Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

When you're ready to spend a little more, the Shure KSM27 is terrific. But until then, go with the SM-57.

Bill

 

[LLL]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

Everyone should own at least one Shure SM57.

What is far more important, however, is the mic preamp. A good mic preamp can make a poopy mic sound great, but not vise-versa.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

I really like the Sennheiser e609 Silver. I have a couple of them and they have a fairly flat and even response, and because of that they also double as decent room mics.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

SM57 + a good preamp will suit most guitar, vocal, and possibly bass guitar needs. It won't be the most optimal for some voices and bass sounds, but it will be a very usable and versatile setup. I recommend getting the full SM57 kit that comes with an XLR cable and stand - it's only like $10 extra. Later down the line, I would also recommend a decent compressor. They are very very very useful recording tools (if your preamp doesn't have one built in already). Here's a useful start on preamps: http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/mic-preamp-buying-guide/

I'm assuming you are interesting in recording demos for yourself, right? If you ever want to play with drums, I highly recommend the Hydrogen drum machine (is it on Windows? I use it on my other computer which is Linux Mint). Hydrogen is very flexible, easy to use, has a large community with multiple drum sets readily available for free download, and best of all, is completely FREE.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

Every home should have one

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

SM57 + a good preamp will suit most guitar, vocal, and possibly bass guitar needs. It won't be the most optimal for some voices and bass sounds, but it will be a very usable and versatile setup. I recommend getting the full SM57 kit that comes with an XLR cable and stand - it's only like $10 extra. Later down the line, I would also recommend a decent compressor. They are very very very useful recording tools (if your preamp doesn't have one built in already). Here's a useful start on preamps: http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/mic-preamp-buying-guide/

I'm assuming you are interesting in recording demos for yourself, right? If you ever want to play with drums, I highly recommend the Hydrogen drum machine (is it on Windows? I use it on my other computer which is Linux Mint). Hydrogen is very flexible, easy to use, has a large community with multiple drum sets readily available for free download, and best of all, is completely FREE.

This is the second time today I've heard about Hydrogen. I should check it out.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

The condensers built into my Zoom H4 do a phenomenal job of recording anything, depending upon how they are set up. If you don't already have a means with which to record, I suggest getting the new H4n (well, newer). In fact, you can probably pick one up for the price of a mid range mike ($250 or so).

 

[NotCardio]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

Other than the usual contenders (sm57, i5,e609), I would recommend the Apex 205.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

Other than the usual contenders (sm57, i5,e609), I would recommend the Apex 205.

I've heard good things about the Apex 205, but with all Chinese ribbons you should be wary or improper ribbon tension or know a place you can get it repaired.

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

This is the second time today I've heard about Hydrogen. I should check it out.

You should! It's great a great tool with a lot of flexibility.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

I've heard that the the relatively cheap 990 MXL ( and R44's)Marshall mics are clones of Neumans, and that for 200 bucks you can get a kit that makes it into a respectable mic that performs on par with 1000.00 mics and does a excellent Neuman clone..
There are guys that will install the kit for a hundred bucks.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

I've heard that the the relatively cheap 990 MXL ( and R44's)Marshall mics are clones of Neumans, and that for 200 bucks you can get a kit that makes it into a respectable mic that performs on par with 1000.00 mics and does a excellent Neuman clone..
There are guys that will install the kit for a hundred bucks.

If you're looking for someone to mod the mic for you, one that has a particularly good reputation is Oktavamod run by Michael Joly out of Cape Cod, Mass. His 990 mod is supposed to be similar in tone to the cardioid pattern in a Neumann U87Ai; he also offers mods for several other mics. I don't have one yet, but I'm definitely GAS'ing for one (or two) of his Oktava MK-012 mods (Neumann KM-84 inspired) along with the LDC capsule that's supposed to be similar to a Neumann U67, only FET instead of tube.

 

[Red_Label]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

I really like the Sennheiser e609 Silver. I have a couple of them and they have a fairly flat and even response, and because of that they also double as decent room mics.

Yup. Though the SM57 has been the gold standard for affordable amplification mic'ing for decades... the Sennheiser e609 has been coming on strong for some time. I'm aware of some guys who run a 57 on one speaker and a 609 on the other and mix the two. I've been meaning to try that myself.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

Everyone is saying 57 so I am going to throw a spanner in the works and say... SM58.... Pretty similar slightly different pickup pattern and frequency response but can often be found cheap secondhand as everyone has one. Pretty much easy to sound like a miked guitar amp with either of those. Other similar mics like the Audix i5 or an AKG D880. There are chinese ribbons and condensers that could work like the MXL stuff but I'd stick to mid focused shure mics until you can build a mic locker of a few different mics for different sounds (I think the Shure stuff works better for distorted tones then airy cleans).

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: Best Mic for Recording Tube Amps

Everyone is saying 57 so I am going to throw a spanner in the works and say... SM58.... Pretty similar slightly different pickup pattern and frequency response but can often be found cheap secondhand as everyone has one. Pretty much easy to sound like a miked guitar amp with either of those. Other similar mics like the Audix i5 or an AKG D880. There are chinese ribbons and condensers that could work like the MXL stuff but I'd stick to mid focused shure mics until you can build a mic locker of a few different mics for different sounds (I think the Shure stuff works better for distorted tones then airy cleans).

The SM57 and SM58 are identical except for the windscreen. The 58 just has a built in pop filter, which I'd say makes it more ideal for vocals. Otherwise there's only a very subtle difference. For stringed instruments, I'd just start with a 57, and if you need to record vocals, use pantyhose.