Audio Recording?

So I finally decided I would actually record stuff with this microphone I bought, but I was wondering what software/programs/effects are good to use. The Blue Yeti records well, but it records EVERYTHING so it kinda picks up all the unnecessary noise, too, so I was wondering if there were any good and reliable sources of information for recording well and stuff.

Audacity.

zzz should have mentioned I have Audacity, but I don't know how to use it beyond pressing the Record button, and the main thing is that I don't know which effects should be used to get the best sound out of a recording.

Audacity has a rather good wiki with explanations and tutorials.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/

Also look into getting GuitarRig if you want cheap access to good effects. It's not going to blow away a Mesa Boogie but it will knockout everything in its price range provided your computer can run it with insignificant latency. Guarantee you it'll sound better than your guitar through your amp through the mic, though.

zzz should have mentioned I have Audacity, but I don't know how to use it beyond pressing the Record button, and the main thing is that I don't know which effects should be used to get the best sound out of a recording.

that's your fault at this point

Which is the entire point of making this thread.

@SJR: Thanks, it was dumb of me to not consult the documentation initially, but I'll go read through it now.

Record a little "silence" before or after your actual recording, then you can use the noise removal filter, telling it to consider that background noise silence as what to remove.

I run the noise filter over my voice recordings, cleans them right up. You may have to tweak the sliders a little bit. Trial and error.

In Audacity's settings, increase the preview length from the low default to like 30 seconds or something. Lets you preview effects much better.

kk thanks Roph.

Out of curiousity (if these even make a difference): Would it be better to record soft and amplify it or record loud and tone it down? And my microphone has a built-in turning knob thing for gain so would you think it would be best to bring up the gain and decrease the recording volume settings on the computer or vice versa? Or would that just be an issue of preference of sound?

I always try to make it as loud as possible without clipping.

if it's voice you're going to be recording, do some coughing and check your levels so that the coughs just reach peak.

Turn your head while you cough.

And move away from the mic to breathe in

No, always leave headroom when you record. Not too soft, not too loud. You can always compress/limit after recording, (or simply turn it up if you don't have those tools at your disposal) but if your track is already too loud it's going to sound horrible.

zzz should have mentioned I have Audacity, but I don't know how to use it beyond pressing the Record button, and the main thing is that I don't know which effects should be used to get the best sound out of a recording.

that's your fault at this point

Rude >:C

And move away from the mic to breathe in

Chocolate Raaain!