So I want to start a podcast...

[Jaxel]

I'm asking this here because I really don't know where else to ask. I want to start a podcast... and I will probably do it in my kitchen. My question of course, is what kind of equipment would I need, and what kind of software?

Basically, I want to have FOUR people in studio, with the possibly of more through IP telephony such as Skype or Ventrilo. I'm a little confused on how this would all work...

1 - If I got four USB condenser microphones and plugged therm directly into the computer, what software would I need to handle it? Would I need to buy mixing hardware? Or would mixing software like M-Audio be enough?

2 - Would I be better off getting standard condenser microphones and plugging them all into mixing hardware? Then plugging the mixing hardware into my computer and just recording a single stream in Audacity?

How would I infuse Skype into either of these options? Basically, I'm really confused. So I'm asking, what microphones should I get, what hardware should I get, what software do I need, and how do I set it all up?

The best quality I can get, with the cheapest price would be preferred.