Do you use one or two mikes on a guitar cab?

[brownbearTLE]

So which on do you guys use? One or two mikes?

Normally for distorted parts i'll put on on the cone, and a 57 angled towards the cab, but for cleans i tend to use one condenser.

 

[Capt Hair]

Depends, if I'm recording for someone else and getting paid or on a time restraint, I generally throw up 3 mics. I'll use two dynamic mics, one centered on the center and then one a little off axis on the right of the speaker. Then I'll put up a LDC about 5 feet away from the cab as a room mic.

When it comes to mixing, I'll start with just one of the tracks (normally one of the ones using the dynamics), and if I can't get the sound I'm looking for, whether it seems to small/whatever, I'll then add the other two in if I need them. Better to have more and not use them than to have to record the same guitar track over and over.

 

[phriq]

Depends, if I'm recording for someone else and getting paid or on a time restraint, I generally throw up 3 mics. I'll use two dynamic mics, one centered on the center and then one a little off axis on the right of the speaker. Then I'll put up a LDC about 5 feet away from the cab as a room mic.

When it comes to mixing, I'll start with just one of the tracks (normally one of the ones using the dynamics), and if I can't get the sound I'm looking for, whether it seems to small/whatever, I'll then add the other two in if I need them. Better to have more and not use them than to have to record the same guitar track over and over.

Pretty much the same route I go as well.

 

[miroslav]

I use one mic most times....
...but yeah, if I was recording a client, I might put up a whole bunch just to make it look more "pro"!
People usually think more=better with just about anything...so give 'em what they want to see.

 

[Bristol Posse]

I'm experimenting today with M/S mics (Beta 181 Omni & KM184 SDC) about where the player would typically be in relation to the amp and then a condenser (SM27) and a dynamic (SM57) close to the cab for more clarity and then blend to taste

Going to take some messing with to get the position and blend right but I think I'm going to like it for Rhythm gits that I want to sit farther back in the mix and not be right up in your face. Also seems to feel quite wide for a single track of guitar

Anyway that's four mics this time.

prior to today I've been using two mics (condenser and dynamic) and pick the one I like the sound of best or blend for the context of the mix

 

[miroslav]

I'm experimenting today with M/S mics ...


...Also seems to feel quite wide for a single track of guitar

Are you treating the M/S pair as full stereo pair or do you mess with the width/S afterwards to narrow them down?

 

[ido1957]

I record the same track over and over - up to 8 times usually. SM57. Then I pick the best 2,4,6 or 8....depending on the mix I want...

 

[Bristol Posse]

Are you treating the M/S pair as full stereo pair or do you mess with the width/S afterwards to narrow them down?

traditional M/S set up. I'm sending each mic in th M/S pair to a separate track and then duplicating the Fig 8 track. 1 track panned left (Front of the figure 8), duplicate track phase flipped and panned right (back of the Fig 8). Both Fig 8 tracks into a folder in reaper so I can control the volume (and sense of width) with one fader. SDC is panned center of course

 

[Guitargodgt]

Just one.

 

[Sonixx]

It depends but with two it's almost always a Ribbon (r92 or r121) and a 57.

Post tracking I have a three plugin setup to mix to mono, utilize phase as EQ and mix 100% one to the other.

 

[moresound]

Recently, just one ..... a ribbon.

 

[miroslav]

Yeah...that's become my go-to guitar cab mic...a Fat Head ribbon.
I drop it about 12"-18" out in front with not a whole lot of "positioning" madness...just aimed at the speaker, a touch off-axis/center....done.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Normally I do a 57 or 421 in the traditional close position and a condenser or ribbon 6-8' away. Then I slip the far mic track to match the direct path signal with the close mic, putting the direct path signals in phase.

 

[miroslav]

That's a good approach...I've done similar in the past. I think I've just become lazy!
Naa...I'm just liking the one ribbon mic at this time.

One of these days I'll switch up and go with some other rig, though it's hard to top a ribbon for a single mic on guitar cabs...IMO.

 

[TrustMeScience]

As with anything, it depends. I like one mic on guitars often. Sometimes I like a close mic with a kind of wacky ambient mic thrown in for leads. And sometimes I like two mics on a two speaker amp - a different type on each speaker.

 

[Red Mastering]

well, if I have any extra mic and pre input - then why don't plug it ?
honestly - sm57 and sometimes extra condenser is 80% of job, but
if you really have an extra mic - why don't put it somewhere in the room and catch a lot of it ?
it is a fun;
on another hand, when tracking a band, pro job, there's no time for a fun,
then you work fast and efficient -
different approach, I noticed when I work for money - it's always less fun

 

[guitaristic]

I stick my whole locker in front of the bad boy!! Heck yeah!!

Teehee not really. But I do like to double mic it close with my ev re320 and sm57. Sometimes I'll stick an ldc in the mix too for "room," but I only use it sometimes!

 

[ecktronic]

The more mics the better in my opinion. Means you get more to work with at the Mixing stage.
Listen to every mic separately before you are about to record, and move the mics to where they sound the best on your best sounding speaker on the amp.
Also a good idea to DI as you can put the DI through a guitar rig plug-in to get even more possible outcomes of tone. And you can then Mix the DI in low just to solidify the sound.

G

G

 

[soundchaser59]

I'm experimenting today with M/S mics (Beta 181 Omni & KM184 SDC)

How do you get an M/S recording without using a Fig 8 mic?

 

[soundchaser59]

I put a C414 and a BK-1 about 12" in front, one on either side of the cone edge. It varies, sometimes I use an E906, very warm natural sounding mic. I was using 3 mics, but realized the difference from 2 to 3 mics is not nearly as significant as the difference from 1 to 2 mics.