Posting sound files

I'm interested in becoming a host, and I know that to do that I need to post sound files. How do I go about creating sound files? I've got a microphone that came with my gateway, is this all I need? I've heard that cooledit software will also help. I am totally clueless, talk to me like you woudl a three year old . Wait, I know i want mp3, not wav, cause wav is too big. Thanks.

There are some good tutorials on this subject here: http://www.guitarwar.com/help.php

Should get you up and running with recording.
try to use the line in on your computer instead of the mic. those gateway mics don't sound so good.

The hosts right now are looking for acoustic, classical, jazz, and other non-rock styles. We have about 80% rock/blues hosts hosts and are looking for some other styles to round out the topics covered. You didn't say what style you are into, but wanted to let you know about that.

I would try and post jazz oriented tricks. Really excercises that can be applied to jazz, rather than real music. You can't really post a jazz "lick" and expect the average guitarrist to benefit from it, cause jazz licks have really specific application at certain points in chord progressions. Its not like a blues lick where you can just say "play this in your solo." If you don't understand jazz progressions and playing over changes (something I'm still not good at, but at least know the theory of) then how can u use a jazz lick u know?
I figure I would post modes, arpeggios (not swept, not triads) jazz chords, and theory tips and concepts, like voice leading. Basically I'll take what I learn in my lessons and put it here, hehe. That's if I ever get around to recording. Thanks for the link.

good point! let me know if you get stuck on the recording part.

Ok, I think I may have found the mic jack (I don't have an effects pedal) but it's way too small to plug my guitar into with a guitar cable. what now?

You can go to any Radio Shack, or some music stores carry them, and get an adapter to change from a 1/4 inch output thang to an 1/8 inch.

Just get a PC microphone (they're pretty cheap) and put it up to your amp. Record using Windows sound recorder, then convert to mp3 with Goldwave. That's what I do - it's really easy.

Thanks guys, good ideas. I'll probably end up going with ekstasis's suggestion of using the comp mic cause it lets me use my amp sound. Now I just have to get around to doing it. Hehe, thanks.

Ok, I've been able to follow the tips on guitarwar to the point that I've recorded my stuff with goldwave, but in wav format, not mp3. I tried downloading media player and that bladedll thing from the goldwave site, but when i try and save as mp3 it still says I dont have an encoder, any tips?

try download an Mp3 compressor

I don't know what version you have (I have v4.16), but in my Goldwave, after I open it, I go to 'File', then 'Batch Conversion'. You select the file(s) you want to convert and pick the format. There are several MP3 qualities to choose from.

[This message has been edited by ekstasis16 (edited 07-02-2000).]

Yeah but to do batch conversion u need an mp3 encoder. Magnus, where can i download an mp3 compressor?

As I recall, the goldwave site says "download bladenc into the folder where goldwave is on your harddrive." If you put bladenc someplace else, it won't work. If you don't know where bladenc is on your harddrive, use find on the start menu to find it. Then put it in your goldwave folder.