Question about close micing techniques...

[GuitarGoblin]

Primarily concerning guitar speakers and heavier styles of playing. Considering how close the mic(s) are to the speaker, would it's enclosure really play any effect on the sonic qualities that it's producing?

For example, recording a 1x12 vs. a 4x12, would there be a difference?

I'd suspect not considering there isn't enough time for the cab to have an influence on the sound waves before it hits the mic.

 

[appleyardrules]

Yo

IMO it doesn't matter
it would for room mics, but when you have like an e609 right up on the grill or a 57 damn close, it shouldnt matter. My friend who records just bought an amp head, a marshall JVM brand new, and bought an orange 2x12 cab because it was the same price as the marshall 1960s cab but its orange quality for recording. It is probaby one of the best amps i have ever heard. is a 4x12 necessary? no, but i would choose a 4x12 marshall or orange cab over a 1x12 behringer hahah

 

[pikingrin]

For the main part of your question, as far as the cab is concerned, do a search (or hopefully someone who actually knows will chime in..). What I do know is that if you are close micing, it is always a good thing to play around with mic angles and placement on the speaker cone when it comes to recording. You could also do a search on that one, I know that there are quite a few threads discussing it.

 

[Reds Garage]

I'm kinda guessing here, but I would think that the enclosure would affect how the speaker itself vibrates in producing the soundwaves, which would affect how the speaker sounds. Also, there must be some reason that some amp companies make open back cabs and others closed. Like I say, just guessing, but I have a feeling the enclosure can affect the sound produced, especially with room mics. My $.02

 

[HangDawg]

Primarily concerning guitar speakers and heavier styles of playing. Considering how close the mic(s) are to the speaker, would it's enclosure really play any effect on the sonic qualities that it's producing?

For example, recording a 1x12 vs. a 4x12, would there be a difference?

I'd suspect not considering there isn't enough time for the cab to have an influence on the sound waves before it hits the mic.

Of course there would be a difference. Would it matter to you or me? Maybe, maybe not. There's probably bigger concerns you need to worry about.

 

[BRIEFCASEMANX]

Less speakers might give less phase cancellation. I've found smaller cabs easier to record.

 

[pezking]

Think about the inverse square law. On my JCM900 cab (4x12) the distance from the center of one speaker, to the center of the next is about 14".

By my reckoning that means that at the center of the cone I'm micing the sound coming from another speaker would be 8 times (or 18dB) quieter. So there are three other speakers, so let's say they are incoherent sources (whether they are or not is up for debate) so the combined level of the three other speakers, at the cone I'm micing would be (perhaps) 12dB quieter than the speaker I'm micing.

Let's say you're using a cardioid microphone, the 90 and 270deg axes will be 3dB lower than the 0deg axis so I think the net effect of the three speakers will be somewhere in the region of 16-20dB down once the microphone's pickup pattern is brought into it...

My calculations are very rough and don't take a lot of things into consideration such as the wood vibrating, etc. It's certainly something to think about!

I believe close micing will a 4x12 would sound very much the same as a 1x12.

Have I got a point, or not?

 

[cavedog101]

Think about the inverse square law. On my JCM900 cab (4x12) the distance from the center of one speaker, to the center of the next is about 14".

By my reckoning that means that at the center of the cone I'm micing the sound coming from another speaker would be 8 times (or 18dB) quieter. So there are three other speakers, so let's say they are incoherent sources (whether they are or not is up for debate) so the combined level of the three other speakers, at the cone I'm micing would be (perhaps) 12dB quieter than the speaker I'm micing.

Let's say you're using a cardioid microphone, the 90 and 270deg axes will be 3dB lower than the 0deg axis so I think the net effect of the three speakers will be somewhere in the region of 16-20dB down once the microphone's pickup pattern is brought into it...

My calculations are very rough and don't take a lot of things into consideration such as the wood vibrating, etc. It's certainly something to think about!

I believe close micing will a 4x12 would sound very much the same as a 1x12.

Have I got a point, or not?

Yes and no. Its that simple. The phase anomolies associated with multiple speaker cabinets , especially for guitar, will ALWAYS effect the clarity in some small way, and over the course of several layered tracks will create a buildup of unwanted and largely uncontrollable noise. Time also becomes a factor and though it isnt stated in your quick calcs, it does play a part in the equation. Those sounds entering the diaphram of the mic at,( lets use your numbers,) roughly 16 to 20 dbs down are also entering at a later time than the original sound and this creates 'smearing' at some frequencies....mostly lowmids which is where the the 'meat' of a heavy guitar sound resides.

Now I will agree completely that this is not always a problem, but there are times when you want it really clear. I am particularly a huge fan of clear. I want to mix the actual sound rather than try and deal with some small though present noises creeping into the sound. Its so much easier to mix and lbeing able to leave out something else in the path (in this case possibly repair and control EQ) assures me of being able to work on space and placement.

I would hope that you simply try it out....ie: mic a 4-12 cab and then a single speaker cabinet with roughly the same amp and tone settings, record them both and put them up side-by-side and see if it makes a difference to you.

BTW...I use a 4-12 cabinet in the studio. I have no problems with it except at times. Its a particularly great sounding cabinet and when driven properly with the right amp and the right song theres nothing like it. Its a 1966 Dallas-Arbitter cabinet with the original 22 watt speaks.....Very sweet indeed.

I just dont want you to get the idea that I'm totally against these multi-speaker devices.