OK, now I need help with my mic...

[Sly_D]

Just received my mic today and gave it a shot... and I now realize that micing an amp and get a good recorded sound is not easy as 1-2-3.

Is there a general rule of thumb? Like:

1) How close do I put the mic?
2) Where in front of the speaker, dead center or off center? Seems too trebly and cliping dead center... I had better luck slightly of center for now.
3) Is it better to crank the amp and lower the input level of the recorder or lower the amp level?
4) Is it better to cank the amp and back up the mic or lower the amp and put the mic closer?

If you don't feel like answering all these questions, is there a web site that covers these?

Thanks!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

Hmmm ...
Here's what I've found to be true in mic'ing guitar amps:
> The closer the mic is pointing to the center of the cone, the brighter, and more direct the sound will be.
> As you move the mic further out towards the edge of the cone, the rounder and more diffuse the sound will be.
> The further the mic is from the drivers, the more air you will catch in between; this is great for a good room sound, or if you want to add some bottom end.

For my stuff, I usually point the mic about 2" from the center of the cone of one of the drivers. I keep the mic about 4" from the actual grille.
The Rivera clips I just recorded were tracking using this method, btw ...
http://twilightsongs2.tripod.com

When I want a bigger sound, I will add a second mic, ear height, about 3' away; this captures the room sound, and then I blend the two.

There is no real right and wrong in recording, but this will give you a good starting point! ENJOY!

 

[Sly_D]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

Thanks a lot TO, I'll try those tips and see what happens...

 

[Chi3f]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

When you go off center if you point the mic at the side of the cone the mic is closest to you get a brighter sound. If you point it across the speaker at the other side of the cone you get more bass. I hope you can make sense out of that

 

[Sly_D]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

Makes a lot of sense Chi3f... thanks, I'll try that also.

 

[seafoamer]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

What kind of mic, & what u'r micing are huge factors.
Dynamic mics, large & small diapragm condensers, ribbon mics etc.

For electric gtr I/lots use a sm57 close up & a little off axis. and I put a nice large diapragm condenser about 3 times further back for a bit of room/ambience.

 

[Sly_D]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

Yes, this is a small & cheap Samson dynamic mic... I can now get decent recordings with a slightly off-centered position. I'll post a clip later. This mic won't replace a shure foir sure it's a temporary low budget solution.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

Yes This mic won't replace a shure for sure

LOL!

 

[Sly_D]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

Hey, I'm getting so comfortable in English I'm now doing puns!

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

Well experiment alot man, I sometimes just uses an hour or two to fool around with the mic.
But I also use something that is not very lowbudget...so I am having an easier time in general.
Also a rule is that overdriven sounds may not sound good, when the mic is at a certain point where the clean sound is good.
Use some gaffa to mark the good spots, and use yourself, listen closeup and a litte farther away, move sideways and notice the difference in the presence and spread in the sound, and another fun one is to load a mic behind the cab, point it right at the back closeup....mix that with the front one.
Don't let the VU's wander too often into red...the headroom diminishes that way.
Fool around and perhaps makes small notes, and only use the eq on the mixer if you really must....

 

[Forbes]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

Listened to your clips, sounds good man! If these are using teh mic, i see no reason for anything more expensive!

 

[Sly_D]

Re: OK, now I need help with my mic...

Well, my clips use a variety of things (mainly Tech 21 amp (sold) and the last one is the tube amp with a Behringer direct box with 4X12 cab simulator - I really dig this one, I may actually use the DI as much as the mic).

I did not post anything with the mic yet, but I can already say it's hard to tell the difference between the mic and the direct box. For hi gain at least.

Problem is, right now, I got rid of my DMZ Super Distortion (traded it for a JB)and I'm using a Fred in the bridge position (a tiny bit too trebly for my tate). I'm also waiting for a 59n I bought last week. So the real test will come with the right PUs...

Rid: thanks man, I think although lower budget, the Samson is usable. I can get very decent or totallly crappy sound, so experimentation is the name of the game here. Thanks for the tips... I don't have a mixer for now, should I???