how to find out what works best?

[bradex]

Hello so Ive read a lot of these threads and whenever someone asks about mic placement or what mic they should use or questions asking what sounds best. People will tell them to go test it out for themselves and you will figure it out cause there's a different right answer for everyone. I finaly get what they need and understand what i have to do.

My question now is how should i go about finding what sounds best when im trying out my mics for whatever i need them for? for example if im micing my acoustic guitar should i just set up 1 or 2 mics ware they look like right and record something then see how it sounds and then just keep adjusting the position of the mics till i find the sound i like? or should i plug my head phones into the mixer and listen through there? or any other strategies you guys can tell me i will greatly appreciate it!

[Vulconizer]

This is going to sound wishy-washy, but :

Try both approaches. One after the other. See which fits your style the best and works for you.

Set out 1 mic at first. Record it. Listen back. Move until you hit your sweet spot. ( um, that didn't come out right at ALL. ) Try adding another mic if you feel it will work with what you want to hear. This is a time-consuming task, but it's worth it if it gets you the sound you want.

Listen through headphones and move the mic(s) around. I think this is a bit tougher as you're prolly gonna get a bit of the actual instrument leaking into the headphones alongside the mic sound, unless you have some headphones that provide great isolation. This may color your judgement of the sound that is actually coming through the mic(s). Record a bit and see what you come up with.

Have fun with it. Pretend you're a mad scientist and you are experimenting with getting the perfect sound in order to dominate the world with kick-ass music. An occasional evil laugh just makes it that much better...

[brandondrury]

Have fun with it. Pretend you're a mad scientist and you are experimenting with getting the perfect sound in order to dominate the world with kick-ass music. An occasional evil laugh just makes it that much better...

BINGO!!!! This is the single most important part.

I hate to break it to you, but I'm searching for the ideal mic placement each and every time. I've officially recorded more than 1,000 songs now. It's taken me 7+ years. Just yesterday I recorded an acoustic guitar and I took a good 20 minutes to play with mic placement. Why? Because that IS the process. Engineering isn't remembering a formula, it's doing whatever it takes to get the desired tone.

So enjoy the process of finding it. If you don't enjoy the pursuit of great sounds, then you may be more comfortable writing and performing the songs and paying someone who is excited about the engineering process to do it.

I think a lot of people make it a chore and don't realize how much fun it can be if you take the right attitude.

As for the "mad scientist" thing I do that in EVERYTHING in life. If I walk my dog, I laugh like a mad scientist. If I buy Fritos at the grocery store, I laugh like a mad scientists! Try it!

should i plug my head phones into the mixer and listen through there?

If you've got headphones you can trust, this is a good way to go. These days I listen quite a bit in my headphones first and record a little something. Then I listen back on the monitors. If it sounds good on both, it's time to rock.

Brandon