The importance of positioning...

[Tony Ramone]

OK, like a lot of newbies, I had read up a small bit on recording before I got started, but being the impatient type, when it came to recording my electric guitar, I just slapped my sm57 in the position that seemed to be most favoured in the articles I'd read - i.e. about halfway to the edge of the cone, angled about 45 degrees toward the centre - and started trying to record songs.
This weekend, however, I decided to actually play around with different positions to see how much difference the mic position actually makes, and frankly, I was astounded at the results.
I had read that you might capture a different tone at different places, but I never realised how big the difference could be.
In the first clip I've submitted, there are 5 different positions, all recorded with a sm57:
centre of the cone,
halfway to the edge at 90 degrees,
same point but at 45(ish) degrees,
edge of the cone at 90 degrees
and finally the same point but at 45(ish) degrees.
I'm sure those of you who've been at this for a while can probably figure out immediately which is which

(I should add at this point that I've put a HPF on all the samples at about 150Hz to remove a really low rumble in there - is that the proximity effect, or the fact that the cab was facing the wall?)

This is just the beginning - I'm sure that I could probably fill the entire server here with recordings at different points and at different distances, but for right now I was just testing the sound right up against the grille cloth. Even so, after I had gone to bed after doing this, I thought of at least one more position, then more kept popping into my head.

Basically, I just want to post this as a lesson to newcomers to the recording game - don't be impatient: test your mics at different places - you'll be amazed at the difference.

I decided while I was experimenting, to try out some different mics too. I recently got myself a drum mic kit (I know, I know, but it was half price - 7 mics for €100? Would you pass it up?), and I wanted to see how those mics would sound on a guitar cab (I also wanted to make sure they were working).
In the second clip, I've got recordings from 3 different mics, all at the centre of the cone.

One is the sm57 again,
another is one of the snare/tom mics (basic dynamic mic) - I would have tested all four but it was really late,
the third is one of the overhead condensers.

I would have tried the kick mic as well, but I need to rig something up to mount it properly, since it doesn't have a proper mic clip (yet).
On listening back to the samples, I immediately discounted the possibility of ever using the overhead mic on distorted guitar - it just sounds horrible. I'm thinking though that maybe I was putting it too close (it wasn't up against the grille like the other two, but maybe the few inches weren't enough). Even after a HPF at about 150Hz, theres still some horrible rumbling going on there.
However, I did find that I actually like the sound of the snare/tom mic more than the 57. I'm not sure why but it just sounds nicer to my ears (I listen to a lot of horrible "music" )

So there you have it ladies and gents - mic choice and position are a lot more important than you might first imagine when you get started. Don't make my mistake - test every possible combination before you ever try to record a song.

Fat Tony out...

[brandondrury]

Thakns for taking the time to post this! This is a great example of the important of mic placement.

You can also check out some more extreme examples here:Electric Guitar Microphone Shootout

[Tony Ramone]

No problem - I'm just trying to give back to the community that's helped me so much.

I was hoping that less experienced people than yourself would check it out though - you already know all this stuff

Maybe I should have titled it "Newbies Read This Now!"... Ah well...

[brandondrury]

I'll make a mention of it in the next Newsletter. That'll get some attention.

I've been thinking of ways that I may need to reorganize the site. I'll keep your suggestion in mind.

Brandon

[Tony Ramone]

Wow, thanks. I wasn't expecting that - I was just moaning as usual (I spent the weekend in london surrounded by goths - misery central ... "why is no one paying attention to me?!?!")

[1DC]

Thanks for the post, I do mostly live stuff, and recently was faced with a musician who alternated playing an accoustic and a resonator sitting down (no shoulder strap no pickups), and standing, singing, playing bass. I had to experiment with different mics and placement to make it work and sound good for both of us.