Flash MX tutorials 2 One line summary
Theres some pretty useful information there. I agree with you on the gradients and stick animations, they suck. Theres a coupla things I would like to add. With buttons, if you dont have a box around the text, you need a 'hit' frame. Also I tend to use Audacity, which is freeware and incredibly simple to use, I reckon you could learn it in a bout 10 minutes.
