SCD on metal guitar recording

[Wakena2003]

Hi,

A few month ago I heard a sample of a metal band recording when guitars sound amazing. They used a SCD mike on the guitar cabinet, with a SM57 too.

The SCD was the beyer M201TG and it sound awesome. I've been recording during a year and a half and I don't found the sound that I want. But I don't hear this beyer, but I own a SM81, does it works?

I can't find a good EQ on the mix for thick guitars, but EQing up mid-high frecs sound is not bad. Could a SCD mike get up this frecs without using EQ.

Thanks!

[peat]

i think you mean SDC - small diaphragm condenser

the sm81 is an SDC

there are so many variables here
choice of microphone not being one of the most important

the most important thing is that you have a great guitar sound coming out of the cab to start with, without that its very hard to get what you want

if you team an SM57 with an SDC, you wont get as much lows and low mids as you would with a larger diaphragm mic.

if you want to do it without EQ
its all about mic placement and angle

i would recommend a pretty common set up of an SM57 and a Sennheiser MD421

the 57 will give you your high end and definition
while the 421 will fill out the sound in the lower frequencies where the 57 doesnt perform so well

[Achim L]

the M201 is a dynamic mic. and it absolutely rocks on guitar. also on snare.
check ebay for the revox M3500 which is the predecessor for the M201. The revox got a little more mid crunch which is great for guitars.

I personally never used a SCD on metal guitars. So I can´t comment.

[vespiz]

Yes, the 201 is great thumbsup

If you like to hear it in action (with 57), check out my band's myspace site.
www.myspace.com/masterstrokefinland
(Hmm.. that sounded a bit too much like a shameless plug.. sorry about that!)

[Wakena2003]

Hi vespiz

I like so much your guitar sound. What is the recording chain? There is any EQ after in the mix?

What's the placement of the mics? Could you attach a pic of this config?

thanks

[Wakena2003]

Sorry for the SDC question, I think the beyer was a SDC mike.

About the SM57 + MD421 I'd tried it and I don't like so much. But problem is not on low frecuencies it's on hi frecuencies. I allways got a lot of 100Hz to 500 Hz frec that when drums and bass come in I cannot recognize where is the bass and where is the guitar.

I own a mesa boogie triaxis + peavey classic 50 power amp + 4 x 12 " 1960 vintage Marshall and les paul standard, ibanez jem, jackon guitars.

[vespiz]

Originally Posted by Wakena2003

Hi vespiz

I like so much your guitar sound. What is the recording chain? There is any EQ after in the mix?

What's the placement of the mics? Could you attach a pic of this config?

thanks

Thanks! Sometimes I think it gets a bit too massive!
I think it was an Ibanez guitar-> ENGL Powerball + Krank 4x12"
Recorded with a 57 and the 201, both looking at a different speaker cone in a
45degree angle so that they form a 90degree angle together.. er.. get it?
Sorry, no pic :(
These went straight to Digi002 and I did use eq afterwards, I just don't remember
what! Probably some really sharp cuts to get the "spikes" out of the sound and
such.

If you'd like to know more about getting a good tone for metal,
go to UltimateMetal.com - Supporting The Metal Underground. Forums, Discussion, Interviews, Reviews and look for the Andy Sneap sub-forum(s).
Oh, and prepare to spend a lot of time searching, reading and learning

Some people there seem to like to use 2 sm57's (so called "Fredman-technique),
which, to me, gets you a bit tighter sound. Great for more extreme/technical stuff.

[crypticglobe]

The only SDC mics I have used on electric guitar are the AKG C1000 (I know, I know... but it really sounded great in combination with a 57 on this particular amp), and the Groove Tubes Convertible.

The GT Convertible paired with my Royer R121 is one of my favorite combos. It's either that or the R121 paired with a 57 or 421 these days for rock guitars.