A problem with recording electric guitar using a Shure sm57?

[Mus1cb0x]

Ello everyone, I am new to the community as well as using Protools. I will provide the following information below.

Computer and recording software:

Macbook 2007 version 10.6.8
Processor 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 4 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Protools LE 8.0.6
Mbox 2 Pro
Shure Sm57
Marshall jcm 800 100 watt lead 2x12 4103 (2203 version of a head amp)

Situation:

The situation I have with recording is the volume and signal levels I receive are low when recording. I am recording directly from the amp itself which is a Marshall jcm 800 2x12 4103 combo ( Which is a combo version of a 2203 head amp). Is there any way of increasing the volume of the track itself when armed? I have to turn the gain on the Mbox 2 all the way past noon about four o'clock and I still have trouble getting a higher volume out of it.

How loud does the amp have to be cranked to receive a better/higher signal and volume? Anyone who is familiar which Jcm 800's are known to be massively loud amp even at low volumes. The highest it peaks is the middle of the dark green of the signal which as you know is quite low.

I am aware that Shure sm57 are dynamic mics which usually have a lower frequency compared to condenser microphones. Is it possible that I need a new microphone or rather a condenser opposed to a dynamic to achieve a higher volume level? Shure sm57's are industry standard and well versatile when it comes to recording guitar cabinets in particular.

I want to achieve something similar to the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWHop4SZFKQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg4DwDGOA7Y
http://youtu.be/Xjxv2rFGD9Y?t=1m51s

Any suggestions let me know, cheers.

[Darryl Ramm]

The microphone is right up close pointing at a speaker in the cabinet?

The microphone is known to work OK when used elsewhere?

You are using a XLR to XLR cable plugged into one of the two Combo sockets on the rear panel? It has to be XLR plug going into that socket not a 1/4" TRS. Test that cable elsewhere/swap for another cable.

The input selector for that input is set to "Mic" not "DI".

The pad is not engaged for that input?

What is the corresponding Input 1 or 2 gain knob set to?

[Park Seward]

Are the volume controls pushed in? If they are pulled out to activate the pad, you'll get 20 db less volume.

You can always Normalize the track after recording.

Where are you looking to see the level? What is it reading? Are you at -18 operating level?

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by Park Seward

Are the volume controls pushed in? If they are pulled out to activate the pad, you'll get 20 db less volume.

It's an Mbox 2 Pro, the Mic/DI gain knobs don't pull out, there are separate Pad buttons for channel 1 and 2.

[Park Seward]

Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm

It's an Mbox 2 Pro, the Mic/DI gain knobs don't pull out, there are separate Pad buttons for channel 1 and 2.

Thanks, Darryl. I stand corrected.