miking Cabs live

[fldrummer]

Is their anything diffrent that I should think about when miking live guitar/bass cabs then recording? Should I just use one mic or 2 on them? What's a good place to mic the cabs playing live? thanks

[Massive Master]

If it's just a regular ol' 4X12 (or just about any guitar amp), an SM-57 about an inch or so in from the edge of the cone is a good place to start. M-88 or something on the bass if you're not going to just go direct.

You can get as fancy as you want depending on the situation, of course.

John Scrip - www.massivemastering.com

[KingstonRock]

keep it simple live, go for less bleed over perfect sound, i.e. shove the mic up against the speaker (assuming you're playing in a tight club).

Eric

[tubedude]

You want a mic with better rejection than a 57 for live work. In fact, you want a mic with better everything. Try the 609 Silver, go from there...

[bgavin]

Consider the Audix D3 or D4. Very tight hypercardioid pattern for live work. Full range frequency extension on the high end, much higher than SM57.

I'm replacing my SM57 with D3 for guitar and D4 for electric bass cabs.

[fldrummer]

Anybody try the AT4050/CM5 on guitar cabs? I saw that linkin park uses them so they must be pretty good.

[Morningloryseed]

What is wrong with the SM 57s all the sudden? I love the sound of them, and I thought they were "industry standard." Or is that just hype to sell the mic?

[strat0tele]

Originally posted by Morningloryseed
What is wrong with the SM 57s all the sudden? I love the sound of them, and I thought they were "industry standard." Or is that just hype to sell the mic?

Its a standard long tested affordable mic. But it doesn't mean there isn't anything out there that is better.

[Wireneck]

The 57 is considered a standard because it works "well" in loads of situations. Is it always the best mic for the job? Definantly not, but for the price its always good to keep a few on hand. I would rather have a few mics that work well on many things than one or two mics that only excell in certain areas.

[tubedude]

You know, I just dont think it works that well in very many situations, nor do I think its that great of a deal becuase of that reason. I think that people that own more than one have a problem too, so maybe I have the problem, I dunno. I'm just not a fan of honky midrange on a guitar (not for the styles I do at least) nor am I a fan for crackly terrible honky hihat bleed on my snares, so that leaves it out again on one of its popular uses. Then, on vocals, I dont care for a pinched boxy sound, so again, that leaves out the 57 again.
Now, I just have a terrible time understanding what it is people like about that mic, maybe I'm just fucked up but damned if every mic I have doesnt sound better than a 57, including the $99 e609 silver, the 604's I payed $50 each for new, and lets not even get into 421 and 441 territory... I have a Beyer Soundstar II that I think has a similar pinched quality to it, but I like it better, and keep it around as an extra mic. Its one of the last to go up though. My only remaining 57 is a backup mic too, or gets used where I'm afraid the 441 will get destroyed.
Call me weird, but whatever. Dont like it.

[tubedude]

Actually, I think they sound similar to the Radio Shack clip on tom mic when you boost the mids and top too much. Damn near the same mic in that situation. Save your dough and buy 3 of those and use EQ plugs.

Ok I'm done being an ass. Still dont like it though.

[Wireneck]

Tubedude- I understand where your coming from. The 57 will not work for shit on the guitar sounds for the types of bands you record. Would I take a 441 over a 57? You better believe it but I don't have the $300 to throw at a used mic right now. (a great used mic)
Im sure your dislike for the 57 is not uncommon. It is not my favorite mic by any means but I feel like I can make them work and that they do get the job done in many situations.

[Chibi Nappa]

Originally posted by tubedude
You want a mic with better rejection than a 57 for live work. In fact, you want a mic with better everything. Try the 609 Silver, go from there...

I don't know where you're coming from with this. I run live sound at least 3 times a month and I've never had a problem using a 57 on guitar cabs.

[bgavin]

The one place I've found where the SM57 sounds like pure dung is on cymbals.

I put on a set of cans, and hand-held the SM57 while moving it all around the kit while the drummer warmed up. The cymbals were the nastiest sounding things I've ever heard through the SM57. When I replaced it with an ancient Radio Shack electret SDC, the improvement was amazing.

That said, I still keep 4 of 'em around in the locker. The rest are being replaced with more specialized mics. I find them just fine for guitar cabs.

[Toki987]

I always felt the 58 was better on guitar than the 57, smoother and sweeter top end, although I have never heard a complaint other than from a soundman on a 57. The Senn 441 was always superior, but cost kept the numbers and availibility down on those.

[Phosphene]

Ive tried the 4050/CM5 on guitar cab and its a little thin as compared to a 57, to me. But then again I dont like the 57 as well as the 421. Maybe I needed to try more positions with the 4050. Even tried a Baby Bottle, and didnt like it as well as the 421. Gonna get the 441 veddy soon. But then again I'm fickle cause I went through a week of liking the 57 over the 421, but I was sick then.....

Oh yea, the initial question....yea use one mic with hyper/supercardioid pattern like the senn e609silver--$90 Haven't picked one up yet, but heard alot of good things about it...also does well on Toms.