@MrHarryReems seems That Behringer Uphoria looks like it might just fit the bill. Think I'll pick one up and give it a whirl. Thanks for the input, you rock!

@crazy_eyes Thanks for the suggestion! I went back and tried staging the mic in various places, adjusted volume levels and tested it to see if it reacted any differently to playing clean vs distorted. My conclusion is that it's just a garbage mic as nothing really seemed to make much of a difference in regards to the effect produced. Live and learn lol. I'm only out 20 bucks so it was a cheap lesson all things considered.

Hey thanks, MrHarryReems. I should have asked this question before I bought a mic. That's a really sweet price!

For now I'm just looking to record with a single input (guitar) although at some point I would like to expand out and start doing some vocals as well but I'm not in a real rush on that front. Mostly I'm looking to learn some songs and record them so that I can use them to improve my playing.

> Are you planning on using a keyboard controller for soft synths?

Umm, maybe? I have no earthly idea, lol. I'm an utter neophyte when it comes to all this stuff.

I'm downloading Cakewalk Pro now and I'll check it out. If I understand it correctly you run the guitar through an interface and into the software where you can record however many inputs the interface is designed for?

Hot damn. I can relate to that lately lol. Sounding good man. When did you start singing along with your playing? I'm still struggling with maintaining a consistent foot tap for more than a hot minute.

Oh shit, as I was typing this comment 'Loser' auto-played. I'm digging that tune a lot. Kinda reminds me of [Thirteen](Johnny Cash - Thirteen - YouTube). Nice job man.

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?