2x12 vs. 4x12 for recording

[MajorTom]

Can someone with experience tell me if there's a significant difference between the recorded tones of a 2x12 and 4x12; all other things being equal?

I have an Orange 2x12 and I've been pretty happy with it. My guitarist buddy who I jam with recently got an Orange 4x12 used and it sounds more massive in person. I assume because of the additional air being pushed and the bass response of the larger cab housing which would obviously be mitigated with close-miking.

Would the 4x12 be preferable for recording?

 

[suhrimmetal]

Recording wise, you're only really mic'n 1 speaker per track.... so the 'air' push you feel in the room, really doesn't translate to a track... Unless your 'room' mic'n for ambience, live feel, etc. If you're direct mic'n.. as in on axis, off, close to speaker, you're just gonna get the characteristics of the speaker in relation to the amp. Most of these BIG live bands you see live.... only have 2 speakers (at most) mic'd, panned left/right.... the rest of the wall of cabs are either empty or loaded and not even plugged in. A 2x12 is all you need to get the 'sound' of the amp... Cheers

 

[Tone Monster]

Recording wise, you're only really mic'n 1 speaker per track.... so the 'air' push you feel in the room, really doesn't translate to a track... Unless your 'room' mic'n for ambience, live feel, etc. If you're direct mic'n.. as in on axis, off, close to speaker, you're just gonna get the characteristics of the speaker in relation to the amp. Most of these BIG live bands you see live.... only have 2 speakers (at most) mic'd, panned left/right.... the rest of the wall of cabs are either empty or loaded and not even plugged in. A 2x12 is all you need to get the 'sound' of the amp... Cheers

Sorry to disagree...The cab itself produces different bass frequencies and in different amounts. This DOES translate to close miked recordings. I'm sure the mids and highs are affected as well, but it's most noticeable in the bass freqs. Is it better? Is it worse? Up to you! Will it be different? Hell yes.

 

[MajorTom]

I have only recorded with my 2x12, but hearing the two in a room seemed night and day. I can imagine that being housed in a larger cabinet could change the tone you get, but I didn't think it would be very distinct. Perhaps I'll have him lug his 4x12 over from the practice space to compare.

 

[midnightlaundry]

Cab size plays a big role. I bought a 1x12 cab for recording under the premise that you only mic one speaker. But the outcome was horrible. The sound was thin horseshit.

 

[Badronald]

They're both quality cabs.
Try both. Record one left and one right out of the same amp and listen back. Which ever one you like best use it.

 

[fretout]

I would say yes, based on cab construction. I've recorded with both, and in my opinion, a 2x12 is missing some of the "body" or "thump" in the sound, and this also translated to a recording.

Even Mesa 4x12s are different. My Recto oversized 4x12s (with V30s) has way more "thump" and depth than my old school metal-grille 4x12s (with both C90s and EVs), but the metal-grille 4x12s have a ton more clarity (due to the speakers), so I use both when I record.

Note: for anyone that doesn't know, the metal-grille Mesas come from the factory with the bottom speakers completely closed back, and the top speakers are open-back.

If I were recording use both and see how they come out. See what affects can be had when panning both tracks.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

But what happens if you "detune" the 2x12 by removing one speaker? Would you not get some of that thump back? Food for thought.. I had recorded 4x12's in the past and this week I was going to mic up my 2x12 and see what happens. It will be interesting to see whether or not i note a difference.

 

[MajorTom]

It's not a huge issue, but the dilemma with recording one vs the other is that we'd have to transport the larger cab to my house from our rented studio. I thought the same thing that you only mic one speaker but I started thinking that maybe the mic would pick up some of the resonance from the larger cabinet. I dunno. I guess I'll have to lug his over to test it out.

One more question... Can anyone definitively tell me I'd be better off mic'ing the 4x12? I was honestly hoping someone would say that the 2x12 is fine but now I'm not so sure, heh.

 

[jsp]

I would think it depends just as much on the cab itself, rather than just whether it's a 2x12 or a 4x12 (whether it's oversize, the materials and construction, front or rear loaded, etc).

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I was messing around with my 2x12 tonight, sounded pretty decent to me when listening back. Nothing stood out as any worse from when I was listening back to my 4x12. To be honest, there might be a feel difference but I'd think the speaker is more important than the cab.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

For my money a properly miked 2X"12 live is a great sound but for recording the fullness of a 4X"12 just can't be beat. There are major differences even miking one of the speakers with both cabs.
Bass and mids rule in the 4X"12 imo.
Atomic Playboy

 

[311boogieman]

I would think it depends just as much on the cab itself, rather than just whether it's a 2x12 or a 4x12 (whether it's oversize, the materials and construction, front or rear loaded, etc).

Agreed, but I think the OP was saying 'everything else being equal'.

For my money a properly miked 2X"12 live is a great sound but for recording the fullness of a 4X"12 just can't be beat. There are major differences even miking one of the speakers with both cabs.
Bass and mids rule in the 4X"12 imo.
Atomic Playboy

Do you have any recordings comparing the two or any live examples using a 2x12? Also, curious as to your relationship with the Vintage Washburn website. Is that your site or are you just a vintage washburn fan? Thanks,