| Author |
Topic: MIking a Nashville 400 versus running it out the Preamp out. |
David Cook
From:
Florida, USA
|
Posted 17 Nov 2009 7:19 pm |
|
Hi, I played a big outdoor stage the other day and used the Preamp out to the big PA. This was the first time I had done this, I usually mike the amp. It sounded very bright and I don't know what it sounded like out front. Do most people mike their amps? I had heard a live recording of a local steel player who went direct out from his Nashville 112. He sounded great. My sound on the live recordings was somewhat muffled when I had used a microphone on the amp. I know that there are a lot of factors involved.
Thanks, David |
|
|
|
Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
|
Posted 17 Nov 2009 9:57 pm
|
|
| Roll off the highs when you go direct. That's what the "speaker and mic" set-up do. |
|
|
|
Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
|
Posted 18 Nov 2009 6:04 am
|
|
I honestly don't know of a single classic steel guitar recording of what people consider to be a great tone that was done without miking the speaker. Direct outs may be handy in a pinch, but man I've never ever preferred that sound over the sound of a mic well positioned on a real speaker moving real air. To me, the speaker is part of the overall instrument. To bypass that by going direct just seems wrong.
Brad |
|
|
|
Clyde Mattocks
From:
Kinston, North Carolina, USA
|
Posted 18 Nov 2009 8:10 am
|
|
I agree that the mic'd sound is what I prefer, however I play a theater Christmas show and they insist on using the line out on the amps. I'll have to admit that when I hear recordings of the show back, it sounds pretty good. It is noticebly brighter than I expect, but in a way it helps the steel stand out in the mix, without being too loud.
Their reasoning is that because so many performers are wearing wireless mics, it cuts down on extraneous noise from would be open mics on the instruments.
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 18 Nov 2009 9:08 am
|
|
| Peavey sells a very nice DI box that connects between the amp and speaker. Could take care of your problem. |
|
|
|
Jonathan Cullifer
From:
Gallatin, TN
|
Posted 19 Nov 2009 7:44 am
|
|
It's easy to set a NV400 so that it's too muffled mic'd. The bass needs to be way down from where you think it needs to be, as I learned from several big gigs I did.
In addition to sound reasons, I also prefer miking amps because it eliminates the possibility of ground loops between my equipment and the sound system. |
|
|
|
Bryan Daste
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
|
Posted 19 Nov 2009 9:08 am
|
|
| Yeah, you spend all that time tweaking your tone, and that includes your speaker. It's a big part of your sound. |
|
|
|
Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
|
Posted 19 Nov 2009 6:07 pm
|
|
| Jonathan Cullifer wrote: |
| It's easy to set a NV400 so that it's too muffled mic'd. The bass needs to be way down from where you think it needs to be, as I learned from several big gigs I did. |
Good soundmen understand proximity effect and know that close miking a speaker will create a huge and un-natural bass boost. That added to the fact that steel guitar often also has a bass boost can make for a very muddy or muffled, overly-bassy sound. But a good soundman will know to use the hi-pass filter on the mixer and will also be conscious to pay attention to the low end of the steel and make sure it's clearly out of the way of bass instruments. Also, good mic placement goes a long way when it comes to best capturing the sweet, clear treble and midrange of steel guitar. Just an inch or 2 in the wrong direction on a speaker cone can make all the difference.
Brad |
|
|
|
Jonathan Cullifer
From:
Gallatin, TN
|
Posted 19 Nov 2009 10:03 pm
|
|
That's absolutely true, Brad. It pains me to watch sound guys mike my steel amps like guitar amps, and it pains me even more when I listen through monitors only to find out that there's no clarity or dynamic range.
What's sadder is that in Nashville of all places, I'd expect people to know better. |
|
|
|
David Cook
From:
Florida, USA
|
Posted 20 Nov 2009 5:09 am
|
|
| Thanks so much for all the replies. Where is the sweet spot for mic placement? |
|
|
|
Tom Wolverton
From:
Carpinteria, CA
|
Posted 20 Nov 2009 9:56 am mic placement on speaker
|
|
The old sweet spot rule was half-way between the center of the speaker and the rim. But I'll bet there's a refinement to this for steel.
_________________
To write with a broken pencil is pointless. |
|
|
|
Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
|
Posted 20 Nov 2009 1:19 pm
|
|
Brad I totally agree with you. On bigger gigs, I have a very short floor mic stand and my trusty Shure SM 57 ...can't beat that.
Micky Byrne United Kingdom |
|
|
|
Johnny Thomasson
From:
Texas, USA
|
Posted 20 Nov 2009 6:41 pm The Sweet Spot
|
|
Same here, with the mic about 15 degrees off axis. And I've tried several considerably more expensive mics that I didn't like nearly as well as an SM-57. Works great live and in the studio. I've never been able to achieve as good a result with a line out on any amp.
I don't know if most people mic their amps, but the better bands that I've played with mic'd everything, regardless of venue size. Not necessarily for the added volume, but to achieve a consistent mix.
_________________
Johnny Thomasson |
|
|
|
