I don't think you mentioned how you are getting the signal from the amp to the computer?

Ah, yes... Sorry.

Please, keep in mind that my setup is, at the moment, running on a budget of like $250...

I am using a standard 1/4" Guitar Cable between the guitar and the amp and I am using another standard 1/4" Guitar cable between the amp and the computer. On the end of the guitar cable is a 1/4" > 1/8" adapter that plugs into the mic jack on my computer.

Crappy, I know...

Everybody starts somewhere :D The only problem is that this method of recording isn't going to do your playing justice, as you are noticing. But you want to improve it, which is a good thing 8-) What is your budget?

Well, at the moment, I'm looking at $200...
*sheepish grin*

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FastTrackUSB/

And

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SM57/

$200 and more than you'll need for quite some time for recording a killer guitar sound.

Add a $50 bucks for the cabling and a stand and you're good to go.

More guitars have been recorded in the history of man using an SM57 than just about any other 2 maybe even 3 mics combined. Also, the preamps in the M-Audio are quite usable. (Preamps being how you amplify the mic signal and get it to a usable level.) The analog to digital conversion on the M-Audio is leaps and bounds above that which was used to record anything until may the late 90s.

Use some free software and you're off to learning the art of recording.

Understand probably one of the biggest rules of recording.

Moving the microphone one inch in any direction will make more of a difference in your sound than any $10,000 you can spend in gear.

Cheers-
J.

Thank You Very Much!! It's nice to find a forum thats not full of jerks! :P But ya, Thank You!!

And, BTW, that was EXACTLY what I was looking for!! The Mic/Guitar to USB converter thing... I hadn't done much looking around, but the cheepest I could find was $150 and It had no adjustment knobs and it only had an input for a 1/4" plug... Thank you, again.

Nah...we're jerks...we're just your kind of jerks.
;-)

HAHAHA :P

I agree, it's the mic input (soundcard) on your computer that's surely wrecking your sound.

Cucco's suggestion of FastLane / SM57 is outstanding advice.

If you're completely new to the whole thing, a FastLane (or a Lexicon Alpha USB) and Pocket POD, might be another way to go. It takes the challenge of micing your less-than-stellar guitar amp, in a less-than-ideal-room out of the equation. And it's right about where you want to be price-wise.

Good luck.

If you have not already pulled the trigger on the fast track usb, link removed is selling this unit for $69.00 this month.

Cucco wrote: Nah...we're jerks...we're just your kind of jerks.
;-)

That just made my morning :D

Yeah the FT and SM57 is the way to go sorry I didn't respond last night. The DI method that DVDHawk mentioned is also valid if the room you are going to be recording in is bad sonically. But DI without a way of reamping is a bit limiting in my opinion, and it'll take much more money to be able to reamp. Whatever works for you.

dvdhawk wrote:
If you're completely new to the whole thing, a FastLane (or a Lexicon Alpha USB) and Pocket POD, might be another way to go. It takes the challenge of micing your less-than-stellar guitar amp, in a less-than-ideal-room out of the equation. And it's right about where you want to be price-wise.

Good luck.

For the simplest solution, look into Line 6 Pod Studio UX1 or [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.zzounds…"]UX2[/]="http://www.zzounds…"]UX2[/].

LifeWithoutPurpose wrote: I am using a standard 1/4" Guitar Cable between the guitar and the amp and I am using another standard 1/4" Guitar cable between the amp and the computer. On the end of the guitar cable is a 1/4" > 1/8" adapter that plugs into the mic jack on my computer.

That's EXACTLY how i started out! I had no idea what an XLR or a soundcard was.

Ya, like a week ago, I had NO idea that any of this stuff even existed!! But ya, I think I'm going with the PreSonus 1394 FireWire interface. Thank you all for your help.

Cucco wrote: Nah...we're jerks...we're just your kind of jerks.
;-)

EXACTO-MUNDO.