Metallica Black Album Mic Technique Help Me!

[afxwinter]

Did you give up or something? Haven't heard any new clips in a couple months.

Here's my latest attempt at the black album tone:
afxwinter - Through the Never(intro).mp3

[afxwinter]

Just fixed my link.

[SMCCUNE]

I`ve got more mics yay

and my mic technique is fine now

I just need to get a parametric eq then I will post something AWESOME!

let me know what you think of my last attempt

MySpace.com - mycomicalromance - Norwich, UK - Metal / Metal / Metal - www.myspace.com/mycomicalromancecom

Sam

[afxwinter]

Sounds a lot better man. What are you doing with your mics? And what do you have exactly in terms of mics?
Here's one I did with an MD421 phase inverted on the rear of my cab, and an SM57 on the front: afxwinter - Enter Sandman 2.mp3
Sound ok?

[SMCCUNE]

Finally after months and months of waiting I got an Aphex 109 parametric EQ (got a 2nd on the way) so I should be able to fine tune the pre mic amp sound(s). Can`t wait to try multiamping again, I`ll record a new example when I have time, thanks Sam

[DJBlueDrink]

How is the 109? I know james used the B&B(aphex) EQF-1 in the effects loop of his boogie but I just can't seem to find them anywhere.

[SittinIdol]

Does anybody have those Fleming notes saved? They're gone from his site,...

[DJBlueDrink]

If you go to the flemming thread and go to the very end, somone has a link to where they archived them. Not all of them work but enough to get certain important info.

[DJBlueDrink]

Afx, just out of curiosity what kinda rig are you using(playing not recording)?

[jkkkjkhk]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

I've studied all available Black Album footage since I was a kid like the Zapruder film or something, because that's what got me into recording. My favorite guitar tone and overall production ever.

They had 4 4x12 cabs set up side by side (with a little distance in between them). Randy put a 57 and 421 on each cab. Back in the room they had a a stereo pair of what looks like 414s in front of the setup, then further back and way up high they had some sort of condenser like an 87 or something. Don't forget the "tent of doom," which was a tent of sorts, built from foam and moving blankets, to enclose the cabinets to keep the sound tighter. The 87 (or whatever it was) was up high aimed at an opening in the tent of doom. Also, don't forget that while the Mark II C+ was the main part of the sound, they also used an ADA preamp and who knows what else (Bob and Randy are big on blending amps when recording: see THIS LINK).

Good luck and let us hear how close you get! I've spent my whole life trying to nail it.

Matt

Where did you see them put a 57 and 421 on the cabs? If you are referring to in "A year and a half" how can you tell what the mics are, the camera is so far from the cabs. And where did you see a finished pic/video of the tent of doom? I really didn't see anything useful other than what looked like possible two 414's about 15 feet from the cabs. And the clip where they were micing the cab for "Nothing Else Matters" that was in Vancouver so that was not for the rhythm guitar where the tent of doom was used.
I too am trying very hard to get that tone so any more tips you guys have are helpful.
Lastly in the video you can see a Mark IV quite a lot and it is on sometimes so obviously they must have used it somewhere.

[dbbubba]

I had to mix and record these guys to multi-track in an arena in '89.

I have played GTR since the '60s and have recorded and mic'd A LOT of great players.
All of Metallica's amps sounded like hammered, dog shit live.
yeah.. they kinda' defined a style, but their tone was WEAK.
I have recorded so many guys that killed them tone wise.
So many!

I will admit that I was limited into using Big Mick's mic'ing and they were endorsed by EV which meant they used a lot of mics that would not have been my first choice.
Still, it wasn't the mics that were causing the shit tones.

I have the tapes some where.

[SMCCUNE]

I`ve sold both my Mk2c+, still rocking my Mesa studio preamp though! I`m now chasing a sound in my head which is more Marshall flavoured ... but for anyone chasing the Metallitone ...

Sam's Black Album Rhythm Tone Recipe

There is a bit of guess work but this is how I think they did it...

Ingredients:

Guitar
ESP Explorer with EMGs

Amps

Mesa Boogie MkIIc+ (Mike Bendinelli modded mkIIc++)
Marshall SLP 100watt (Jose Modded)
Ada mp1 with Ada mq1 eq (mp1 Voodoo modded?)
Mesa Boogie MkIV (could be stock?)
3x Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 poweramps

Effects

BBE sonic maximiser 422A
Rocktron Compressor Limiter Hush II
Aphex parametric EQs

Cabs

4x Marshall 4x12 Cabs loaded with vintage 30 speakers

Mikes

4x Shure SM57
4x Sennheiser MD421
1x Neumann U 87
2x AKG 414

Recipe:

1.Split the signal from your guitar to the 4 amps.
2.Use the sonic maximiser, Compressor Limiter Hush II and Aphex parametric EQs to fine tune the amp sounds
3.Put dummy loads on the MkIIc+ and MkIV
4.Chain the Ada mp1, MkIIc+ and MkIV each to its own Strategy 400 power amp
5.Run each Strategy 400 and the Marshall SLP to its own Marshall 4x12 cab with vintage 30s
6.Close mic each cab with an sm57 and md421 on axis on different speakers
7.Use a crossed stereo pair of 414s further back
8.Use a high up U 87
9.Construct a sonic tent from foam walls and U-haul blankets
10.ENJOY!

thanks to everyone who`s helped and special thanks to Montyjay!

[enghell666]

Sorry, but why do anyone want a tone like Metallica's?