Influence of room when close micing a guitar cab?

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werewolf831

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What influence does room acoustics play when close micing a heavily distorted guitar cab or combo amp with an sm57? I wouldn't imagine very much, especially if the guitar amp is up loud and distorted, to me it would mask any room acoustics, but maybe I'm wrong. Any ideas?

Werewolf
 
The closer you mic with cardiod mics, the less the room comes into play, however there are things you still want to watch out for. Like staying out of corners with the amp and getting the cabinet up off the floor to minimize bass coupling.
 
The SM57 has a hypercardoid pattern, so I think it's good at rejecting sound outside of it's pattern. Most of the time with a dynamic mic it's gonna be almost right on the grill or a few inches back, so the room acoustics don't matter much.

If you do want some of the room sound, use a second mic anywhere from 3 feet to 10 feet back from the amp. Most recommendations seem to favor a large diaphram condenser for that, but use whatever you have.
 
im currently using an isolation box filled with blankets around 3 speakers in my 4x12 cab. I close mic one speaker cone inside the box and send it to my mixer.

It sounds pretty decent for what I write and play. I close mic with a sm57.
I read where Twisted Sister used a different mic on each cone then blended the sound. I read where Eddie van Halen
only used one mic on most of his stuff, a sm57.....

I dont think the sound of the room is that important to the sound of a screaming guitar track. I feel thats more a drum thing than anything else.

I just like the sound of the cone hitting the mic and the iso box elimnated the room sound...i can create that with plug ins.
 
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