Mic placement when Mic-ing an amp

[John Macy]

[Dale Rottacker]

I was just thinking back about all the steel players I have recorded over the years including Lloyd Green, Jay Dee Maness, Buddy Emmons, Paul Franklin, Sonny Garrish, John Hughey, Jimmie Crawford, Dan Dugmore, Bruce Bouton and others, and realized I never moved a microphone from its initial placement at the session. Upon listening to playback, I never had a request for something different. The vast majority of those sessions utilized a Sennheiser 421 (though some had others and a few were direct). The mic would have been placed about halfway between the center and the edge of the speaker. Just a thought.

Interesting information John. I never move my Mic around either, also a 421, but usually pointed more at the edge of the dust cover... NOW I may move, though with my tin ear, fairly pleased with what I'm getting where it's at.

[Dan Kelly]

John... That is interesting. Maybe this rabbit hole is not worth exploring. "Just Mic It!"

How far from the speaker are you placing the mic?

[John Macy]

Dale, if it sounds right, it is right! And usually about 4-6” off the grill.