Is it me or my gear? Countless recordings and live performances have used SM57 / SM58 $100 If you can't get a respectable capture into one of those mics. It's not the mic. Headphones -- unless someone is paying you 'I can retire now' money. You probably just need some basic cans. $200 Monitors -- Don't fall for the YT vids. Learn the monitors you can afford. I have heard killer mixes that were done on 6x9 speakers a guy ripped out of a car. He was a real musician / engineer. He had passion. 'All input devices (preamps - Audio interface) are the same'. Kinda. These days the cheap stuff is so good that if you don't push it most can't tell the difference. The thing is if you want character you want to push the pre so the expensive stuff wins. BUT .. you can go clean and then distort in the box. So... is it you? or your gear? Guitar finger squeaks ... I'm sure there is a plugin for that but TomoFugitaMusic can fix that for you. You won't like the discipline and neither did John Mayer. So what is my point? The best advice I have ever gotten, and it always seems to come from many respectable professionals. Stop spending money until you have something that you know for a fact will make a difference OR you are building a collection OR money is simply not an issue in your scenario. The thing you buy, even though considered better, might make you sound worse. Why? because you put a better mic in your less than adequate room because the new guitar amp is super responsive and your technique is inadequate because -- and this could be an expensive good thing -- oh, I thought I was ok but I have work to do. The ENTIRE WORLD is awaiting your new music that is raw, real, and creates an emotional experience for them.

hey ya'll in the midst of all of you making your radio ready single songs, I thought I'd join in on the fun and this actually went live today! spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0hWZunh7LpZG54ucAs4TuB?si=4dbb29d679ff4717 youtube music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8QDTMeo3DM&list=OLAK5uy_nNtVLi84nJDkDKsv8ABW4slE3qpCI0low there are a couple of screen-recording videos in here the community of me starting this composition from scratch, if you want to see the rest of the process (the synth/drum additions) i'll do another video breakdown soon. Been fun working with and getting to know some of you! Keep in touch as you finish and release more songs!