Help!! Options

[woodzie12345]

I need some help! I am using a Digi002 rack, Protools LE 6.4, a Macintosh G5 with 1GIG of ram, an external 80GB hard drive. For vocals I am using a Shure SM-58 Vocal Microphone. My problem is, no matter what i do - and i don't know heaps about recording/sound etc - i can't get a decent sound for vocals.

When i record, I plug the mic into the mic input, and this has to be at about "5'oclock" before i can get a decent level, but the problem is i then get alot of distortion. So if i want a loud enough volume, I get a bad sound. And even when I have a low level and no distrotion, it still isn't a great quality sound. What can I do to get the 'professional' quality sound that I wanted to get with protools?

So basically, what do i do to get a near-professional quality vocal sound? Should i be using effects? compressors? gates? i need help!

THANKS!