Recording distorted guitars... dead horse beaten again...

[Monsoon]

I was having the same type of problem you are having - SM57, try different positions - sound comes out shrill and tinny.

Finally, I tried placing the mic way down low - almost touching the floor, an inch or so away from the speaker cab, and the recorded sound went from tinny to full. I had a thread about this somewhere on this forum. A lot of people provided some really good ideas in that thread. But this one change seemed to do the trick.

 

[paranoid]

my response...yeah!

Well that explains much! I've heard people poo-poo this pedal before, but I like it's sound and many others have given me that "what are you using for distortion" look of awe!

yup, that is why i love using it also!

So are you suggesting I keep the pedal tone controls aroung 12 o'clock, to not 'add' any highs or lows? What control parameters have you found effective with the MT2 metalzone?

obviously it depends on your axe, style, cords, amp, etc....BUT- I normally keep gain at 90'clock give or take (more w/ single track gtrs and less for doubling). I keep highs and lows basically at 12, sometimes adding a bit of bass or backing off the treb slightly. I keep the mids pretty much flat because my rig has scooped sound (modded fat strat, JC-120 amp) and the pedal inherintly has a scoopy-metal sound anyways. Be sure to mess with the "level control" too. U can use it too either hit the amp really hard (which i do w/ my JC-120) or only tickle it and then crank the amp (I would do this with certain tube heads).

BTW, I did try (*mic*)from 1-6 inches back, and did not like the results. I'm pretty sure this is probably due to my room....
it does have alot to do with room. Here's the thing- when u combine the 6' sound with the close one, you get extreme phase cancellations (think Deftones 1st album guitar sounds....eeeww) Try having the secong mic far away from the amp and pointed at a wall or the floor or something. This, when blended in (slighltly) will give the sound....well, just try it

*=edit

Have fun and good luck!

 

[cellardweller]

Thanks!

I've tried the distant mic before, SPB1 facing towards the cab, sounded like crap. How far out was your "room" mic? I know it will require tweaking on the position, but a starting point might be helpful!

What brand/type of tubes are best for recording metal?
I just recently bought the sovteks that are now in my ampeg, I'm not overly impressed.

Thanx again!

 

[Farview]

If you have tried all these things and none of them have worked. It has to be your sound.

 

[ecktronic]

Placing the mic near to the ground will usually produce more bass frequencies and make it sound boomy and muffled sometimes. Also the distance the mics are away from the source can be a factor of tone also. (The proximity effect). Different mics have different proximity effect values.

 

[Richard Monroe]

I'll go out on a limb here and suggest some conventional wisdom and some heresy.-

Conventional wisdom- The 57 is a mic that takes well to EQ. Yes, it modifies your sound, like all mics, and so do all pres, especially cheap ones. Place the mic and set the EQ with headphones on, and jacked into the MR-8, not the board, so you hear what you are recording, instead of the headphone section of the mixer. Adjust until you get the sound you want. Back the bass off a little, because the headphones don't produce bass all that well. Use good headphones.

Heresy- It may be that you really don't like the SM57. It's not the only dynamic mic in the world that can be stuck on a cab. Many like e609 or offerings by Beyerdynamic. I actually like AKG D770 for cabs, which puts me in the minority. For the sound you want, on the amp you have, in your room, through your preamps, into your recorder, the SM57 may be the wrong mic.-Richie