Something else to consider is to listen to some Linux Podcasts and look at
their archives. Many of them focus on recording because that is how they
make their podcasts. Many of them use Ubuntu, BTW. It isn't so much the
distribution itself but the fact that Ubuntu and Debian have the largest
repositories, so if an application is made for Linux it will be in their
repositories. You can install Ubuntu Studio from Synaptic using their
metapackages. All of the programmes will appear in Ubuntu's menu.

A good source for Linux podcast info is on Podcastalley.com or
theLinuxlink.net. I subscribe to most of them via RSS and listen to them at
my leisure. That is the nice thing about podcasts. You can listen to them
anytime. There are several that are good sources of info for beginners. For
recording info the guys at Jupiter Broadcasting on Youtube and
jupiterbroadcasting.com are good.