Let’s discuss electrical guitar recording, and by that I imply the “artwork” of placing microphones on guitar amplifier loudspeaker enclosures. I take advantage of quotations to stress my feeling in that I might lean in the direction of it being extra of a science and/or mechanical course of relatively than artwork. We depart all of the genius as much as the individual that owns a home deposit price of pedals on their pedalboard.
I consider an important guitar sound doesn’t come from excessive experimentation on the engineering aspect. It’s usually a results of enjoying with a effectively arrange guitar and the suitable gauge strings, into an honest amplifier with a dependable speaker field. All of those elements are significantly extra vital than whether or not a mic preamplifier is electronically coupled or transformer coupled (although I do have my preferences).
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I’ve seen and been part of some actually fascinating and unbelievable guitar sounds which have come from unusual mic positions, at occasions on usually unfavourable amplifiers and cupboards. This sort of experimentation is certainly enjoyable and worthwhile doing, however I wouldn’t begin on that foot. I attempt to start with the notion that the guitar sounds glorious and I ought to simply strive to not smash it. Or alternatively, the guitar doesn’t sound nice and I shouldn’t attempt to repair that by mic place, it must be mounted on the guitar or amplifier stage.
Mr. Speaker
If we have a look at a loudspeaker from entrance on, the centre goes to be shifting out and in of the magnetic hole most precisely. This space of sound will are typically probably the most tightly managed illustration of the sign. Additional out from the mud cap, as sound is dispersed from the sides of the speaker there are different artifacts occurring from rippling or crumpling. These results normally create harmonic distortion and are typically much less correct.
All this to say, the centre of the speaker will at all times be brighter, fuller and extra correct. The outer cone of the speaker will at all times be darker and slower in transient response.
If I’m utilizing one microphone I’ll first assess the sound of the amplifier and hazard a guess on the mic that may have the ability to greatest praise or generally even fight that sound. For instance if what you are attempting to report is a Tele by a classic Vox AC15 then perhaps a ribbon microphone would assist tame the shrillness. A Les Paul by a fuzz pedal and into an outdated V4 might have the readability and articulation of a restricted bandwidth shifting coil microphone that may deal with excessive SPL (sound stress stage). You don’t have to memorise frequency response charts of microphones, however you’ll finally construct up a rolodex of mics in your head which are suited to sure purposes.
Pole Place
If you play guitar do you ever relaxation your ear towards the cupboard? It might be ill-advised for you to take action. I don’t have a method to show this however I’ve a working concept that excessive shut miking is a hangover from reside sound methodology. I might put angling mics on cupboards underneath this similar omission.
I really feel that when the mic is just too near the speaker there are exaggerated sonics akin to inner cupboard reflections creating bizarre low mid vary comb filtering artefacts. With out stepping into all that, guitar sounds thrilling when the notes bloom and acquire within the air, at occasions even requiring a room microphone to seize the ambient house it’s interacting with. I discover myself settling someplace between 200mm and 400mm because of this.
Secondly, additional distance is right for the mechanics of the transducer. The polar sample of a microphone is created by sound partaking the entrance of the capsule and a few of the sound leaking into the again or aspect. The interference of these two is what synthesizes a sample of rejection. If the mic is bodily massive, then the sound will get to the entrance of the microphone extremely quick and slower to the rear. Utilizing this rationale, when you needed to magnify the proximity impact to the biggest diploma, it could be perfect to make use of a determine 8 microphone (like a ribbon) with a big magnetic armature. Not at all times appropriate however generally the perfect guess.
Discovering the precise spot to place a microphone is a case of waving my head across the entrance of the cupboard with blocked ears while someone performs. There will probably be a pocket of air through which the low finish sounds the tightest and most managed. There will even be a spot the place the higher mids are extra even and fewer pokey. That is solely evident (and secure) with fingers jammed onto your ears, this additionally considerably imitates the response of dynamic microphones.
Utilizing one microphone to seize a summation of audio system (a 2×12 or 4×12) will even require an analogous approach, though you have to to search out the phantom centre the place the audio system meet. On this software I might usually use a beyerdynamic m160 or an AKG C414 B-ULS. Should you flip the amplifier down considerably and get the guitarist to pluck an open string clear, you’ll be able to transfer your head round till your ear hits the phantom centre the place there is no such thing as a section discrepancy and you’ll hear an evenly timed sound of each speaker. I’ll then transfer a stand so it’s touching my ear and mark on the stand with tape to have the ability to place the microphone precisely.
Darkish and Vibrant
My most typical technique is to mix 2 microphones collectively, one darkish microphone and one brilliant. These could be multed collectively and summed to at least one observe, or generally saved as separate tracks when recording into a pc. This offers the choice of balancing presence or thickness even proper as much as the combination stage. To me that is preferable to reaching for an equalizer because it upholds the natural sound of the guitar amplifier.
I’m not against utilizing EQs or results within the combine course of relating to guitars. Ideally, I might a lot desire to place pedals to make use of and hit the enter stage of the amp. This not solely builds pleasure within the efficiency however you will discover that results usually don’t sound as satisfying off “tape”.
Typically you might be able to get a guitar sound to the ultimate mastering stage with none EQ, results or compression, which isn’t the objective however it’s a pleasant feeling and makes you’re feeling such as you aren’t faking it. Right here’s a fast listing of a few of my favorite decisions for various budgets!
Favorite microphones:
- Beyerdynamic M160
- Royer 77
- Electro Voice RE20
- Josephson C42
- Josephson E22
- AT Pro37r
- Neumann U67
- SE voodoo / VR1
- Lomo 1909
- Coles 4038
- Beyerdynamic M201
- Hail pr30
- Hail pr40
- Sennheiser Md421
- Rode Reporter
- Beyerdynamic M88
- Royer 121
- Altec 175
Preamplifiers:
- JLM NV500
- JLM TG2
- GKL MA-PEQ
- Telefunken V-76
- Sytek MPX 4A
- UA 6176
- Thermionic Tradition Rooster
- Retro OP-6
- Neve 1064
- Neve 1073
- Chandler Pink – 47
- Ampex 351
- LaChapelle 583 MK2
- Avalon 737
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