How do you guys mic your amps for club / bar gigs?

[jake5]

I always just run a SM57 placed just off the grill cloth kind of off center a bit...I'm no expert whatsoever on this though...and have been wanting to try something different.

Do any of you guys use two mics for club gigs? If so, how do you place them? Do you pan the channels left and right? Probably a dumbass question...again, this is not my forte. But I'm just thinking there's more I can do that just micing w/ one SM57.

Anyone?

Thanks,

Jake

 

[DGTCrazy]

The only dumb question is the one that isn't asked. That said, you've got to figure out what you'd like to achieve by using two mics on your cab in a Live situation. Or probably a better way to look at it.....what is it about the single mic tat isn't working for you? Trying something "different" may or may not help.

My only word of caution is that any time you enter a second mic into the picture, you add another layer of potential complications, particularly with Phase cancellation & ambient noise/bleed through potential. You're already getting a signal via your cab, then the mono signal via the mic, so a second mic may not accomplish a lot.

In the Studio, I like to mic the cab directly in front of the speaker just off axis of the cone, then use a Condensor mic a few feet away to pick up more of the room. But you can control the ambient noise in the studio....live...it would be a disaster of sorts.

If you're determined to try to get a Stereo type vibe on live events, you might want to try using a Line Out feature of an Attenuator (Rivera Rock Crusher has a cab sim out that works great), and then blend it with a mic on the cab. You don't have to use the Attenuation to use the Line Out FWIW.

 

[zep41]

We do not mic amps for club/bar shows. We only mic the kick drum and vocal.

Micing amps (for us) has proven to be a waste of time and energy in a small club, and to tell you the truth, I think the band sounds better. Less jumbled and more clear. Its seems like there is more "room" to the overall sound by not micing. In order to acheive this balance, we always place the amplifiers back further than the drum kit. That way the sound is going thru the drums and into the crowd. To ensure this, our lead guitar sound is set to slightly a bit louder than a snare hit, and the bass amp is set to be slightly louder than the onstage kick drum.

Please consider though, we run our amps pretty loud -- so that is actually mostly why it is pointless for us to mic.

 

[Dave Orban]

Vocals only, for most bar/small club shows. Hell, we don't even use monitors, as we are very adept at managing our volume with dynamics.

 

[Nurk2]

Beta 57. Off center on single 12" speaker. Amp off the ground. Pointed at my head. Can't imagine why you need two mics, unless you have two different amps running.

I know this appears really simple, but it is. Think about other things.

 

[sws1]

I always draped an e609 over the top of the cab, and put it mid cone. Didn't use alot in the PA, but enough to help spread the sound around.

I never could get an SM57 to sound anything but harsh (and borderline broken). The e609 captures exactly what I hear in the amp.

 

[27sauce]

Just north of the center of the cone with a 57

 

[greggorypeccary]

Hang a 609 over the cab. But I think I'm rarely put in the mix anyways, but it's there if we need it.

I really don't play that loud (I really try to not be that guy), but between drums and four horns I need a certain volume just to hear myself because I'd rather not muck up the monitors with guitar.

 

[NyteOwl]

Not like this...

I use an e906, either draped over the cab or in a short stand...

 

[62deluxe]

Vocals only for most gigs. If we are recording the gig (got a webcast coming up in Feb.), then it gets an e609 silver hung from the handle

 

[straticus]

I made a very small mark on the grill cloth that pinpoints where the mic should point. The spot was determined to be the best mic position for getting a good sound while recording in the studio and seems to work great live too. I just point an sm57 at that spot and call it good.

 

[dlab]

Whatever the sound guy lets me have.

Usually a 57 perpendicular to the speaker cone, off center and really close.

Unless they don't have a mic stand and decide to hang it off the top of the amp in which case the mic isn't really pointing at the speaker cone anymore.

 

[weshunter]

I always draped an e609 over the top of the cab, and put it mid cone. Didn't use alot in the PA, but enough to help spread the sound around.

I never could get an SM57 to sound anything but harsh (and borderline broken). The e609 captures exactly what I hear in the amp.

this is exactly it for me, except i always liked 57's too. the 609 is just so damn convenient!

 

[Ros]

I use a GLS Audio ES-57 at a 45 degree angle aimed at a spot about 1" from the edge of the bottom right 4x12 speaker in my cab.

-R.

 

[GCDEF]

Emulated line out on the amp.

 

[TimSt.L]

I was the only guitarist in the band for a long time. So I had a stereo rig. My pod had a left and right out so my right would go to a tube head and 4:12, then my left would go to a solid state head and 4:12 cab. I always used my own sm57's on the grill cloth and slightly off of the center of the speaker. And then I had the sound guy blend my channels at about 40%;60% on each. I noticed hard panning didn't work well with my rig. One was for lows and low mids, the other was for mids and highs.

 

[strumminsix]

e609 just ridding the outside of the dust cap. Which is what I suspect most people mean in this thread. Not being a jerk but calling things by the right name really helps with google searches.

 

[ggwwbb]

We do not mic amps for club/bar shows. We only mic the kick drum and vocal.

Micing amps (for us) has proven to be a waste of time and energy in a small club, and to tell you the truth, I think the band sounds better. Less jumbled and more clear. Its seems like there is more "room" to the overall sound by not micing.

Please consider though, we run our amps pretty loud -- so that is actually mostly why it is pointless for us to mic.

This is how we do it also.

 

[GulfportBound]

In a small club I don't mic. In a larger place, I'll set a mic about a full foot and a half in front of my amp; or, I'll tie a BandMaster 2x12 cabinet to the amp and set it on the opposite side of the bandstand . . .

 

[Luke V]

Everything mic'd every gig. e609 usually sometimes a 57, out toward the edge of the speaker.