I finally solved the problem of pic placement for "metal" sound using a smaller (2X12) cabinet. I ended up micing the cone of one spkr with sm57 beta and an oktava mk-219 a couple feet back in the center of the cabinet.
I just remember someone telling me to quit wasting my time trying to get metal from a 2X12 cab, and I wanted to respectfully tell them they are full of shit, thanks!!
And thanks for all your help, those of you who supplied me with the ideas I needed to get this far. Thanks again
On the other hand, the is a concept that the guitar (and perhaps bass) cabinet 'fit' the room it is being played in. This works in the live setting where for example, a single 12 can sound hudge and respond well in a small club or room volume setting, while a single 4-12 cab on an outdoor stage can sound puny. I suspect this transfers somewhat to the recording room aso, maybe excluding a dead iso booth situation?
Yea?
Wayne
1. First metal is not about broken speakers and shite musicians. Metal is one of the most technically, musically and dynamically challenging styles - people who see it as just a wall of noise simply don't understand it.
2. To get a decent metal sound (depending on which style of course - this is for the typical Nevermore/Morgana Lefay/Blaze sound, you DONT scoop the mids - you scoop the mids for overly synthetic Metallica kind of sound, but even then you need a bit of mid to fatten the sound a bit). If you are going for the doomy Entombed/Dismember/At The Gates sound, roll off a bit of mid and roll down the treble and put a little bit of bass on. Metal guitar is an asrtform in itself and I have spent years learning how to get a decent sound both recorded and live - I have; the requirements for thrash vary from death, power, doom and euro-melodic metal.
3. As for mike placement, I am using a Sennheiser mic in of my Marshall 4x12 which has a Boogie Triaxis/Simulclass 2:90 running through - it took me a while to get the desired sound on the amp first and then I mike the bottom left of the cone and add a little EQ to bring out the presence. Note: This is not the optimum sound for recording for me - I have just got a POD and I am looking to go direct more.
4. Getting a good metal sound is highly dependent on guitars also. If you are using some shitty pickups there is gonna be little chance of getting a decent sound. EMG-81's are the way to go or some decent Seymour Duncans. Also..use Jackson guitars...they rock much harder.
Don't take my response too serious....when I was reading the threat, the first thing that came to my mind were the young bands recording metal in my studio. These guys come in with a real professional attitude and when the rec-light goes on, they produce such a noise, that you even can't tell the number of strings on their guitars. I even believe they don't know that for themselfs....
jonobacon said:
Metal is one of the most technically, musically and dynamically challenging styles
Finally some metal engineers in this bitch!!!! Thank the micing techniques and all that. Greatly appreciated! Now if you metalheads would be so kind as to critique this mix and see if I'm on the right track???
