best distortion mic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter xperimental
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xperimental

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I'm trying to get a good distortion sound on a low budget, from a marshall half stack with a marshall head. I know the sm57 is popular for distortion, and i've been trying to use an sm58 which i know is a vocal mic and probably not the best for distortion. Should i go buy a couple of sm57's or something else?
 
The 57 is great for distorted guitar because it has this kind of low-fi sponginess to it that really compliments guitar. The 58 isn't that bad either but I'd have at least one 57 for recording guitar.
If you have a Sennheiser 421, I've gotten really good results with that mic too.
 
Try your '58 with the ball off. It is almost the same mic as a 57, or so I've heard.
 
with the 58 i seem to get a really empty distortion, and presence is lacking... ive tried messing with settings all i can so thats why i have resorted to looking at different mics.
 
When doing your mic positioning, always listen to TRACKED sounds, not to the cans, if you wanna hear the real sound, and your in the same room (what I suppose :D)

Perhaps back off a little with your distortion, and don'T forget the mids... It may help to get a second DId track (even clean) that you use with amp sims or so lateron - there you can use the high end as much as you like - and blend this with the miced track.

aXel
 
Taking the cap off the 58 was a good suggestion. Also trying to back off the distortion a bit. I find that the crispy high end distortion records a bit too harsh most of the time. To get around this sometimes I'll just back off the drive or dist. gain a bit and the recorded track comes out much cleaner.

Also, don't be afraid to get the mic as close as you need, just back off the preamp (mixer trim) to adjust recorded levels. Often guitars sound thin when the mic isn't in the right spot. Too far=less bass more room sound. Too close, well you almost can't get too close. I've miced a relatively quiet amp 1/2" off the cone wall. The important thing is to have someone move the mic's axis and proximity slowly while you monitor from elsewhere. At the very least move the mic carefully while listening to the mixer through loud 'phones. Of course as stated above always check the recorded sound, thats what matters.
 
Use a really bad mic through bad speakers, record that with a better mic...isn't that the point of distortion, essentially?
 
ridl said:
Use a really bad mic through bad speakers, record that with a better mic...isn't that the point of distortion, essentially?
Click to expand...

?????:confused: ?????

No, I don't think anyone is looking for THAT sound.
 
I get a really nice distortion sound by using 2 SM57's. Pan one left and the other right. Makes for a thick distortion. I dont do it, but you can add a amp sim to one track or some other effect to get some different sounds. Good luck!
 
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