So far we've looked at some basic gear: guitars, computers, amps and modelers. This week we get personal: microphones and proper and improper use!
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Basically, microphones are like ears. They HEAR the
So far we've looked at some basic gear: guitars, computers, amps and modelers. This week we get personal: microphones and proper and improper use!
Basically, microphones are like ears. They HEAR the sound. There are various types of microphones, and they are meant to have specific uses. However, this being the good old USA, we can do whatever the heck we want!
There are various types of mics available. The big three are dynamic, condenser and ribbon. Then there are the directional patterns, from omnidirectional to unidirectional to bidirectional.
Briefly: Omnidirectional captures sound in all directions. Cardioid patterns pickup sound mostly from the front, but a bit from the sides. Hypercardioid are very directional and mainly get just the signal. Bidirectional pickup the sound equally from the front and back.
Technical information over. It's time to see how we can use these guys to best capture the guitar!
Starting as simply as possible, we will rely on our old friend, the SM57. This mic can handle high volume, meaning LOUD amps. Or quiet ones too. Where you place the mic is what we need to see. Placing the mic on the outside edge of the speaker will give a darker sound (Photo 1 in the photo gallery below).
Placing it centered on the speaker will give a brighter sound (Photo 2 in the photo gallery below). One is not better than the other, just different. Use your ears. A great idea might be to double a rhythm track and move the mic for each track, pan one left and right and each guitar will have a subtle identity shift.
Now how about distance? The old maxim is, distance equals depth. It's basic physics and it is true.