The following describes the method I'm currently using to create the sound files which I post at the APG site.  These are NOT professional recording techniques, but I believe they are sufficient for preparing adequate recordings considering the current limitations of PC and internet sound reproduction.  LW

FIRST STAGE - ORIGINAL ANALOG RECORDING

Currently I'm recording to my JVC home stereo cassette deck using an Audio Technica AT811 (condenser/unidirectional) microphone.  The input level should be adjusted to keep the loudest tones just below the overload line, but not too soft.  I understand that Analog tape is a little more forgiving than digital in this regard, so you don't need to be too paranoid about overdriving your recording level.

I play guitar in a classical style position, with my left foot raised on a short stool, and the microphone is positioned 12" to 18" from the sound hole, about 6" above the guitar and aimed at the sound hole.  To get rid of fret noise and mechanical sounds (from the guitar) consider moving the mike a little further away.

SECOND - CONVERT TO DIGITAL AUDIO

I've an inexpensive cassette player to output to my PC from the player's headphone output to my soundcard input (Sound Blaster 16) using a freebie version of CoolEdit, which has filtering options and decent editting capability. Actually sounds pretty good as a WAV file, but takes up to 5 meg a minute!

Just punch the Cool Edit "record" button, turn on the cassette player and you've got a WAV file uploaded.  CoolEdit recommends to record as 16 bit/mono for optimum fidelity/efficiency and also suggests that the volume of the analog input be adjusted so that the digital signal fills, but doesn't overrun the borders of the WAV file view screen.  I've yet to figure how to listen over my speakers as I record, but it's got to be something embarassingly obvious. 

THIRD - CONVERT WAV FILES TO REALAUDIO FILE

At the RealAudio Website there's a free Encoder which will convert your WAV files to RealAudio.  So far the fidelity of RealAudio streaming sound files I've created is poor relative to the sound of the original WAV file and any help from fellow recordists would be greatly appreciated.  Sure doesn't sound anything like RealAudio's demo recordings on the internet! 

Luckily RealAudio gives several options for recording, and the ISDN mono sound file gives much better fidelity, but unfortunately can't stream.  By using streaming the music file partly downloads and starts playing while it finishes loading, giving a very efficient response time.  Otherwise it's the old web-wait.

STREAMING IN REALAUDIO

To stream a RealAudio file create a stream file called "filename.ram" with an ASCII text writer like Windows Notepad.  The text of the file will simply be the address of the name of the RealAudio file.  (Windows will take exception to changing the suffix on the TXT file to RAM, but the warning can be ignored.)

Example:

The stream file http://www.oocities.org/BourbonStreet/ballgm.ram
has the text:

"http://www.oocities.org/BourbonStreet/5322/ballgm01.ra" and will
start streaming the sound file in RealAudio.

If you select the sound file http://www.oocities.org/BourbonStreet/ballgm01.ra instead the sound file will completely download before it starts to play, not quite as slick, eh?  (Thanks to Mike Owings for help)

FOURTH -  UPLOADING TO THE FILE SERVER

GeoCities has a very great File Manager interface for uploading and managing sound files at a website, and there are many commercially available FTP loaders and similar software.  Check with your file server provider for details on what they recommend.  LW