Recording with microphone

[Hartmut]

In about two weeks I will record a demotape with one of my bands. Usually I use a Shure SM57. What alternative microphones do you use? What about "interfacial microphones" (don`t know if this translation is correct, in german it is "Grenzflächenmikrofone")? Did anyone record with one?

 

[Jaymz82]

I recently bought a Sennheiser e906. A great microphone, imo much better than a SM-57 since at least to my ears it can almost exactly reproduce the sound you hear while standing in front of the cab.

 

[firebird]

I use a Sennheiser e906 too, on stage and for recording purposes. The SM57 is good in live situations but imo too limited in frequency response for studio use. The current microphone hype for recording guitar amps are ribbon mics (Bändchenmikrofone). What is you budget for the mic?

 

[Hamilton]

SM57's can be cool for recording, but - in my opinion - only when blended with another microphone which complements the SM57 well.

Sennheiser 421 + SM57 is a good, afforable, combination that is often used.

 

[nbarts]

57 does have limited frequency range, but that's not a bad thing at all. I've tried bunch of different microphones from ribbons to condensers & I keep coming back to 57 especially for heavy styles of music. If you want something like 57 with extended frequency range try SM7B, the only downfall of this mic is that because of the design you can't stick it as close to the speaker as you can with 57. MD421 is another classic choice more open than 57.

 

[i.ak]

Sennheiser e906
Sennheiser MD421
Audix D4
Shure SM57
And few Nady drum mics (toms & kick) which model I do not remember.

And various combination of those.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

If you have the clout a Sennheiser MD441 is nice too. Also the Royer R-121 is ultimate.......if you have da dough.

 

[Hartmut]

Thanks for all the informations! I will try a few of them. Ribbon Mics is something I never thougt of, so I hope that I can try one Did someone try an Audiotechnika condenser?

 

[Lexicon Devil]

Thanks for all the informations! I will try a few of them. Ribbon Mics is something I never thougt of, so I hope that I can try one Did someone try an Audiotechnika condenser?

Do NOT use the ribbon mic for close micing purposes on a guitar amp, the ribbon will be reduced to tinsel, and you'll have to send it off for new ribbon installation. Instead use it as a distance mic, or room mic in conjunction with the mic of your choice for close mic'ing. SM-57 is a good starting point, as well as the Beyer M-88. Moving up the food chain, the AKG C1000 isn't bad, but you'll get better results with a good large diaphram condenser that has the ability to switch polar patterns. You may want to close mic with a hypercardiod mic/pattern for LF proximity boost.

 

[mori]

I usually use both a SM57 and a MD421, and just mix them to taste. When using just one, I generally prefer the MD421.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

Do NOT use the ribbon mic for close micing purposes on a guitar amp, the ribbon will be reduced to tinsel, and you'll have to send it off for new ribbon installation. Instead use it as a distance mic, or room mic in conjunction with the mic of your choice for close mic'ing. SM-57 is a good starting point, as well as the Beyer M-88. Moving up the food chain, the AKG C1000 isn't bad, but you'll get better results with a good large diaphram condenser that has the ability to switch polar patterns. You may want to close mic with a hypercardiod mic/pattern for LF proximity boost.

Thanks for all the informations! I will try a few of them. Ribbon Mics is something I never thougt of, so I hope that I can try one Did someone try an Audiotechnika condenser?

Do NOT use the ribbon mic for close micing purposes on a guitar amp, the ribbon will be reduced to tinsel, and you'll have to send it off for new ribbon installation. Instead use it as a distance mic, or room mic in conjunction with the mic of your choice for close mic'ing. SM-57 is a good starting point, as well as the Beyer M-88. Moving up the food chain, the AKG C1000 isn't bad, but you'll get better results with a good large diaphram condenser that has the ability to switch polar patterns. You may want to close mic with a hypercardiod mic/pattern for LF proximity boost.

...actually you can close mic with the Royer R-121, it's kinda built for it, other ribbon mics that holds true though.

 

[don_huberto]

I' ve tried the following mics with my herbert

sm57beta: Cool - standard, sound for heavy guitars - less low frequencies
e906 - Nice, more aggressive like the 57 and more low frequencies
sp b1 - nice too, but the amp is to loud for close miking... so i placed a little more backwards... but then I got problems with the phase

How do you solve your phase problems when you are using room mics?

BW Hubert

 

[Tabs]

We used a combination of an SM57 and a Royer ribbon mic when tracking stuff for our new CD last month... sounded pretty good.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

How do you solve your phase problems when you are using room mics?

I'm not exactly an engineer myself, but in protools you can invert the wave of one of the mics to get it back in phase. The other way you have to have someone move the mic back and forth listening with head phones/monitors till it sounds right. I'm sure there's more to the second method, but if you have protools just invert one of the tracks.