Where do you put the 57 and 421 in front of guitar cabs ?

SLy_drums · 14th May 2008

When I look at the "miced guitar amps in the studio" thread I see various positions for SM57 and MD421 mics on guitar cabs.

Where do you personally like to put them ? far from/close to the grill ? facing the center of the speaker ? angled or not ?

For instance, I find myself that for the 57 the best position is to have the mic very close to the grill, aiming at the "glue join" between the large cone and the centered dust cap, angled a tiny bit.
If the amp is set correctly, it gives me the smoothest, largest and creamiest sound possible with this mic. What about the 421 ?

DeepSpace · 14th May 2008

I'm afraid the only correct answer is "it depends".

If the sound is too bright and edgy, aiming at the glue join will take your head off.

If the sound is compressed and spongy, pointing the mic straight will pick up more transient punch.

If the room sounds really good, backing the mics off a little can be huge, but in a dull or problematic room it will be a disaster.

If the cab or grille has any buzzing or other undesirable artifacts, getting in close might not be so good either.

The mics should go where they sound best for the song and the mix - but that is *not* always going to be the same place, even on the same amp and cab with the same player in the same room.

Luckily, engineers have ears. The greatest invention in audio.

Gone · 14th May 2008

This is the combination I use most.
I tend to find the best sound close to the amp with the 57.
Then I like to speaker center the 421 and slowly move it back until it blends with the 57 in a pleasing way. Sometimes this is doing extreme filtering, other times not. The 421 can be as close as the 57 or 4-5 feet back. I like to check the sound both panned together and hard, checking mono.

Good luck!
Have fun!

David

vernier · 14th May 2008

Just anywhere sounds good or fantastic. Guitar is easiest.
'

b808 · 14th May 2008

The first rule of micing an instrument is..there are no rules.

I find for some odd reason that when I'm micing the amp for a rhythm guitar the 57 always picks up allot better directly in front of the cone rather then off to the side or from above...

14th May 2008	#1
SLy_drums Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 760 Thread Starter	Where do you put the 57 and 421 in front of guitar cabs ? When I look at the "miced guitar amps in the studio" thread I see various positions for SM57 and MD421 mics on guitar cabs. Where do you personally like to put them ? far from/close to the grill ? facing the center of the speaker ? angled or not ? For instance, I find myself that for the 57 the best position is to have the mic very close to the grill, aiming at the "glue join" between the large cone and the centered dust cap, angled a tiny bit. If the amp is set correctly, it gives me the smoothest, largest and creamiest sound possible with this mic. What about the 421 ?

14th May 2008	#2
DeepSpace Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside the Outside Posts: 1,195	I'm afraid the only correct answer is "it depends". If the sound is too bright and edgy, aiming at the glue join will take your head off. If the sound is compressed and spongy, pointing the mic straight will pick up more transient punch. If the room sounds really good, backing the mics off a little can be huge, but in a dull or problematic room it will be a disaster. If the cab or grille has any buzzing or other undesirable artifacts, getting in close might not be so good either. The mics should go where they sound best for the song and the mix - but that is not always going to be the same place, even on the same amp and cab with the same player in the same room. Luckily, engineers have ears. The greatest invention in audio. __________________ .

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14th May 2008	#3
Gone Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 737	This is the combination I use most. I tend to find the best sound close to the amp with the 57. Then I like to speaker center the 421 and slowly move it back until it blends with the 57 in a pleasing way. Sometimes this is doing extreme filtering, other times not. The 421 can be as close as the 57 or 4-5 feet back. I like to check the sound both panned together and hard, checking mono. Good luck! Have fun! David

14th May 2008	#4
vernier Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 6,074	Just anywhere sounds good or fantastic. Guitar is easiest. '

14th May 2008	#5
b808 Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Northeast Florida Posts: 294	The first rule of micing an instrument is..there are no rules. I find for some odd reason that when I'm micing the amp for a rhythm guitar the 57 always picks up allot better directly in front of the cone rather then off to the side or from above...