sm57 or something else? (for amp micing)

[dabluesman]

I'm going to upgrade my Delta 66 to the Omni with the mic pre amps and give micing my guitar amp a try. From what I've read the sm57 seems to be the standard and it's in my price range, I'll get two so I can record left/right (stereo). Anyway, in the same price range as the sm57, what are other good amp mic's to consider? Thanks!

 

[Richard Monroe]

10,000,00 satisfied customers can't be wrong. Yeah, get the 57's. You can use almost any good dynamic for mic'ing cabs, and they each have their own sound. I use '57's, wish I had an SM-7. The only weird advice I can offer is that I've gotten excellent results with a discontinued cheapie- AKG D690. They seem to work best farther away than the 57, like 18-36". Like the 57, they benefit from some judicious EQ. The beauty of micing cabs is you can do it with cheap mics- like it. Get the Shures, and check out one of my favorite cheap dynamics. I recently talked G.C. out of a D690 for $36! It's also a perfectly good stage vocal mic, I've used it for years in that capacity. If you don't like it for recording, try it through a PA.-Richie

 

[Gidge]

id get one of the cheaper LD mics to do a distant/room mic......

SP B1 and Marshall mxlv63M come to mind......

 

[Goodwin Audio]

Amp Micing

I have recently fallen in love with the Stedman N90. I picked one up cheap in a pawn shop for $70.00 bucks. What a killer sound micing a Marshall JCM2000 head and 2x12 Peavey cabinet about 5-6 inches off the grill. You can hear an example of this sound at www.mp3.com/goodwin listen to the song Dick and Jane. There are about 6 different tracks with different guitar parts all mic'd with the Stedman N90. Also getting some excellent results using this mic on snare drums as well.

Good Luck,
Daniel

 

[Track Rat]

Any decent dynamic generally sounds good. I waffle back and forth between 57's and AT-4033's. I'm really digging the 4033's on just about any style of guitar.

 

[dabluesman]

Thanks guys! I ordered two sm57's, two mic cables, two mic stands and the M-Audio Omni box/preamp for my Delta soundcard. Can someone post a link to a good amp micing web site, general info on technique, mic placement, striaght or off axis, rules for using two mics, etc..

 

[knownuttin]

You'll never regret having two SM57s.

I don't do much stereo micing of electric guitars. The lead guitar I like to use a combination approach to micing. I put an SM57 (or an SM7, or Sennheiser MD421) up on the grill. On or off-axis depends on the amp and cab. Off tends to darken the sound by losing some of the highs. On a separate track I'll record a mid-distance mic, usually a condensor of some kind. Diaphragm size, polar pattern? What do you like and how does your room sound? I blend this second mic into the mix to add some depth and air. See, that close micing stuff gets a bit claustrophobic when it's all you've got.

Experiment and share your results!
-kent

 

[Gidge]

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33141

sonusman has some comments and diagrams here about amp micing in general....

 

[Freudian Slip]

I think you made the right choice with the 57's. I have tried other mic's and have always come back to it.



F.S.

 

[H2oskiphil]

Thanks guys! I ordered two sm57's, two mic cables, two mic stands and the M-Audio Omni box/preamp for my Delta soundcard. Can someone post a link to a good amp micing web site, general info on technique, mic placement, striaght or off axis, rules for using two mics, etc..

This would be a good time to introduce dabluesman to the Big Thread, yes?

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=27030

Pack a lunch, bring a friend, take the day off work...

 

[dabluesman]

Great, thanks for the links! My shipment should come in tomorrow and I took a few days off work to play around with my new toys (and catch a B.B. King concert.) I've been working on a new recording that just needs a lead guitar track, the other tracks were recorded direct. This will be a great time to finally finish up my song and get some micing experience. I just hope the dog doesnt bark or the phone doesnt ring when I'm in the middle of recording it

 

[Gidge]

p.s.

i wouldnt double mic the amp with 2 sm57's and pan it left right.....id do 2 performances and pan each left/right.....of course you could double mic and do 2 left/2right......

 

[dabluesman]

p.s.

i wouldnt double mic the amp with 2 sm57's and pan it left right.....id do 2 performances and pan each left/right.....of course you could double mic and do 2 left/2right......

I'm not sure what you mean, will 2 sm57's give me phase problems or something? I figured since my amp has two speakers I'd put a sm57 in front of each one. I'll probably figure it out when I get to experiment, but my experience so far is just been with stereo tracks recorded direct. I guess I should try using some mono tracks and open myself up to new techniques.

 

[Track Rat]

Bluesman, You probably won't get a phase problem if mic'ing right on the grill but the more you back them up, the more you could POSSIBLY get in trouble. My feelings are if it's a mono cab, there's no bennifit to two mics tight on two speakers (unless maybe they're two different mics). In a case like that I might have one tight on the front and one one the back of an open back amp. You may or may not want to flip the phase of the back mic. Sometimes it sounds cool either way.
If the amp has a stereo out definately mic each speaker. YMMV.

 

[dabluesman]

Cool, yup its a stereo amp (Fender Cyber-Twin) with stereo effects, reverbs, etc.. built in.

 

[Gidge]

ahhh...stereo amp.....

excuse my whole last post........

 

[ad0lescnts]

sorry to come in on your post, but does it make a difference if you use a 57 or 58?

T

 

[Track Rat]

No. They're essentially the same mic. The ball/pop filter on the 58 changes its reponse a bit.

 

[20db.com]

p.s.

i wouldnt double mic the amp with 2 sm57's and pan it left right.....id do 2 performances and pan each left/right.....of course you could double mic and do 2 left/2right......

dabluesman

I agree with Gidge, I don't think you will get the sound you are looking for by stereo micing your amp. I normally double all the electric guitar tracks I am recording. You get a much fatter sound by laying down the first track then record a second track of another performance.

Now acoustic guitar is a completely different issue and I always do stereo tracks even if I don't use them both in the final mix.

Lee

 

[Gidge]

I sorta recanted that.....didnt know he had stereo amp/effects....

if its a stereo amp with stereo effects, the 2 mics will capture the stereo image.....single mic'ing will throw away all the usefulness of the the stereo features....