Mic for recording cab

Smash

Smash

Hack
I have a rode k2 that is really good for vocals and acoustic, but i kinda want something for just micing the cab.

Should i just go with sm57, or is there something else I should be looking at?
 
SM57, SM58, SM7B are all excellent choices.

If it was my money and I was starting a mic collection, I’d start with the staples and eventually move to the more exotic stuff if I felt like branching out, but yeah it’s hard to go wrong with the SM series.
 
Smash said:
I liked it a lot too. I sold it eventually. The biggest problem is that it is so quiet. Even 112 dbs and i felt it needed a pre amp
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Oh yeah you need a cloud lifter or the equivalent

The new sm7db has a preamp built in
 
sE Electronics voodoo series ribbon mic.
I have the VR1 and absolutely love it on cabs. It has extended presence over most ribbon mics and sound pretty neutral in the right spot. It makes guitar sound like I hear it the the room.
 
BeZo said:
sE Electronics voodoo series ribbon mic.
I have the VR1 and absolutely love it on cabs. It has extended presence over most ribbon mics and sound pretty neutral in the right spot. It makes guitar sound like I hear it the the room.
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That's quite the fucking endorsement
 
Smash said:
I have a rode k2 that is really good for vocals and acoustic, but i kinda want something for just micing the cab.

Should i just go with sm57, or is there something else I should be looking at?
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Man I can't encourage you enough to start with a simple 57 setup. Mess around with placement (including angle and distance) until you find some sweet spots. You may get 100% of what you need from it.

If not you can try blending in some of that K2 to fill out the sound a bit. I like using a 421, 906, VR1 or maybe an i5 for that role - but have never have much luck using one of them as the primary mike.
 
ZEN Amps said:
Man I can't encourage you enough to start with a simple 57 setup. Mess around with placement (including angle and distance) until you find some sweet spots. You may get 100% of what you need from it.

If not you can try blending in some of that K2 to fill out the sound a bit. I like using a 421, 906, VR1 or maybe an i5 for that role - but have never have much luck using one of them as the primary mike.
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The k2 gives a great in the room sound, but just so distant. I need an in your face sound. The 57 is probably the one
 
Smash said:
The k2 gives a great in the room sound, but just so distant. I need an in your face sound. The 57 is probably the one
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Ok yeah cool, then a blend may work well.

If the mikes are equidistant from the speaker you probably won't have much of a phase cancellation issue. If you like the k2 further back then (assuming you're using a DAW) you can delay the 57 a little. It's not much - rule of thumb is 1ms/foot - but it's worth experimenting with.
 
Definitely give the SM57 a shot.

Edit: Just to add, the OC18 is a freaking monster on guitar cabs too. It's good enough to be a single source mic for guitar cabs and also blends well with a 57. It's not cheap, though. However, I'd still start with the SM57 as a first mic specifically for guitar cabs.
 
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I would add that an audix I5 and an sm7b are both great too, but I would get the mics i mentioned above first
 
DanTravis62 said:
This.

I would get, in order

1. a nice 57
2. a 421
3. a second 57
4. one of the various nice ribbon mics, like a royer r10 or a royer 121
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You aren’t wrong!
My comment was for basic every day mics that sound great.

I’ve used some really nice mics when I was in school, but prices on some of those are ridiculous.

But especially a 57, you can do so much with.

Shit, my favorite recordings of kick drums I ever did was a beta with a 57.
Get the thump of the beta and mix with the high end and clarity of a 57 was something I loved.

57 great workhorse mic and a great price.
 
DanTravis62 said:
Seriously though, learning your way around 2 57s, and all the crazy stuff you can do to change the tone is essential for learning to mic electric guitar

The fredman clip/tone is mandatory nowadays
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In all honesty Dan, I’ve never used two 57’s at once, if we are talking about micing cabs?

I’ve used multiples on kits though.
 
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