SM57 for bass cabs

[hemmick reef]

I need to save some dosh. Will an SM57 record bass cabs as well as guitar cabs?

[bcains]

Yes, it will recorded both "o.k" in my opinion.
I'd personally go for a MD421 great on guitar/bass cabs. They are about $350 thou

[hemmick reef]

What sort of difference will I hear, between the two mic's mentioned, in a home recording situation?

[MessianicDreams]

the SM57 has a low-end roll-off at about 200hz so you'll lose some of those real low tones. the MD421 has the roll-off at about 75hz.

here's the graphs

http://www.parrstreet.co.uk/md421.html
http://www.scottandrew.com/blog/arch..._micropho.html

any particular reason you want to mic the cab? why not try DI'ing it? i've found that unless you REALLY want the cab sound, it's often better to go with DI.

hope this helps a bit!

MD

[hemmick reef]

No DI on my bass cab and my GT The Brick preamp (for DI use) doesn't have the grunt of mic'ing my 100w marshall cab. I used my GT67 valve mic to test my cab recording over the weekend...it sounded ok but I think a dynamic mic would be better/easier. It would not pick up so much ambience...not that it will get much I suppose from the closet where I have put my amps for recording!

[vicenzajay]

An Audix D-4 for mic'ing the bass cab. Really nice mic with great freq. response for bass (and drums for that matter). I've actually switched from DI to using the D-4 for recording and live work as it does a phenomenal job of reproducing my cab's sound both on tape and through FOH.

Jay

[tourettes5139]

Just to check, it is actually a bass cab you are using, not a guitar cab with a bass head, right? You can blow out your cab if you do that.

[chessrock]

If you're blending the mic'ed track with a DI track, then I think a 57 works great for that. If you're just mic'ing, then I'd use something else.

.

[hemmick reef]

It's a 100w marshall combo bass amp (20 years old).

Can you recommend a mic around the same price (or less) than a SM57 that would be better for mic'ing my bass combo? or as mentioned will the SM57 suffice?

[bigtoe]

http://www.sleepykid.org/sound-3.htm

if you go here on click on "pressure drop" this song was recorded with a 57 on the bass. dunno how it will show up on an mp3...but it has decent low end from what i remember of it 10 years ago. i think the 80hz was bumped up on my mackie.

i actually think the 57 can be a good tool for muddy basses...the midrange helps to define...

btw- i just recorded a marshall like yours - guy had it running thru a 2-10 1-15 thing. beautiful amp. i'll take it for 50 bucks.

Mike

[Funky_A]

I actually never tried SM57 in my short career as a home-studio-recording-engineer.

First attempt:
Direct Output of amp

2nd attempt:
MD421

3rd attempt (and only thing I use till now):
AKG D112 & Direct Output

[hemmick reef]

I have an effects send & return on my amp combo and preamp out, can I use these as a DI. I need to double check preamp out though, as it sounds like it could be the same as speaker out and would blow any sound card/desk that I would plug it into?