Greetings,
 
So... while guitar.com was in hiatus I spent some time answering questions and helping out folks on the home recording forum over at ultimate-guitar.com. It wasn't long before i realized that, within the span of just a few days, i was literally seeing the same damn questions over and over. Those questions are:
1. Why don't I have any volume in the wave form? I have all my gear cranked up and I can hear it, but it's not being recorded or it's barely there.
2. Why am I only getting volume on one side of the wave form? Is my cable bad?
3. What's the best recording software?
 
Well, I'm gonna try my best to help out the very-beginners. Possible anwers are:
1. Check the "windows recording mixer" in your Control Panel -> Sound/Audio > Recording section. You can also access this with Cool Edit Pro, which I use, through the options menu. You can find this menu in most programs in the options menu as well. Make sure the "line in" is selected and is set at the appropriate volume which can be figured out just by fiddling with it.

Or if you aren't direct recording and you are using a mic and you have you're volume maxed out, try going into the same recording volume menu above. Click on "ADVANCED" beneath the volume slider for microphone. There should be an option called "Mic Boost" some have more than one booster to click. Just click the 1st one. It significantly increases the input volume.
 
2. Volume on only one side of your waveform? Well that's most likely because you're using a guitar cable for your connections. A guitar cable is fine for going from you guitar to your amp or processor or modeling unit. But from there you want to use a stereo cable. My own chain consists of my guitars connected to my Digitech RP50 with a guitar cable which is mono. Then from the RP50 to my Crate GX-15 practice amp with a chord that has 3.5mm (sometimes refered to as 1/8") stereo jacks on each end. Then from the amp, I connect to my EQ and then to my computers Line In jack using 3.5mm jacks the rest of the way. The thing with a lot of practice amps a modeling pedals is that the Line Out and/or the headphone jacks are almost always stereo output. This is the most practical and ideal way to direct record. In the image below, you'll see the 3.5mm dual male end chord that i described.

To differentiate between a mono and a stereo jack, note below. The top jack is a mono jack. it has only one ring around the shaft whereas the stereo jack has 2 rings.

Now, sometimes you might be in a situation where the 3.5mm Jack won't be large enough to fit the Line In on your amp or modeling unit. No problem. They make adapters for just such an occasion. Most, if not all, amps and modeling units use 1/4" jacks for their input. Below is a 3.5mm to 1/4" adapter jack.

The make these jacks to adapt in the opposite direction as well.
 
I hope this has been of some help to anyone that might need it. All you really need to record is a guitar and an amp. Just be creative. You can't just plug in have all the setting and tone be perfect. This is something that you'll have to experiment and fiddle with until you get a sound you desire... or at least you can settle on. Even the most expensive gear is going to take some time to understand and make work to your liking. I mean, honestly, I have one of the cheapest... and i mean CHEAPEST... setups you will ever hear of but it works out pretty damn well. Just take some time and dial it in. And ask some questions. The thing about most musians is that they LOVE to talk about their stuff so you're sure to get lots of answers. So if you have a question about anything here, post in the recording forum. If I don't answer, i'm sure someone will. Or hit me up with a message.
 
Rock On,
Hetjr
www.soundclick.com/robthorne
www.myspace.com/hetjr