Wat mic and interface do I get?

[Clint 55]

I want good friggin sound where the recorded sound sounds like my sound. Cuz I think my guitar and amp sound pretty good. I have a cheap interface and a $300 condenser mic. I'm thinking about spending $500 on an interface next. Do you have any input on what price ranges are good or what specific equipment is good?

 

[Demanic]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Have you thought about getting a less expensive dynamic mic, like an SM57 and using it to close mic your amp in conjunction with using the condenser for room sound? Then, if you're still not getting what you want, you can always upgrade the interface. What don't you like about the interface that you have now? About the only issue I could imagine is a latency problem. If that isn't it, the other mic might make more of a difference in your recording.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

 

[Swampy]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

If all you need is one input, I would think a Focusrite Scarlett Solo and an SM57 should do the trick. About a $200 investment.
If two inputs are needed, a Focusrite 2i2 would do the trick.

What condenser do you have?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Thanks for the replies. I have an SM57 and a Sennheiser MK4. That's a good idea to try to use both. There's nothing specific I don't like about the interface all I know is I'm not getting the sound quality like others are such as:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7wAOiLpA2c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrWpj8jg8Mk

The Fralin demo is using an SM57. I'm like wtf, when I use an SM57 it sounds horrible lol.

 

[Swampy]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Where are you placing the mic? Try going right up against the grill cloth, halfway between the dust cover (center) and the edge of the speaker. If you want brighter, go closer to the dust cover. If you want a little darker, go towards the outer edge.
Then there the whole off axis thing you can try.

 

[Swampy]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

I would try to get a good sound you like with one mic first. Like Demanic said, you can get a cool blended mic sounds with two mics, but then you can be dealing with phase issues.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

I'll try again with the SM57 and my new amp and report back. Last time I tried with the SM57 right up against my old little amp which doesn't sound bad, I got really poor muffled sound. Nowhere near the detail I want.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Close micing an amp is a science and an art. Like Swampy said, you can move the position of the mic around the speaker to get different recorded sounds. What he said gives a good starting point if you know how you want to change the sound that you are picking up. But from then on, it's like adjusting pickup heights in a guitar. It can take a lot of trial and error, but if you keep track of where it finally sounds good, then you are set for the next time.

 

[LLL]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

No proper demo is done with just slapping a mic in front of a cab and hitting record.

No proper awesome legendary guitar tone was either... all great recordings are an illusion.

You can bet your ass they've EQ'd and used other studio polish *after* hitting record.

 

[LLL]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Last time I tried with the SM57 right up against my old little amp which doesn't sound bad, I got really poor muffled sound. Nowhere near the detail I want.

That sounds odd. The SM57 is notorious for having a 6KHz hump/bite (which happens to work great for guitars).

Try positioning the SM57 straight-on, touching the grillecloth, centered on the line between the speaker dustcap and speaker (off-center).

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

No proper demo is done with just slapping a mic in front of a cab and hitting record.

No proper awesome legendary guitar tone was either... all great recordings are an illusion.

You can bet your ass they've EQ'd and used other studio polish *after* hitting record.

Ya did you listen to the demos I posed tho? Great tone. U really think that's EQing?

 

[dystrust]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Close micing an amp is a science and an art. Like Swampy said, you can move the position of the mic around the speaker to get different recorded sounds. What he said gives a good starting point if you know how you want to change the sound that you are picking up. But from then on, it's like adjusting pickup heights in a guitar. It can take a lot of trial and error, but if you keep track of where it finally sounds good, then you are set for the next time.

+1

The OP needs to learn how to properly use the tools he has rather than buying a new interface and or mics. If you can't get at least a decent electric guitar sound with an SM57 and interface, you're doing it wrong.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

If you think I don't know how to stick a mic in front of an amp, ur doing it wrong.

 

[Securb]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Check out PreSonus AudioBox iTwo Studio - Complete Mobile Hardware/Software Recording Kit it is not bad for the price. As far as positioning the mic there is no wrong or right placement of the mic it depends on what you want to capture and what your end result is. Rule of thumb on center will capture more highs. As you move towards the edge of the speaker treble rolls off and bass is more predominant. So, the mic placement depends on what YOU want as your overall tone. Starting midway between the cone and the edge is a great place to start and move the mic accordingly for desired results.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

No proper demo is done with just slapping a mic in front of a cab and hitting record.

No proper awesome legendary guitar tone was either... all great recordings are an illusion.

You can bet your ass they've EQ'd and used other studio polish *after* hitting record.

Well, that's really an opinion. I'd say many awesome classic tones we're made just by sticking a mic in front of an amp. Depends what is your defintion of "awesome legendary guitar tone"...

It's also matter of speaker: One reason I love G12H is that it sounds like it does almost regardless of conditions, unlike G12M or V12 in comparison; both require much more care with room acoustics, cab placement and recording.

It's very usual that tone that sounds great "in room" sounds muffled when recorded and vise versa.

 

[LLL]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Ya did you listen to the demos I posed tho? Great tone. U really think that's EQing?

Where?

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

If you think I don't know how to stick a mic in front of an amp, ur doing it wrong.

Mic technique isn't simple. If you're just sticking a mic in front of an amp, you are doing it wrong.

Put a mic directly in front of the amp, pointed at the center of the speaker about 12 inches away. Record a riff.
Same position, 1 inch away. Record a riff. It's totally different sounding, much more bass and low frequencies.
Same position, 1 inch away, angle the mic at about 45 degrees. Record a riff. Totally different sounding again, the frequencies recorded have changed.

There are some general rules (very close to the amp is bassier than a foot back, closer to the edge of the speaker has less high end than the center, pointing the mic directly at the speaker will sound different than angling the mic at 45 degrees) but you really need to position, record and check, position, record and check, over and over until you figure out how to get the sound you want.

The whole thing gets a lot more complicated when dual micing a cab because you have to worry about phase issues. There are a variety of techniques that you can use to get around this (XY micing, 3:1 rule, setting each mic exactly the same distance from the speaker, etc.). I would recommend that you do dual micing when getting started not to use them together but just so that you can A/B the recorded sound to figure out which you like the sound of better.

My goal is always to get the guitar sound I want with as little EQing post recording as possible, things just seem to sound better that way . . . but this means you really have to think about how the guitar will sound in a mix, not just on it's own. A super middy soloed guitar sound might be singing and vocal in the mix. A bassy/sparkly clean sound might be weak and completely eaten up by the hat and bass guitar in the mix.

Someone with great mic placement technique and a good idea what they're doing can record a whole album with just SM57s and a cheap interface and it'll sound great because they know how to use their gear to get a great sound.


What you're asking in your original post is like saying "My playing sucks with this American Strat, I only know open G and A chords. What Gibson Les Paul will improve my playing?".

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Check out PreSonus AudioBox iTwo Studio - Complete Mobile Hardware/Software Recording Kit it is not bad for the price.

That's wat I have. I dunno guys, I have a feeling that the quality of the recording equipment could have something to do with the quality of the recorded sound. Just a thought. I was expecting something a little more than use some cheap ass gear and stick the mic in front of the amp right.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Where?

The only links posted by anyone in the entire thread.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Wat mic and interface do I get?

Mic technique isn't simple.

Thanks for some general rules about mic placement. I have experimented with mic placement. I also noticed you get more room sound the farther away you put the mic which can be good but that it doesn't sound as strong if too far away.