Your Favorite amp mic positions?

[Nightburst]

I'm experimenting like a madman, but I don't really know the basics.

I seem to prefer putting the mic directly against the speaker in the middle.
But I've read something about left of centre and such?

Anyone?

btw. I'm using a Shure-sm57

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Your Favorite amp mic positions?

Off the center will tend to sound less harsh and trebly. The best choice depends on your equipment (mic, amp, speakers, guitar) and the tone you want. I generally prefer off-center, but my guitars and amps have plenty of treble response.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Your Favorite amp mic positions?

I'm interested in this as well, as my mic will be in this week...

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Your Favorite amp mic positions?

Off the center will tend to sound less harsh and trebly. The best choice depends on your equipment (mic, amp, speakers, guitar) and the tone you want. I generally prefer off-center, but my guitars and amps have plenty of treble response.

Thanks, that's exactly the reason why I asked: my recordings seem a little on the trebly side. I prefer smooth.
I use a Behringer MIC200 tube preamp on 'valve' setting straght into the pc soundcard.

The one time I tried off center left me with a dull sound, maybe I did something wrong?

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Your Favorite amp mic positions?

Different mics and pres react differently, and a lot of pres are not at their best with dynamic mics like the SM-57. Also, the mic is at a different position than your ears are typically, so it often sounds quite different than you think it should (just like hearing your voice recorded). If it sounds dull, then try changing the amp EQ, or go back to center and cut the treble on the amp. If the SM-57 and mic pre can handle it, you might try placing the mic where your ears are when you think the amp sounds good. That usually works a bit better with a condenser mic, but it's worth experimenting.

 

[Mkf411]

Re: Your Favorite amp mic positions?

I know some people use something like an SM57 and then a condensor mic as well and blend them at the mixer.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Your Favorite amp mic positions?

Different mics and pres react differently, and a lot of pres are not at their best with dynamic mics like the SM-57. Also, the mic is at a different position than your ears are typically, so it often sounds quite different than you think it should (just like hearing your voice recorded). If it sounds dull, then try changing the amp EQ, or go back to center and cut the treble on the amp. If the SM-57 and mic pre can handle it, you might try placing the mic where your ears are when you think the amp sounds good. That usually works a bit better with a condenser mic, but it's worth experimenting.

Thank you!

Is it very common to adjust the eq totally different for recording purposes? How do the pro's do that in a studio? Most of the times I was in a studio, the soundguy just put the mic in the middle.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Your Favorite amp mic positions?

I know some people use something like an SM57 and then a condensor mic as well and blend them at the mixer.

Good idea! But the only condenser mic I have is a cheap sony Might be good for adding a space effect?

 

[seafoamer]

Re: Your Favorite amp mic positions?

Do a search here on the forum. We've discussed this a bunch.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Your Favorite amp mic positions?

The best guitar mic I've ever used was a B.L.U.E. Dragonfly condenser mic, but like an idiot I sold it. I usually use a combination of 57 offset from the center of the cone, and a Sennheiser 421 about 5 inches off the edge, then a condenser about 3 feet away in the sweet spot. That's in the luxury of a real studio, otherwise I just go with one mic, or a combination of a 57 on a speaker and a modeler sending a direct signal to the board.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Your Favorite amp mic positions?

SM-57 off axis about an inch away from the cloth. That's for home

In the studio, well golly gosh gee I'm not sure what my favorite is yet. I'm a recording student so I have the luxury of having access to a couple hundred mic's including very expensive ones from Blue, etc. Sometimes the cheapest ones work the best though.

I'd have to say joneser's /\ above recommendation is one of my favorites. A slight variation of that works very well for bass drums also.