Thanks, Buddha. Yeah, onboard sound card is what I meant. Maybe I'll pick up a sound card and throw it in the pc. Sounds like there isn't much point in buying a high-end one if you couldn't tell much difference between the two. That's good to know.

It probably is the mic as I just picked up a cheap one figuring it couldn't be any worse than the one in my phone. I didn't expect the volume swells or whatever it is that's happening though. It's rather annoying! I'll do some experimentation later today at various distances to see if it is interference. Barring that what's a reasonable price point for a decent mic? I know nothing about what I should be looking for when it comes to microphones.

Ed: Oops, guess I should have posted this on the recording board. Didn't see it right off. Feel free to move the post there if you like.

So I picked up a cheap mic because recording on the cell phone, uploading the recording and downloading it again is kind of a pain in the butt. Anyway, I'm placing the mic in front of my amp and recording it into the computer via Audacity. I'm getting this weird oscillating effect from somewhere and I'm not sure what is causing it. It's a weird fading in and out effect.

Oscilationeffect - Instaudio

Is it because of the cheapy mic? Or do I have some settings I need to adjust somewhere? I don't have a sound card so the recording is being processed on the motherboard of my computer; maybe it's that? Anyone have any ideas?