Amp positioning... etc...

[cellardweller]

Is there a corrolation between an amps distance from, and material of construction of a wall behind it and the resulting "tone"? (I've been experimenting with putting carpet on the wall directly behind)

Also, is there a optimal distance from a speaker from which to observe the sound, which will most accurately represent what will be picked up/recorded?

How much space should be allowed in front of a cab/amp?

Sorry to periodically bombard with questions, I don't have as much time as I used to to browse, and I'm not getting thread update emails either...

Thanx
CD

[grinder]

The closer the amp is to the wall, the more the bass will be boosted.If you put carpet or foam on the wall you'll get less high frequency reflections.I usually put the amp in the middle of the room on a standThe best way to hear what's going to tape is to have the amp isolated and listen through the monitors.If you don't have an isolation room then get the sound close to what you think it should be, record it, play it back and make adjustments.I wouldn't recommend putting your ear in the mic positition since your ears' frequency respose is differant than the mics' plus, it will hurt your ears.

[Track Rat]

I agree with Grinder. Walls/floors and especially corners should be avoided. They act as bass horns. Getting the amp in the middle of a room or at least away from the walls and up off the floor can go a long way to even things out. I like miking the amp out a foot or so with an AT-4033. Obviously the farther you get away from the amp, the more the room sound comes into play. Use your ears and experiment.

[Dani Pace]

One thing many people overlook is whether you are talking about open back amps or closed. Closed back amps can be placed clocer to walls as there is less (supposedly no ) sound going out the back. Open backs on the other hand emit a lot of sound out the back which can be used (or abused) as well as sound from the front. If there is a chance of your walls ratteling, DO NOT set an open back cloce to it. Another thing to consider is to set your amp at an angle to the wall (30 or 60 degrees but never 45) this helps reduce reflected sound or enables you to control the reflected sound and use the natural resonance of a room. I have to agree, stay out of corners, think about it, it's like setting an amp inside a big megaphone to project the sound, and depending on what your walls are made of this sort of projevtion can be an acoustic disaster.

[Track Rat]

True, an infinite baffle (closed back) will have less sound coming from the back. Just my opinion but I'd still stay away from walls.

[grinder]

Puting a closed back cab close to a wall will exaggurate the bass frequencies too.Think about stereo speakers and monitors, they are closed back and get a bass boost when placed near a wall.