments. The AKG is more of an all purpose workhorse,
not as generous sounding, good spot mic, better for location recording
and as a handheld, with the added advantage of battery power on
location and more flexibility due to the changeable
cardiod/hypercardiod pattern and presence boost attachments.

Which way you would lean will depend on where and how you plan to most
often use the mic.

thanks for the response, i just have one thing i am not sure of, in
what situations would i want to switch to hypercardiod instead of
cardoid?