Best mic to pair with SM57 for recording guitars at home?

[glassjaw7]

Anyone try using a kick drum mic for recording heavy guitar sounds? I remember hearing that an Audix D4 or D6 was good for this.

 

[RockNRun]

I've been pretty happy pairing up an sm57 and an e906. I'm no pro, but I do have some of the same gear you have (OP) so I figure I'd post a quick clip, you'll either likey or rule something out I guess, so it may be helpful regardless, lol! I tracked this several weeks ago with the mentioned mics on a single small block 25 in a 2x12 cab. This was a test clip btw, I've since tweaked things just a hair (NEVER tried two mics on a speaker before this).

The chain was guitar (Nez w/super distortion) > OD808 > QR > cab > sm57 (off axis) & e906 (sorta nipple ring) > Profire610 > Cubase 5.

Dual Mic test / Download

 

[scottkahn]

I debated sharing this unknown mic combination, but what the heck... I'm feeling generous today .

If you don't want to spend to pair an SD421 with the SM57 -- which is a great sounding setup, I strongly recommend pairing the SM57 with a Shure Beta 57a, both close-miked on separate speakers in the cab.

I discovered this combination while working on an in-depth review for MusicPlayers.com -- SM57 vs. Beta 57a. You can read that review here, along with audio clips:
http://www.musicplayers.com/reviews/rec ... _Shure.php

I actually tracked all the electric guitars on the Days Before Tomorrow CD, The Sky Is Falling, with this mic combination, sometimes adding a condenser mic from a few feet back in the studio, but 95% of the sound was this direct two-mic combination. This setup's results were blessed by our producer, Ron Nevison (yes, THE Ron Nevison) and our Grammy-winning mix engineer, Earl Cohen. You can hear some of these results at https://www.myspace.com/daysbeforetomorrow . Guitars were mostly a Music Man JP-6 and Ibanez RG customized with DiMarzio Steve's Special and Air Norton, and Mesa/Boogie Road King II amps (among much other gear).

Scott

 

[Digital Jams]

I am hoping this is not for your soon to be released cd........................

 

[scottkahn]

I am hoping this is not for your soon to be released cd........................

Nope. It's out. Already won Record of the Year in the 2009 Los Angeles Music Awards. We're actually getting set to track an EP this month in advance of the next full-length CD coming in 2011.

 

[Chubtone]

I am hoping this is not for your soon to be released cd........................

I still can't decide whether I should have 50 or 100 copies made.

 

[mixohoytian]

I have some condenser mics, neumann rip offs, haven't tried mixing, not that advanced yet

but I recommend doing research at the
tape op message board

I learned a lot about tuning a room, building acoustic panels and mixing on there

In studios I've heard "royer" mentioned
I think they are expensive, but I know u can get a lot these days from China made rip offs

 

[scottkahn]

Royer makes ribbon mikes, typical ones from them near the $1,000 mark.

They sound great on guitars, but have very specific power requirements from dedicated power supplies. Hook things up in the wrong sequence and you literally can destroy the ribbon. Not worth the risk in the home/project studio unless you are really on top of your recording situation.

 

[scottkahn]

I still can't decide whether I should have 50 or 100 copies made.

If you love us that much we'll give you a great discount

 

[Chubtone]

I still can't decide whether I should have 50 or 100 copies made.

If you love us that much we'll give you a great discount

Hey buddy! I think Digital Jams Scotty up above was busting MY balls about the soon to be released CD he mentioned. Mine has been done for over a year and I still haven't put it out yet.

 

[scottkahn]

Well in THAT case... dude, get on with it already!

 

[Chubtone]

I debated sharing this unknown mic combination, but what the heck... I'm feeling generous today .

If you don't want to spend to pair an SD421 with the SM57 -- which is a great sounding setup, I strongly recommend pairing the SM57 with a Shure Beta 57a, both close-miked on separate speakers in the cab.

I discovered this combination while working on an in-depth review for MusicPlayers.com -- SM57 vs. Beta 57a. You can read that review here, along with audio clips:
http://www.musicplayers.com/reviews/rec ... _Shure.php

I actually tracked all the electric guitars on the Days Before Tomorrow CD, The Sky Is Falling, with this mic combination, sometimes adding a condenser mic from a few feet back in the studio, but 95% of the sound was this direct two-mic combination. This setup's results were blessed by our producer, Ron Nevison (yes, THE Ron Nevison) and our Grammy-winning mix engineer, Earl Cohen. You can hear some of these results at https://www.myspace.com/daysbeforetomorrow . Guitars were mostly a Music Man JP-6 and Ibanez RG customized with DiMarzio Steve's Special and Air Norton, and Mesa/Boogie Road King II amps (among much other gear).

Scott

Because of my soundproofing situation of doing this in my house I ONLY have one speaker of my 4x12 cab available for miking. I got a padded gig bag for my cabinet and cut out a hole for just one of the speakers. It works well, but does limit me a little. How would the Beta 57 and regular 57 work on the same speaker?

Thanks

 

[Chubtone]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. So far I'm thinking of a used, newer Sennheiser or the Heil PR30.

 

[scottkahn]

Because of my soundproofing situation of doing this in my house I ONLY have one speaker of my 4x12 cab available for miking. I got a padded gig bag for my cabinet and cut out a hole for just one of the speakers. It works well, but does limit me a little. How would the Beta 57 and regular 57 work on the same speaker?

Thanks

That would be just as good or bad as any two-mic approach, which is to say that it should be fine. Just put one mic on the left side half-way between cone and edge and the other one on the opposite side, as a starting point.

 

[Digital Jams]

Hell, I'll check out anyone's cd esp if you have a cool JP Ibanez

 

[rbasaria]

Ive gotten good results pairing my 57 with my nady kick drum mic...but at the end of the day, I still prefer just the 57 on its own. Ive tried a couple different condensers and a couple other dynamics, and still come back to the 57 cuz its easy.

 

[blackba]

An MD421 would be my first choice. Haven't read about the old ones being better though.

I use an EV N/D468. They work well together. I picked mine up for really cheap used....

 

[scottkahn]

Hell, I'll check out anyone's cd esp if you have a cool JP Ibanez

Here it is!

Hey, we're giving away free music downloads on our band website, too... http://www.daysbeforetomorrow.com

Enjoy,
Scott

 

[Chubtone]

I've been pretty happy pairing up an sm57 and an e906. I'm no pro, but I do have some of the same gear you have (OP) so I figure I'd post a quick clip, you'll either likey or rule something out I guess, so it may be helpful regardless, lol! I tracked this several weeks ago with the mentioned mics on a single small block 25 in a 2x12 cab. This was a test clip btw, I've since tweaked things just a hair (NEVER tried two mics on a speaker before this).

The chain was guitar (Nez w/super distortion) > OD808 > QR > cab > sm57 (off axis) & e906 (sorta nipple ring) > Profire610 > Cubase 5.

Dual Mic test / Download

That sounds great on my lap top here at work but I need to listen to it on my system at home.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm looking to pick up another mic (since I have another channel of mic pre) to put on my cabinet for recording guitars. I was thinking Sennheiser 421 as that was a classic combined with SM57's for years. I see on ebay everyone is touting the vintage 421's as being way better than the current ones. Anyone have experience with the difference between the two eras of Sennheisers?

Is there any other mics I should look at to pair with my SM57? I'm on a budget.... probably $250 at most is all I can allocate to this second mic.

I've tried the e609 and the i5 and preferred my SM57 to them but didn't try combining them. Are either of those a good combo?

And my guitar cab is in a soundproofed, but small walk in closet so I'm talking about something that has to be within 1 foot of the speaker.

Thanks

Royer R-121 oops.... did not see the budget at first. Nevermind...

Steve