software

I've been interested in a mic pre amp for awhile now...I got my buddy's shure sm57 but it won't work just plugged right into my sound card..cuz I need a pre amp...

also, I played my first gig this weekend and the soundguy didn't mic my cab...he ran it through a DI box right into the PA and it sounded KILLEr..and I just used the cabinet as an extra on stage monitor...

I saw this:

from : localhost/it can be used as a DI box as well...would this serve both functions for me? I didn't know that mic pre's could be used as pre amps...

Yep, that will work fine, tho I would advise not using the limiting circuitry.

and this thing'll be able to handle the speaker out from my amp just like a DI box? or would I have to use the line out?

cuz that's how it was hooked up on saturday at the gig...he didn't use the line out...he used the speaker out to the cabinet and plugged that into the DI box, then plugged the di box into the cabinet..and of course, the xlr from the di box to the snake on the wall =)

from what I understand, if you're using the line out, you don't get the same tone as you do with the speaker outs...

I'm new to all this! lol

Line or DI out from your amp

What TO is a mic pre and a DI but I don't think it's what you're looking for as far as a DI since I don't think it's designed to go between the amp and speaker. Also, it doesn't have a speaker simulator so it won't sound like a miked cab when used as a DI.
I own both the Behringer GI100 and the HK Red Box. IMO, the GI100 is a POS that needs to be heavily EQ'ed just to sound decent. I greatly prefer the HK.

I'll have to look into that..I was just at guitar center in PA and as usual, they had nothing I was interested in...I have a gift card and I NEED to unload it..lol

The speaker out is an amplified signal. He could fry the mixer doing that.

that's what I figured, Les...a DI is one thing, but the mic pre can be used as a DI only using the line out..and I'm not sure how that would sound..and I alrteady know that using a DI from the amp out sounded great..so I'd rather go that way...what I'm probably going to do is get a mic pre (if friggin' guitar center just had the damn one I was interested in!) and try seein' how it sounds miced...and then I'll get a DI box which'll come in handy for live shows...then I can also try usin' that without micing at all..just the DI right into the mic pre into the sound card...

one of the best speaker simulators/DI thingymajigs is the Sequis Motherload. Absolutely awesome bit of kit for live or studio. Expensive though. But really flexible. Wont act as a mic preamp on the other hand.

as I said, I'll probably have to get both..but I'm not gonna break the bank doin' it