getting strong levels

[guitarsark]

here's the deal. i could really use some help on this.
my studio is as follows:
dp4 running on G4 dual
echo mia sound card.
mackie 1202 board.
i am currently trying to record a guitar part.
i have the amp mic'd shure sm57 going into mackie board to alt 3/4 out to sound card. if i turn either the mic trim or fader gain up past unity i get a lot of hiss. i dont want to use the main outs because all my MIDI stuff is coming back thru the mackie board and i dont want that to be recorded.
is there something i am doing wrong? seems like the only way around this is to turn the amp up louder than i want to, and then i cant get the nice subtletys out of the amp sound.
thanks in advance for any help with this.

[zara_drummer]

If your getting hiss past unity, you might have a bad channel...or your mic is picking it up...

try a different channel, and also try to adjust your mic placement some. You might also try a different mic cable.

I see no logical reason for your signal to have hiss...Based on what your saying, its sounds like some kinda hardware issue more than anything else.

Good luck.

[Jim]

i have the amp mic'd shure sm57 going into mackie board to alt 3/4 out to sound card. if i turn either the mic trim or fader gain up past unity i get a lot of hiss.

Is the amp on or off? Dumb question, I know, but this is tech support. You shouldn't get a lot of hiss from a 57. You will get a lot of hiss from an idle guitar amp. Your Mackie is a clean mixer, and I wouldn't immediately suspect that. I can't hear what you're hearing. But, you can expect some hiss from any analog mixer when you crank up the trim pot. Your definition of "a lot of hiss" may be different from mine.

is there something i am doing wrong? seems like the only way around this is to turn the amp up louder than i want to, and then i cant get the nice subtletys out of the amp sound.
thanks in advance for any help with this.

That's funny. Most guitarists seem to favor the sound of an overcranked guitar cabinet.

The 57 is not a sensitive mic. It needs a fairly loud or close source. Where are you putting the mic? Most people put it right up to the grill fabric.

If you really want a hot signal, consider recording with a Direct Input (DI) or a Pod or similar device. Many guitarists think this is heresy, but personally, I prefer the sound. The cabinet sound can be simulated.