Microphone(s) and Placement Recommendations

[mazzle]

Greetings,

I'm currently assisting a friend with a multi-tracked composition project as part of a local music engineering program that he is attending.

I'm playing my Strat straight into a Reissue '63 Vibroverb for a nice clean tone.

My friend insists on putting two sm57's six inches apart, about a half inch away from the amp's right speaker.

The problem is, I'm very dissatisfied with the sound coming through in the control room. None of the sparkle and warmth (I know that's debatable with the Reissue Vibroverbs) of the amp in the is captured.

Can anybody give me any recommendations for mic selection and placement in this situation? My buddy seems to think that the sm57's are the only way to go. I have a feeling that, we can do much better.

Any thoughts are more than appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[MISTERQCUE]

Greetings,

I'm currently assisting a friend with a multi-tracked composition project as part of a local music engineering program that he is attending.

I'm playing my Strat straight into a Reissue '63 Vibroverb for a nice clean tone.

My friend insists on putting two sm57's six inches apart, about a half inch away from the amp's right speaker.

The problem is, I'm very dissatisfied with the sound coming through in the control room. None of the sparkle and warmth (I know that's debatable with the Reissue Vibroverbs) of the amp in the is captured.

Can anybody give me any recommendations for mic selection and placement in this situation? My buddy seems to think that the sm57's are the only way to go. I have a feeling that, we can do much better.

Any thoughts are more than appreciated. Thanks in advance!

As you've noticed, your friend likes his mic placement, but U don't!
What 2 do!!??

Experiment!!!

I've used condensors,dynamic,omni's etc in a wide variety of positions! I'v found satisfaction, Double-SMacking(57) an amp by placing a SMack57 8"-10" aimed at the left side-front of cab or speaker while anutha' one is positioned a foot&1/2 away aimed dead center for ambience. I also used an omni 2-3 feet away while aiming a dynamic 6" inches dead center for a proximity and nat-room, 'Verb capture. Dual Condensors positioned at top and bottom of cab/spkr to for upper and lower freq representation.
My placements are wierd and prob'ly don't confirm to most's mic'ing standards, but mannnn, experimentation in mic choice and placements will often surprise and delight you!

 

[M.Brane]

I tend to like omnis on open-backed amps with clean to mildly dirty tones. I also like to back off as much as I can to give it some "air".

Your buddy's miking technique would probably work for a high-gain distortion through a closed back cab but would have some serious phase anomolies happening with two mics that close. That may or may not work depending on what he's trying to accomplish with that.

 

[TexRoadkill]

A condensor mic will give you more high end then the 57's. Make sure you adjust the amp EQ based on what you hear in the control room and not live through the amp.

Also try only one 57 to make sure that phase cancellation from the 2 mics is not the problem. You can also accent the highs by pointing the mic more at the center of the cone.

 

[sjjohnston]

Micing Amps (not Amping Mics)

Try listening to just one of the SM57s. You can leave the other one there to make your friend happy, just don't connect it to anything.

One way to aim it for the most high end is to turn the amp on (un-standby-ed) and turn it up a bit, but don't play anything through it. Listen with headphones and adjust the mic until you hear the most high-end hissy noise. All guitar amps make high-end hissy noises! You'll probably wind up somewhere in the vicinity of straight at the middle of the cone.

Or try whatever condensor mic(s) you have available, placed up close and aimed the same way.

 

[mazzle]

Thanks for the suggestions. They are all very much appreciated.

We’re going back into the studio tonight for a 4 hour booking, so we’ll see how it goes. I found out that we have access to an AKG 414 (in addition to the two sm57’s), so that should help a fair bit.

I’ll keep you updated with the results.