Can LDC microphones handle a guitar amp?

[Jakob_v]

I've just ordered a Rode NT-1a to add some flavour to my guitar recordings, but I wonder how much pressure it can handle. I guess placing it right up on the cone isn't a good idea, but I'm planning on placing it a couple of feets away to get some room ambience.

It's a Mesa boogie nomad 45watt with a 12" speaker.

Also, will the mic preamp or the diapraghm clip before it gets damaged?

Please, if you haven't tried micing guitaramps with LDC mics, don't answer here, I want to be completely sure that the mic can handle the pressure, and simple "guessings" won't help me

 

[travelin travis]

I tried a mxl 990 thru an audiobuddy and it clipped like hell. I tried it thru my 1010LT pre's also and it clipped like hell. I tried a cad m179 thru a yamaha mg mixer and it works fine. In both cases, the amp was set at a volume for bedroom playing, not real loud.

 

[PhiloBeddoe]

I've used an NT-1 at 3 ft. from a pretty loud Marshall Stack. I think you'll be fine using it as a distance mic, but I'd start out with the guitar amp at low volume, work your way up, and watch the signal for clipping as you go.

I didn't care for the tone I got from the NT-1, but that's another thread.

 

[Walter Tore]

I've used an NT-1 at 3 ft. from a pretty loud Marshall Stack. I think you'll be fine using it as a distance mic, but I'd start out with the guitar amp at low volume, work your way up, and watch the signal for clipping as you go.

I didn't care for the tone I got from the NT-1, but that's another thread.

I too found the nt1A not to my liking for micing the amp-too bright. I do think it is a great all around mic, for vocals, drums, acoustic guitar. Walter


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/7/waltertoresspontobeat.htm

 

[giraffe]

i close mic ldc's all the time, the problem comes when the mic dosn't have a pad. no pad, no work (to loud) clip da pre.

i've never clipped a mic with an git amp, but i'm sure it can be done probably need to stay away from 9.

git on L-sm57 and nt2a both close (about an inch)
git on r e609 and 4033 both close (about an inch)

but...... a ldc on a git amp alone rarly does it for me personally, i like that whatever a dynamic brings to the table.

 

[Jakob_v]

i close mic ldc's all the time, the problem comes when the mic dosn't have a pad. no pad, no work (to loud) clip da pre.

Uhm I didn't quite get that. What is a pad?

i've never clipped a mic with an git amp, but i'm sure it can be done probably need to stay away from 9.

Stay away from 9 on what?

 

[DonGraham]

I use a GT55 and a Neumann TLM103 in front of my Mesa Rectifier Trem-O-Verb 4-12" and my 1976 Marshall JMP 4-12"....If it gets a little loud hit your pad.............. ..

..OH....pad is the switch on your mic or pre that lowers the sensitivity on your input by (usually) 10dB

 

[tryptophan]

try a studio projects c1 on the guitar cab. sounds pretty good. if you want more options, i suggest a studio projects T3.

 

[Nakatira]

I`ve had very nice results with studio projects b1, 1-2 feet away from the amp.

 

[tvanveen]

I've been having good results with a SP B2 about 6 inches away on a 15 watt vox style amp. Don't need the pad...I do need the pad on the 35 watter...

 

[earworm]

i had clipping with a 414 on guitar, but my brother just loves to play so forking loud that even the neighbours their ears start bleeding, and you should know that the neighbours live pretty "far" away from our house,
since i play drums i can't tweak buttons or change pads while we play,
but this is just for rehearsals,
when i record a band its very simple, from the moment i see that the guitarist plays superloud i emediately hit the -10db pad, if i see that the signal still is superhot, i go for -20db of course

i just hope that a condenser doesn't really get hurt if you let it clip a few times...