what software/card to use for recording to PC?

[Tonegeek]

I have PC with a sound card with a cheap mike, but want to use an SM-57 instead to record with. I would like to make an adapter to use the Low Z SM-57 but I am not sure about the impedance of the cards input. Is this possible, or should I buy a card specially made for this type of mike. I just want to make some samples, nothing elaborate. Also, can anyone recommend some backing tracks that I could obtain to play along with.

Thanks,
Whit

[malt]

backing tracks : http://www.guitarbt.com/

[Normster]

I've used my SM57 directly into the sound card on my Dell with reasonable results. (The sound card has a "boost" function.) Another really inexpensive option is to use a cheap Behringer mixer. Musician's Friend has them for about $60. I bought one about a year ago and it hasn't let me down yet.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=631263

[sliberty]

I think you might be better off getting a nice Firewire or USB interface. It will enable you to either plug in a great mic, or plug your guitar or bass directly in and use emulation software.

If you like the POD stuff, Line 6 makes several devices that can work. Also, m-audio has several nice interfaces - I have one of theirs (the Firewire 410). Go into a GC and ask in the pro audio shop and they will give you some other ideas.

[KT66]

You can get an impedence matching transformer, like this one:

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?
ItemID=16386&ovchn=YAH&ovcpn=Yahoo+SSP&ovcrn=16386&ovtac=PI&AffiliateID=330

to plug into your sound card. As far as backing tracks goes, I make my own with cakewalk using Beta Monkey drum loops ( http://www.betamonkeymusic.com/). They are reasonably priced and sound really good.

[Tonegeek]

You can get an impedence matching transformer, like this one:

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?
ItemID=16386&ovchn=YAH&ovcpn=Yahoo+SSP&ovcrn=16386&ovtac=PI&AffiliateID=330

I was doing exactly that but the problem turned out to be my card's mic input only takes the signal in on one of the stereo inputs. So i used a "Y" cord, and found the input that works.

BTW - Here is a great little proggy for recording tracks and it is FREE
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Very intuitive and packed with useful features. You may need to download an encoder to use the MP3 features but the docs will walk you through it.