bass response when recording??

[jmv]

I recently got a fostex MR-8 digital recorder and a Shure SM-58 (i know its a vocal mic, but...) i did a recording with my moms vibro champ, and i was really suprised with the amount of bass it ended up recording. I set the mastering for 'bright', but it still had more low end than i generally prefer. I put the mic right on the speaker, and set the input level, and the rest was pretty standard. When i tried to record my bassman, however, i put the mic on one of the speakers, basically directly on the grill cloth, over what i assume is the cone... and the sound i get is real tinny and thin, not at all like what i hear when i play. Does it have something to do with the volume of the amp (since i was recording it on '10')?? Cuz i messed with the input trim, and it doesn't seem to make a difference.... would a shure sm-57 possibly work better?? I don't have any sort of EQ controls, so thats not the problem... but that also means i don't have much flexability to fix the problem, as well. Should i try different mic placements??

Any suggestions on stuff to try would be appreciated.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: bass response when recording??

I would record it with the best sound possible going to the mic ... what that is of course, is entirely up to you. There are no hard-and-fast rules.

Then just roll off the bass when you mix, which is what I do. Just roll of everything on the guitar tracks below 300Hz ... that will provide you with all of the midrange you want, and you will still have the low freqs, but they will not be overpowering.

As an alternative, you can just lower the bass on your amp; but that might not sound right to your ear. A mic is a totally different animal, and you will never get the same sound from a mic as you hear in a room with your ears. With practice, tho, you will get close.

 

[Falstaff]

Re: bass response when recording??

Taking the amp off the floor might reduce the bass a bit, too. Assuming it is on the floor.

 

[Blue Calx]

Re: bass response when recording??

mic placement is a big issue too. Pointing directly at the cone is gonna make it sound thinner. Angling it, or moving it between the center and the rim changes the sound that gets recorded.

 

[jmv]

Re: bass response when recording??

Well, sorry, i shoulda specified... my problem is with the complete LACK of bass when recording with my bassman.

 

[Norman_T]

Re: bass response when recording??

I think your problem is to do with the fact that you are trying to record with what is a vocal mic and not an instrument mic.

According to the shure web site:

The Shure SM58 is a unidirectional (cardioid) dynamic vocal microphone designed for professional vocal use in live performance, sound reinforcement, and studio recording. A highly effective, built-in, spherical filter minimizes wind and breath "pop" noise. A cardioid pickup pattern isolates the main sound source while minimizing unwanted background noise. The SM58 has a tailored vocal response for a sound which is a world standard. Rugged construction, a proven shock mount system, and a steel mesh grille ensure that even with rough handling, the SM58 will perform consistently. Outdoors or indoors, singing, speech - the SM58 is the overwhelming choice of professionals.

* Frequency response tailored for vocals, with brightened midrange and bass rolloff
* Frequency response: 50 to 15,000 Hz

You may find that switching over to a proper instrument mic would be better, instead of trying to rectify something which is not designed for instrument recording? Check Shure webs site for more details:

http://www.shure.com/

 

[StefanM]

Re: bass response when recording??

Norman T, I have to dissagree.

have you heard of the Proximity Effect? If you find the mic is too bassy, try placing it a bit further back. As far as vocal vs instrument mics.... expereiment. Yes, the '58 may have been designed for vocals, which is why it has that upper midrange peak that a lot of singers like, but I SERIOUSLY doubt that's why it sounds too bassy. Look at the desciption of the '58, the bass is rolled off. It isn't that hard and fast. Experiment. We use AKG 3800s... (equiv of beta 58) on all sorts of things at work that arn't 'vocals'. The absolutley sweetest mic I have used on drums, or a guitar amp, is an old Neuman condensor mic originally used for vocals on radio.

EDIT: I just saw jmv's last post; in your first post it really read like the problem was too much bass, but I see now that your problem isnot enough. Well, that type of mic will sound less bassy (I agree with you here Norman ) but you can try micing the cone up really close, towards the rim, and playing with the eq a bit. Experiment. I'm not sure what sort of mixer/eq you have available - I can't see the thread while I'm editing this post - but do you have a bass rolloff switch on that shouldn't be, or somethign like that?? Where have you got the treble set? Excess highs will dominate the sound, try with everything flat and work from there.

 

[StefanM]

Re: bass response when recording??

When i tried to record my bassman, however, i put the mic on one of the speakers, basically directly on the grill cloth, over what i assume is the cone... and the sound i get is real tinny and thin, not at all like what i hear when i play.

Now my last post makes even less sense! I now realise that the first amp you miced sounded too bassy, and the second to thin. Right. That makes it easy - the variable here is mic placment. This is your problem. There's a real art to it, you can change the sound completely by how you position the mic.

 

[jmv]

Re: bass response when recording??

Okay.... its kinda hard for me to tell where the center of the speakers are in the 2x12" cab, (thats the spot i aimed for when i miced the vibrochamp), but i'll experiment more when i get the chance.

And, i know the 58s CAN work well for recording guitar work... there was one clip someone recorded, can't remember who, they used '58s cuz they liked them better, and i thought it sounded great....

 

[StefanM]

Re: bass response when recording??

You don't really want the centre of the speakers anyway. If It's an open-backed cab, measure from the back where the speakers start then put the ruler on the front so you know for sure.