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recording crunch/dirty channel

SteveMurraySteveMurray Posts: 66
edited September 2004 in Musicians and Gearheads
Guys im having real trouble getting the same crisp recording sound that i get when i record the clean channel... It sounds really muffled and all the great tone is lost.

I have tried adjusting levels on both Amp and Mixer but cant seem to get it right, Is this a microphone problem?

oh and im using a marshall JCM800 combo amp with a pretty basic $50 microphone that does clean channel really crisp and clear though
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • eCioeCio Posts: 23
    this is a mic problem, it doesn't have the proper dynamic range to record the crunch channel, you need to get a better mc for that or you can look around the web for tricks how to record with a simple mic, I face the same problem and someone told me i need to make an acoustic housig for the mic and place it as near as i can to the center of the speaker, don't know if this is worth something, havn't tried....
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    try some different positions relative to the speaker cone as well.

    i've found it difficult to get a good sound as well. mic'ing is tough.

    there are lots of guides like this out there.

    http://members.tripod.com/~Pullpud/microphones.html

    i currently just use an sm57. i may try something else though soon.
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    For the short-term, try this:

    Put the mic facing straight into the center of the speaker cone, directly on-axis with the speaker. Position it about 8 inches away from the grillcloth.

    I'd also recommend looking for a better microphone. The SM57 is the best basic mic you can own, everyone should have one. It usually runs around $80-90, so it's not going to break your budget. They're great for any drums or percussion, for guitar and bass amps, for vocals, etc. They're just a great workhorse mic.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • SteveMurraySteveMurray Posts: 66
    cheers for the advice, i tried positioning the mic in the centre of the speaker cones and this was a big improvment, i was always positioning the mic right in between the two speakers on the amp.

    But its still nothing too great i'll have a shop around and see if i can track down someone who sells the SM57 mic in australia
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    Originally posted by Voiceless
    But its still nothing too great i'll have a shop around and see if i can track down someone who sells the SM57 mic in australia


    It should be an easy mic to find. Shure SM57. Shure is the #1 microphone manufacturer in the world, so you should be able to find one. If nothing else, maybe eBay?
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    hey mig,

    i have two 57s. got a nifty idea for miking a 1x12" open back?
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    Originally posted by exhausted
    i have two 57s. got a nifty idea for miking a 1x12" open back?

    Some folks love the open-back 2-mic option. Here's how it's done:

    Place one mic front and center, on-axis with the cone. Keep it as close to the grillcloth as possible.

    Place the other mic in the back, off-center (around the magnet), but pointed straight forward (on axis with the speaker). Get it up close to the speaker frame, but not TOO close.

    You'll need to phase-reverse the rear microphone, or alter the phase once it's in ProTools. This is done because, when the speaker cone is pushing into the front mic, it is pulling away from the rear mic, so the signals from the two mics will cancel each other out a bit unless they're out of phase with each other. You can try some different things with phase here, to give it a funky tone, too. If you had a way to program the phase in ProTools (I never got that deep in the program) to vary between 0 degrees and 180 degrees, and then occilate between them, you could create your own phase shifter. Makes for a damn cool stereo effect. But play around with the mic placement, stereo image, blend between mics, etc. My tips are a great starting point, but try different things.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    awesome. thanks dude. i'll give some of that a shot when i get back next week. i've got a 4 day weekend coming up and my wife's going to be out of town so i'm going to in the basement for many hours.
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    Originally posted by exhausted
    i've got a 4 day weekend coming up and my wife's going to be out of town so i'm going to in the basement for many hours.


    Cheetos, Molson, pizza, porn, and ProTools....


    My kinda weekend.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • evolution10evolution10 Posts: 76
    It does sound like a mic problem. Have you messed with the tone on your amp and guitar. That'll make a big difference too.
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