That Pedal Show - How To Mic Your Guitar Amp: Mic Types, Positions & All That Stuff
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ก.ค. 2024
- Welcome to That Pedal Show! Please subscribe to our channel and visit our store www.thatpedalshowstore.com
Life too short for long TH-cam videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.
In this episode we take a trip through the basics and fundamentals of micing your guitar amp or cabinet. That’s to say putting a microphone in front of your speaker for the purposes of recording or live work.
We cover three main areas. Firstly, common mic types including dynamic moving coil, dynamic ribbon and a large diaphragm condenser/capacitor. There are others, but these are the common types used for guitar amps.
Secondly we look at mic position across the face of the speaker, and thirdly, mic distance away from the speaker, including a little bit on mixing mics. We even play over some short backing tracks to demonstrate!
We don’t get into audio post processing or EQ: this is just about mics on guitar amps and cabs.
If you mic amps regularly you will know all this stuff already. If you don’t, you might just find it illuminating. Enjoy the episode!
PLEASE NOTE: We haven’t talked about preamps, input gain, signal strength or anything else like that in this video. The principles of plugging mics into a desk/recorder are the same as recording anything else. You need to set the optimum input gain for a decent signal without overloading the preamp. If you would like to delve more deeply into this, including understanding how modern DAWs differ from traditional analogue gear, this is a brilliant article from our friends at Sound On Sound magazine: www.soundonsound.com/technique...
Gear in this episode…
• Fender Hot Rod Deluxe - No longer made, link to latest version
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2nuCUpj
USA: imp.i114863.net/0q2VP
• Sennheiser e906 mic
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2tPloz3
USA: imp.i114863.net/Oqz7z
• Sontronics Delta ribbon mic
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2swi3kk
• Sontronics Orpheus condenser mic
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2tP7b4U
• Zoom F8 Recorder
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2tP2l7T
USA: imp.i114863.net/MOg73
* Why do we have preferred retailer links? Find out here: www.thatpedalshow.com/partners
Interesting bits and go-to sections…
- Intro & background: 00:00
- The three things we’re doing today: 2:50
- Moving coil, ribbon and capacitor mics: 4:25 & 5:40 (sounds at 8:38)
- How do you choose a mic? 10:35
- Gain sounds with the three mics: 14:34
- Mic position across the face of the speaker? 15:50 (sounds at 17:00 and 18:48)
- As above, but with a gainy sound: 20:30
- Distance micing and room sound discussion: 24:30
- Polar patterns: 25:48
- Distance micing with a clean sound examples: 27:50
- Square law? 31:20
- THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY! 33:20
- Distance micing with a gained sound examples: 33:48
- How we mic amps for That Pedal Show: 37:45
- The Room mic: 40:03
- Mic positions including some backing track action: 44:03
- Phase?: 47:10
Guitars in this episode
• Fender Custom Shop ’63 Telecaster - watch Dan’s video at bit.ly/2dlZJ6K
Collings 360LT with Lollar Gold Foil pickups
We hope you enjoy this video. Please subscribe to our channel.
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Please visit our preferred retailers!
UK & Europe: Andertons Music bit.ly/2cRvIvt
Australia: Pedal Empire bit.ly/2mWmJQf
USA: That Pedal Shop www.thatpedalshop.com/ - เพลง
I can only watch 2/3 of your videos before you are drowned out by the noise of my guitar.
happens to me all.the.time!!!
but not today, it was way too interesting to skip!
+Kane Dypka Excellent! We'd call that a win-win!
I'm guilty of that too. Also, as far as ocd goes, I wont freak out as long as you sit on the same side.
+1
TRUE. This also happens to me when I'm watching movies or TV.
Anyone else re-watching this to be re-educated whilst attempting some home recording during lockdown..? Stay safe everyone.
here too mate
yep and depressed that the ribbon mics are 10000000000x more expensive than the other mics : (
Yup
"Axis: Bold as Miking" is my favourite album by Jimi Impedance.
Isn't that the one where he does the impy dance at Woodstock?
I watch that at ohm all time…
Dan and Mick, it is very important that no one EVER hook up a PASSIVE ribbon mic to phantom power, as that will destroy the ribbon element. If one is using an ACTIVE ribbon, it requires phantom power, but none should ever confuse these two, and always know that if phantom power is switched on a mixer or a channel from a preamp, NEVER plug in a PASSIVE ribbon mic to that device or channel. A cloud lifter is often used to boost signal from a dynamic mic, say a Shure SM7 b or a passive ribbon mice, and it may require phantom power to activate the lifter, but it will not pass the 48v phantom power to the mic. Please pass the warning along, thanks.
I am having a few beers in the land of Oz & That Pedal Show just showed up in my subscriptions.....I am very happy to be alive
scottwillott1 Having a drink in California and feeling the same. Cheers.
scottwillott1 it's a great beer night binge watch. Welcome friend!
I think what you two are doing is really changing the standard for how videos on guitar sound are done. Even as goofy as it is, this video is so thorough, using video and sound to show us what is going on, with careful explanation at each step. These videos will stand as the go-to's for how-to's for years to come! Well done, gentlemen.
+Matthew Turner ah, cheers Matt :)
Thanks guys! At last! I asked you for this couple of times and finally! I'm gonna enjoy it for sure. Cheers!
I remember watching Glenn's Mic episode and being blown away by the impact of micing. An excellent refresher with my band heading to the studio to record soon. Great episode!
I think I've learned more watching this show than I have in the last 10 years. It's not always about technique or ability in your playing ( though I still need major help here, but that's on me to practice).
Thank you guys so much for all the info and making it digestible, and direct and fun!
This has got to be one of the best videos on micing up a guitar amp ever, so helpful guys! Awesome work!
It’s been two years but this is gold. Especially now I’m obsessed with mics and using multiple with my amp.
Watching you two react to one another as you played over the backing tracks was a treat.
thanks, this is exactly what I wanted. your videos have been an immense help ever since I started my 'tone journey' and after a year of playing I'm just starting to reach the point where your videos make sense. keep going guys, great stuff!
Great playing as always to both of you. Thanks very much for showing the context of the mics in a mix at the end. Lots of helpful stuff again this week, keep up the good work.
Awesome stuff, good to see a visual and aural representation of how the positioning affects the tone, i think its even more crucial for a gainy sound. Really helpful for those of us who don't have a studio setting to test these things. BTW the soundman placing a mic on the amp head has happened to me, however a funnier one is one of my fellow guitar players was experiencing 60 cycle hum from his rig, then i watched the sound man get down to his pedalboard with his ear flush to the pedals to see which one was humming, speechless
Blown away. I had no idea about most of this. The differences in sound in relation to mic placement is profound.....wow.
Every time I think I've got my sound down and have everything I need you guys do an episode and I'm like, "ooh, I need one of those!" Great show as always.
YES! I've been waiting for this one. Cheers, lads!
What I like most about both of you, and the reason I subscribed is your attitude towards life. I can see you guys are passionate about what you do and the joy, positivity, and enthusiasm can be seen in every video. Keep on rockin mate!
Thank you Caleb - the only reason we do this is because we love it. Thanks for watching!
I think it would be great to see a video of your ideal rigs. For example, everything from your favorite guitars to your favorite pedals to your favorite amp configuration to create your favorite tones!
Alex Church hope you’re still watching because this just happened.
Very cool video, guys, and those backing track bits were glorious. Damn, I love Friday mornings with That Pedal Show!
Thanks guys. I am in the midst of a recording session in a very high profile studio in 6 months, and you solved my issue in how to mic my amp properly. I cannot thank you enough :D
+tokoulli1 our pleasure :)
Thank you a million times for making this amazing resource.
Love you guys!
This video is super helpful I really appreciate you guys literally would be lost without you guys!
FINALLY we(I) get to hear your playing in a "band" context!!!!!Best part of the video!!!!
I use a 609 too! Excellent video! It's amazing how much different just an inch off center to the cone makes!
16:24 "Generally speaking... generally speaker-ing.." Haha! THat was amazing Mick! :D
Good fun infotainment and a relevant topic to the vast majority of guitarists. Well done as always!
Getting back to this video and didn’t read the description before, the SOS article is pretty good thanks!
One of your best guys! Well done.
AWESOME episode guys!! I asked a question on a video a couple of days ago regarding what Mic's you use on the amps, and you release this episode today! Amazing! Love you guys, and the show!!
+Kyle Burdy Yeah baby!
Thanks for this guys! Very very helpful
This is very helpful, detailed and informative on an incredibly important and overlooked aspect of guitar playing and recording. Very well done
Absolutely the best mic placement tutorial video ever! Thank you so much.
+David Rohland Wow, thanks David - glad you find it useful!
Excellent video. Very helpful!
Thank you for covering this topic! I've been discovering how touchy any variable can be, can be very frustrating. This helps!
GREAT VIDEO, guys!!!!
Nailed it!!!
cheers from Brazil!!!
Dan, I've got to say mate, every time I watch the show I always get excited when you play. You've got so many cool licks that I keep trying to incorporate into my playing. Seriously love your playing man. Cheers for inspiring a young Queenslander! Much platonic love.
+John Patchy Millar ah, cheers John. That's what it's all about :) QUEENSLANDER!
I NEEDED THIS VIDEO, THANKS GUYS!
Great episode! Thanks a lot guys!
Great demonstration
No that's a linear law. I think you are meaning the inverse square law (applies to photography as well) which states that if the mic distance is doubled, the sound intensity is (1/2)^2= 1/4, only one quarter of the original mic position's intensity. Thanks for a very wholesome video! Cheers
Great video guys. I got an internship at a studio last year in an attempt to find out what to do with my life, (turns out I probably want to be an engineer) and this was very informative, encouraging, and fun to watch. Keep up the great work!
YES YES YES YES!! Haven't even watched it yet but know it's going to be a great vid. Can't wait to watch when I get home. Thank you for covering such important topics.
+SupaTravis Williams Thanks for watching - hope you enjoy the show!
I have watched a lot of your videos. I enjoy them all, but this one was outstanding for being so informative and eye opening! As always, thanks for sharing your insights!
+mesadurham Thank you!
Guys! What an awesome video. This really usable advice. I don't have access to the recording software and mics you guys have so this shows me what to look for when miking my little combo amp. I use an sm57 and I've never been happy with the low-end response. I might just upgrade to the e906 after hearing this. Thanks for what you do!
+Danocaster cheers D, so glad you dig our stuff :)
Man, I love this channel. The stuff I learned from you guys have been some of the most valuable info regarding guitars that I've ever come across. You made me realize I need proper power for my pedals (which was a huge deal for me) and you also inspired me to really get my pedal board to a better level. You guys have opened me up to so many new tonal possibilities. For example, I just bought a Mesa lone star special and got it in the mail yesterday, and Mick inspired me to do so! I know you have the LSC, but that's beside the point. I never would've bought a Mesa before, and I absolutely love this amp. I guess I just want to say thanks for being so awesome. Also, I love that you're pretty much the only channel that talks about Kingsley pedals. You need to pull a few strings and get Simon to send you one of his amps! I'm on the waitlist (2.5 years!!) but I'd love to see more of his stuff in your show.
+NTfilms Thank you for such a ringing endorsement. We're very glad to have you on board - enjoy that LS! :0)
Great great show guys. Thx
Very helpful guys, especially since I'm getting ready to jump into the world of recording
.
The e906 is my personal favorite, but I really like the addition of the XY room mic. it's like an analog dry-through on a reverb pedal: you've still got your attack, but with a little extra something. Great video guys!
Very well done video!! I learned a lot, and enjoyed it.
Brilliant job gentleman- an excellent tutorial on mics, mic positioning, and an overall basic approach to getting tones from an amp.
Thank you as always for your dedication to the instrument.
+Francis Gori Cheers Francis - we appreciate the appreciation!
Cheers guys! Very handy
Thanks for another great video guys! I've never miced an amp, nor tried to learn about it either so what you've show me here will be very helpful in knowing what I want in the micing section of my two notes cab! It wasn't that cab sim video that is incoming someday, but it's still massively applicable!
I've tried almost everything, and the one I keep coming back to is the Beyer M160 ribbon - not too close, and angle it from edge to centre of the cone to get more/less brightness.
I've been using mine for 30 years now, and it's always given me a sound which is good to incredible.
45:43 was a perfect demo to show how the positions work! thank you Mick and Dan! Has helped me learn a lot.
Nice Sound!!!
The e906 sounds great. Best of all worlds IMO. Great with cleans and OD. I bought one a few months ago and I think it's fantastic.
great episode guys! very informative. look forward to the show each week, love it. thumbs up from down under!
+Ryan Hilton Cheers Ryan!
the humor guys puts this show over the top
excellent chapter, folks
Still watching this but the wheely trolley mic stand is brilliant !!! So effective at demonstrating the difference in frequency range depending on mic placement.
GREAT job!
This was brilliant. Thanks!!
+cheeks6700 You're welcome. Interesting huh?! Thanks for watching!
Watching back. Just starting to record. Helpful.
very very good show today, thanks for that!!!
Thank you guys for doing this. I'm about to start recording with my new amp and I'm totally new at all this. I appreciate the advice.
+JKM395 Excellent - good luck to you. If we may offer a tiny bit of advice... try not to sweat it. Stick the mic a few inches off the grille somewhere just off the centre of the cone. Then concentrate on playing. :0)
very helpful! more power and thank you👍👍👍
great info . Love your videos...
Such a useful vid. Thanks guys!
Excellent. I'm about to re-amp something I've been working on for a while and this is going to help my choices. Thanks :D
Thanks a million guys! Very helpfull
great video dispelling a few mic myths, brilliant job
Best explanation out there guys thanks, simple and concise!
+Roy Alvalle cheers Roy
That Pedal Show if TH-cam had two thumbs up I'd hit that!
I've always had trouble getting a good dirt sound from a condenser/capacitor, but it's fantastic for cleans. Ended up settling on a sm57 for dirty and a condenser/capacitor (or both) for cleans!
And thanks for the awesome post editing!
+ Nate Col - Shure sure got the SM 57 and 58 right the first time around. All these years later and they're still in use world-wide. Basically the Strat and Les Paul of microphones.
Really depends on the mic. I use a Neumann KM140 for most everything /sometimes with a Sennheiser MD441/ and it makes the guitars sit with bass and vocals instantly.
Ibanezman03 100%!!! I'm sure a better quality mic would help, but I'm speaking mainly from a budget friendly point of view. Condensers around the same price point as an sm57 just don't cut it for higher gain sounds IMO.
Jup, definitely. Investing in 1 or 2 Neumann- pencil condensers is definitely worth it. You can use them for most everything and they are durable like a sm57.
I love the SM27. Great for just about everything and takes high SPL. I used to have a pair and used them for everything. Great close and far on guitar.
Yep, VERY useful to actually HEAR the differences between different positions, different mics, etc. Thanks guys.
+E.G. Systems No worries. It was a fun one to do. (For me. Dan was a bit bored bless him. Repayment for the synth episode). :0)
Synth... :O) In the last 27 years, I've watched them come and go, but only recently seen the Fishman Triple Play (and I see the kinda Roland hex pickup still there) and though it actually seems to work, in the end I'd rather make a guitar sound crazy, and use that sound, that do Guitar to MIDI.
Really great video guys. Explained really well. A dry subject yes but important nonetheless. Really helped me venture into recording electric guitar.
You guys should do more challenges! We love them! A most versatile board challenge would be cool. Least versatile with most pedals, most expensive, etc
This is possibly the best demonstration for anyone wanting to learn about mic placement I have ever seen and I spent three years doing audio engineering at university. I spent £9000 a year and That Pedal Show are doing it better!
+Connor Godfrey Wow, thanks Connor!
Super interesting video! As a guitarist who's done lot's of playing and very little recording, this was a really informative eye-opening video.
This video let me understand two things:
A) I have to put more attention on how I mic my amp during my gigs;
B) Every review on TH-cam is highly influenced by micing technics (so maybe crap is not crap..);
Thank you guys! You're always great. I definitely have to buy a t-shirt.. :-)
+Daniele Rizzetto Incredible isn't it! The recording/post prod is (almost) everything. Thanks for watching!
Im fully on board with IR now... never thought i would but it definitely improved my live sound a lot. I had tried all, very happy pangeae owner now.
+Fabio Suenaga Incredible technology, and we'd say probably better than micing if you play heavier music with a really dense mix. For our kind of thing however - very traditional guitars and vintage style amps and music - you can't beat the sound of a mic on a proper amp. Thing is with a lot of modern heavy music, it's sooooo produced in terms of compression, EQ, quantising etc etc etc, I've been to a few recording sessions with modern bands and just been astounded at how much everything is manipulated. So traditional amps and mics are just a PITA in that situation. May as well do it all digitally from the top. For roots and more vintagey sounds, not so much. In my opinion (Mick here).
A general note for all: When using more than one mic remember to check your phase relationships gang. Especially with distance micing. (You could really hear it in this wonderful video when the dynamic and condenser were compared and summed during the distance and room micing sections) Cheers!
+Ed Pettersen Good shout Ed. We mention phase at the end. Obviously critically important to understand. Not just to make sure it's always in, but to know when it sounds cool out! Thanks for watching!
Absolutely! And one of the first things I learned as an engineer that could be helpful as well to those digging deeper (I know Dan knows this): Polarity is an electromagnetic concept. Phase is a relationship between waves. Rock on!!
YES! I'm ever so glad you mentioned phase at the end. throughout the video on the double mic'd bits I had this uneasy feeling inside that people were learning double mic'ing without learning about phase coherency! i was indeed screaming at the screen WHAT ABOUT THE PHAAAAASE!!!
+Ed Pettersen Mick knows this too.
Of course! I should have known!! g>
Finally someone agrees with me with the capacitor/ condenser mix up.
Very useful video! Esp. the bit at the end that show all the lead/rythm placement/panning combinations. My takeaways:
- It turns out my ears liked... a dynamic mic, right on the grill, just off axis. Surprise! But now I know *why* we all do it.
- Even better, same but also blend in a condenser a little further away.
- For a huge 70s rhythm sound: one close dynamic, one further condenser, each panned all the way L/R.
- The room x/y overheads didn't do much for me personally. But I'm sure that depends on the room.
Hey guys ivan here from mexico this videos was very helpfull for me, the all show es great congrats!!!
This episode bears a repeat while routed through the studio monitors or stereo speakers. Good episode, thanks guys!
+Brad R Absolutely. Headphones is where you really hear it all.. cheers!
What a great episode! I've always used dynamic mics, because I was told they were the best long ago. Now hearing this episode I really want a ribbon mic!!!!!
+Brandon Lewis Yeah, we're going to be using that mic a LOT more. Needs to be closer to the centre of the speaker for the sizzle, but man it's good! E906 has a nice bit of pronounced upper mid - great for live - but sometimes you don't want that. Thanks for watching!
Excellent video! Thank you for the effort.
+KOR No worries! Glad you liked it, thanks for watching!
Yes I've finally found the mythical episode where a loop is used to A/B test something!!! Just kidding, love you guys!
The intro was stunning
SM57 has pretty much been my go-to and haven't had any issues. Love 'em
+Jon Gauthier You and most of the rest of the world Jon. It's a classic for good reason!
That Pedal Show Don't I know it! Keep up the good work, Fellas! Love your show.
Brilliant idea having the Sennheiser on a moving caddy to demonstrate going inside/outside of the speaker cone.
Ohhhhhhhh it was the Room Mic! THAT'S what added all the sweetness, a bit of thickness and movement and loveliness to your show! That thing would've been solid gold for the Rotary episode...
(PS: You guys ever considered doing an episode about the Boss DS1 and variants? You've done the Tubescreamers so the DS1 seems like a logical next step...)
Very nice tones!
Great episode. I think people often forget the power of panning in a mix.
Great timing ! I just put the finishing touches on my home studio so have been experimenting with this. So far using an SM57 relatively close and a cascade fat head (great budget ribbon) a little distant. The room has an AkG perception in it. Getting interesting results. Love experimenting with this stuff. Great work guys ! Look into the Two Notes Torpedo CAB as well, excellent tool, especially when paired with a tube preamp like the Kingsley stuff (using effectrode personally)
Such a fine line....
The blues backing track sounds strikingly like John Mayer's "I'm Gonna Find Another You". Love it!
+Blake Larson Same chords, yep. :0)
Great vid guys, brings back memories of staying at my mate Pete Harwood's place (Guitarist of Morpheus Rising and guitar tech to Steve Rothery). He'd just got his mic set up on his cab exactly right and was very wary any time my slightly drunken form swayed towards the mics as it had taken him weeks to get them just right. He had a ribbon mic and an SM57. The mixed sound from the two was HUGE! Thinking about investing in the Senneheiser you use here, and possibly a cheaper ribbon mic, to experiment with recording my lovely little Epiphone Century Amp. Maybe next month though ;)
Great stuff! I've read that Jimmy Page actually mic-d up his amps from a different room(very ambient room) in parts of Zep ll to get a natural echo.