Microphone for guitar amp recording...

  • Thread starter Thread starter DeathPixel
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DeathPixel

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Hey

Well, I'm looking for a cheap (maximum €100,-) microphone to record my guitar amp sound. If there is a way better microphone for a little more money I'm okay with that as well. It's just for home use, I'm making covers but I might wanna play around with my own ideas (for songs) and I want better audio quality. My covers can you find on my YouTube channel (MisterDeathPixel).

Now I record my covers with an behringer UCG102 guitar link, but the sound that comes out of my amp speaker is totally different, that's why im switching to a microphone. I also tried recording with my BOSS GT-10 but I dont like the sound either.

So... At the moment I'm using a crappy line6 spider III 15 watts amp (+ BOSS GT-10). I'm might upgrading to a bigger/better tube amp later this year.

I've heard recording with a mic in a "normal" room doesnt turn out too well, is that true? Because I wanna use it just in my room.

Thanks,
DeathPixel.
 
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DeathPixel said:
Looks good! Can i connect it easily with my pc?
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With a proper audio interface, any mic will connect with your PC. You might want to head to one of the big online music retailers and take a look at recording interfaces to get a grip on prices and features.
 
DeathPixel said:
Looks good! Can i connect it easily with my pc?
Click to expand...

+1 on the SM57. That's a very versatile, excellent instrument mic. You will find many uses for it. I also like the Sennheiser E609.

Once you have the mic, prepare to spend some time figuring out the best placement. This is as important as the mic you use.

DeathPixel said:
Looks good! Can i connect it easily with my pc?
Click to expand...

Yes, if you can plug in an XLR (regular microphone) cable.

Good luck to you.
 
The cheapest interface I would recommend having actually used it, would be a Lexicon Alpha. It can be had now for $60 at Guitar Center 'price match'. Just picked one up for a friend yesterday. It now is supplied with Cubase LE5 which is much more stable than the LE4 mine came with 3 years ago.

Add an SM58 (unscrewed ball basically same as 57) and a mic cable and you will also have a basic vocal mic as well. The alpha comes with a decent reverb (Pantheon) plugin also. USB 1.0 connection will work with pretty much any PC.

Lexicon Alpha $60
SM58 w/cable $110
 
Ah, sounds all good. I know there are also usb mic's like the AKG Perception 120 USB. Would that be any good?

And for the midi converter... i dont have an midi interface on my pc but i found a midi to 6,3mm jack converter, could i use that(, are they good)?
 
I would suggest a first mic should be an SM58 (vs. an SM57). It can still function well to mic a guitar cab - and it is also a functional vocal mic.
 
jimmys69 said:
In cable converted anything=CRAP.
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That's clear! Haha.

Xdrummer said:
I would suggest a first mic should be an SM58 (vs. an SM57). It can still function well to mic a guitar cab - and it is also a functional vocal mic.
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Im not going to sing or use other instruments to record with it, im only going to record my guitar amp sound!

But would a usb mic not be a better option? So i dont have to buy a midi converter.
 
A USB mic has a converter in it. Thus........There is a big difference between the quality of conversion between an interface and a USB mic. The mic part of the USB mic will have been wasted once you do get an interface. Just get a low cost interface and a 58 and upgrade later.
 
The only two "cheap" mics I've used and really liked on guitar cabs were the two a lot around here will suggest...SM57 and Fathead Ribbon. The 57 is very mid rangy, in your face, and pretty much what electric guitars are usually known for. The Fathead is more mellow, and sounds great for lower gain, blues, cleans, and classic rock sort of stuff.

You'll need some sort of interface to plug them into (the interface will have built in preamps to boost the mic signal). Search around here for the cheaper ones that people seem to like.
 
Okay, thanks for all the info! If i found a midi converter i will comment here to decide of its a good one(, just for sure).

Two weeks ago i bought a new guitar, ESP LTD MH-1000FR and im kinda out of money... I have enough to buy the microphone + converter but then i will be almost broke. So i might first save up a little :)!
 
DeathPixel said:
I'm might upgrading to a bigger/better tube amp later this year.
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Upgrade to a smaller/better tube and later this year.

Small tube amps (1watt,5watt etc) have a great track record in the studio cos you can push them without the volume being outrageous.

You can get the tone you want without killing your neighbours.

mics? sm57 and md421 should be in everyone's locker.
If you can't capture the sound well with them, there's a problem.
 
DeathPixel said:
But would a usb mic not be a better option? So i dont have to buy a midi converter.
Click to expand...

You can buy USB converters to use with existing mics, and dedicated interfaces are pretty cheap these days too (though that'll eat much of your budget there, as I suspect a lot of them start around E100). You CAN run a dynamic mic like a SM57 through a converter to get it to a 1/8" jack, and plug it straight into your computer's sound card, and in a pinch you may want to consider this, but it's not going to sound very good. IT's totally servicable if you just want to make tolerable-sounding music or learn how to track or record as part of the songwriting process, but a computer's DA/AD converters aren't really up to the task of multimedia work like this.

I'd go with the SM57 over that Perception - it's a condenser mic, so it'll have a very different frequency response than the SM57, and the Shure is sort of the de facto industry standard mic for electric guitars. I didn't like it for ages, but I think that was mostly user error and lack of education - positioned right, they rule. They capture almost exactly the frequencies you want from an electric guitar, and nothing else. I've got a decent mic collection for a weekend warrior sort of hobbyist, but almost without exception (I have an Audix i5 that also gets occasional use) the Shure is the only thing I ever put on my guitar cab.

Steenamaroo said:
Upgrade to a smaller/better tube and later this year.

Small tube amps (1watt,5watt etc) have a great track record in the studio cos you can push them without the volume being outrageous.
Click to expand...

While thats true for a LOT of music, with a name like DeathPixel I sspect he's not that interested in poweramp breakup and compression and the way a hard-driven tube amp reacts to his touch as much as punishing gain, clear bass, and plenty of poweramp headroom. And that's something very few small amps I've heard really provide - some of the Blackstar stuff actually isn't bad, but I track in my bedroom with a Mesa Roadster, playing slightly bluesy prog-y instrumental hard rock, and that plus a hot plate (which, honestly, isn't as crucial as it was with my old Rectoverb, that fucker was LOUD) makes for an apartment friendly rig that works pretty well.
 
Okay now im really about to buy the mic because i have got the money now. So the best options for me will be the Shure SM57 + midi converter?

I still have two more questions; is it better if i use more mics? And is it possible to connect all those mics to one midi converter (so i can record sound from multiple mics at the same time)?
 
Well, they're not really MIDI converters. They are AD (analog to digital converters). As long as you get one with as many inputs as you want, you can record all at the same time. So if you wanna do 4 track drums, make sure you have at least 4 inputs...I'd recommend something with 8 inputs because you can grow in to it, or you may need 4-8 right off the bat.

Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 (the one I use)
Maudio 2626
Presonus Firestudio? (I think that's what it's called)
MOTU makes one too

Just make sure it is 8 inputs with 8 preamps and you'll be fine.

Now your other question...is it better to use multiple mics? Who knows? It may be, it may not be. The answer to that depends on what you're trying to do. Drums usually 4+ mics, vocals 1, acoustic guitars 1-2, electric guitars 1-2, bass 1-2 and the list goes on.
 
Thanks for your fast and accurate respond.

I've taken a look at the AD converters. How can i connect them to my pc? I thought there are also MIDI converters with an usb output?

Okay, i will just start of with a Shure SM57. And i can always add more mic's to it. Good idea?
 
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