How do I capture the Power Amp section of my amp and my cab with a microphone and not have the capture sounds be way too loud?

If I try to capture my amp and cab using a micriphone with the amp’s master volume at the level I like to play it at (12 o’clock) the capture sounds that come out of the cab are so insainly loud it’s scary, so I do the capture with the master volume down to where it just barely begins to make sound.
Once the capture process begins the signals coming from the cab are still quite loud, then when I play through the capture it’s too quiet. turning the volume up on the capture creates noise.
Do the signals have to be so loud that it’s extremely uncomfortable to be near the cab?
What am I doing wrong?