"Where" should I record my Amp?

[dmc777]

I'm currently recording my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe with an sm57 mic. I was just wondering if there's some place that will just sound better. For ex, in a corner, down the side of the wall, or any other techniques that would help. It's about a 14x14 room nothing big. I currently have the amp about center in the room and about a 1ft out with a large pillow behind it but it doesn't really help any.

 

[Rokket]

Take the pillow away from the amp, and just experiment with mic placement. Putting the amp in the corner may make it boomy (someone on here suggested that in another thread about 70's recordings). The way the room is treated will give you better results than where the amp is in the room. If it's just dry wall, I think you are going to get sounds bouncing all over the place, and close mic'ing the speaker may be your only option. You can try to hang heavy curtains to reduce some of this. It will take trial and error to find the sweet spot in your room, but I think you are going to find that mic proximity will be the answer: closer will be better.

If you are only using one mic, then you want it on the speaker, not in the room.

 

[jake-owa]

I place the amp on a chair or small table tilted slightly back. I will put the table somewhere away from the center of the room. The center seems like a bad spot bacause all the walls are reflecting back at roughly the same time, especially if the room is square. Keep it away from corners and off the ground a bit.

Having said that I have found great spots in corners or pointing at bookshelves.
Listen rather than following any rules. A funky corner may be just the thing for your amp.

Have you tried a distant mic (6-12 feet) to blend with the close 57?

 

[glimmer_doll]

i usually record with the amp near the corner of the room (facing into the room, not the corner)

Other than that, I'd just advise to get the amp up off the floor to avoid any nasty reflections...

 

[notbradsohner]

get it off the floor. And, if it is a open back, make sure you know where those soundwaves are going. Do not put the amp paralell with any walls or anything.