Lets talk microphones!

[eternal_idol]

I'm not enjoying my 57 right now, doesn't sound wide enough to my likings.

Its not a wide mic, its ment to get the point across with any bullshit.
the e905 is a much wider sounding mic, that sound pretty similar tothe 57.

It's a great mic, don't get me wrong but I think it's time for me to try some other mics. Based on the comments here, I should try the 609, might not be THE answer but I feel I should give it a go.

I use the Apex 460 for vocals and acoustic. Brilliant mic if you ask me, and cheap also. Mine's not modded in any way, totally stock. To me, it's better than those NT1 or NTK mics.

NTK is a vocal tube mic that can not handle the SPL of a cranked guitar amp, quite overkill IMHO

Since I have my Spider Valve I'm having a hard time recording, it seems I can't find the hot spot and it's pissing me off. And the direct XLR sucks in my opinion. I had better results when recording my DSL (4x12 with 75s). I'm pretty desperate about recording my Spider Valve. But the real problem is probably that I'm not using the mic properly. I tried pointing at the dustcap, edges of speakers, etc nothing works. I use a Presonus Firepod and Cubase LE, very simple and humble setup. It sounds too bassy and not wide enough, even when recording with 2 mics. Maybe I should try those 421. I dunno, help me, God.

i wouldn't suggest using a md421 unless you are good with your positions, it can sound very boomy or very bright and ALWAYS scooped.


are you still using the marshall cab? or are you using a line 6 cab?
are you doing any eqing in cubase? Hpf @ about 80hz, Cut with a parametric about 3-6 db @ 400hz, boost with a parametric aroun 1.2k to 1.6k and start rolling off the high end at about 10k.

jsut use that as a starting guide find your own method.

Brae

 

[lordriffenstein]

I really do need to try out my condenser one of these days on my guitar amp. Its an AT 4040. Not sure how well it'll handle the SPL's though. I'm also hesitant to use it on guitars, because I use it on vocals too.

AT4040 sounds great and can easily handle the SPLs, I used them during some gigs last summer and they got me the best sound. I posted a thread here about different mics I used last summer.

 

[Valtiel]

I think it really speaks to the fact that the guitar is a midrange instrument that the three best selling, most known pieces of guitar gear all have big midrange humps: Duncan JB, Vintage 30, and Shure SM57.

 

[amiller]

...
parts of a speaker.
Voice coil - you don't normally see these unless its a mesh dust cap liek V30s
Dust cap - the little bubble of paper in the middle of the speaker
paper cone - connects the voice coil and mounting ring of the speaker

The edge - the widest part of the speaker, normally has weather stripping on it..(ie. green back weather stripping looks like cork)[or where it bolts to the cab]

edge of the dust cap - where the dust cap meets the paper cone

does that help? any more questions?

brae

Yeah, I know the parts of a speaker, thanks. I just wanted to make sure we are talking from the same page.

 

[RockStarNick]

I think it really speaks to the fact that the guitar is a midrange instrument that the three best selling, most known pieces of guitar gear all have big midrange humps: Duncan JB, Vintage 30, and Shure SM57.

This is very true. Good point. Throw in the freakin' TS808 to that list too.

The minute you try to treat the guitar like a full-range instrument, in a recording, in a dense rock mix, it just doesn't work. You gotta carve out a nook for each instrument to live in.

All that being said, I'm still looking for something that is just a *bit* "wider" than the 57...

 

[eternal_idol]

...
parts of a speaker.
Voice coil - you don't normally see these unless its a mesh dust cap liek V30s
Dust cap - the little bubble of paper in the middle of the speaker
paper cone - connects the voice coil and mounting ring of the speaker

The edge - the widest part of the speaker, normally has weather stripping on it..(ie. green back weather stripping looks like cork)[or where it bolts to the cab]

edge of the dust cap - where the dust cap meets the paper cone

does that help? any more questions?

brae

Yeah, I know the parts of a speaker, thanks. I just wanted to make sure we are talking from the same page.

no worries, if you had questions other people will too, just threw it all out there...

Brae

 

[defpearlpilot]

I have a bunch of the mics posted here but I definitely want to pick up a few more. I need an MD421, a Royer, a 906. Too many really! LOL

 

[Bob Savage]

I get a kick out of the dogma that always seems to appear in these mic type threads.

"This mic is flat... that mic is colored... don't do this, don't do that, do this..." <burp>

It's all about producing something that's "pleasantly" colored. What's "pleasant?" Exactly...

 

[Meathead]

I like a SM57 off-axis...I don't mix mics very often.
The way I see it a cone isn't straight across, it's on an angle. So I point the mic off axis on the same angle as the speaker cone near the center of the cone.
Works for me everytime.

 

[amiller]

I get a kick out of the dogma that always seems to appear in these mic type threads.

"This mic is flat... that mic is colored... don't do this, don't do that, do this..." <burp>

It's all about producing something that's "pleasantly" colored. What's "pleasant?" Exactly...

Yeah but Bob, the stuff you post always sounds so good. Some of us (me ) are still struggling to get a "descent" recorded tone...descent to my ears at least. I guess we keep beating this horse in hopes that it will eventually get across the finish line. <burp>

 

[Bob Savage]

I get a kick out of the dogma that always seems to appear in these mic type threads.

"This mic is flat... that mic is colored... don't do this, don't do that, do this..." <burp>

It's all about producing something that's "pleasantly" colored. What's "pleasant?" Exactly...

Yeah but Bob, the stuff you post always sounds so good. Some of us (me ) are still struggling to get a "descent" recorded tone...descent to my ears at least. I guess we keep beating this horse in hopes that it will eventually get across the finish line. <burp>

I wasn't poking fun at the quest, I was poking fun at dogma vs. opinion. There are a billion and one ways to cross the finish line... I quite enjoy the discussion but generally stay out of mic discussions because in my experience there's far too much "this sucks and that sucks... this is the best." It happens with amps too but for some reason when it comes to audio interfaces, converters, mic pre's, mics, etc. it's worse. I'm not a big fan of arguing over opinions unless it's the discussion of the details of *why* one person likes X over Y. In the end, there's no right or wrong answer.

 

[amiller]

I get a kick out of the dogma that always seems to appear in these mic type threads.

"This mic is flat... that mic is colored... don't do this, don't do that, do this..." <burp>

It's all about producing something that's "pleasantly" colored. What's "pleasant?" Exactly...

Yeah but Bob, the stuff you post always sounds so good. Some of us (me ) are still struggling to get a "descent" recorded tone...descent to my ears at least. I guess we keep beating this horse in hopes that it will eventually get across the finish line. <burp>

I wasn't poking fun at the quest, I was poking fun at dogma vs. opinion. There are a billion and one ways to cross the finish line... I quite enjoy the discussion but generally stay out of mic discussions because in my experience there's far too much "this sucks and that sucks... this is the best." It happens with amps too but for some reason when it comes to audio interfaces, converters, mic pre's, mics, etc. it's worse. I'm not a big fan of arguing over opinions unless it's the discussion of the details of *why* one person likes X over Y. In the end, there's no right or wrong answer.

Dogma...great movie?

Yep, I hear you about dogma vs. opinion. There are, however, opinions that I value more than others...your's for one. I always look forward to hearing the details of how a recording was made...'gives me ideas on what to and not to try.