Recording Volume

[Padams4]

Justin - Quick question about recording. I usually just use a demeter di but want to start adding a mic'ed track. Just can't get a great sound and wondering what volume you usually record your amp track at? Using P bass through Boogie 400+ and a Boogie 4x12 cab - have tried sm57 and 421's but it just isn't cutting it (to my ears).

Thanks

PA

[bassman1185]

What specifically isn't working for you with the mics that you have tried? Not enough low end?

[JimmyM]

Experiment around with both mics and placement. Personally, I like it dead in the middle of a cone to get max brightness, but you can get a really warm dark sound (if that's your thing) by micing off axis. Basically you set the cab to how you like it to sound, then you move the mic around until you hit the sweet spot for you. And if it doesn't work out for you, hey, you got the Demeter...that ain't hay!

[Padams4]

Thanks for the response. In particular the mic'ed track does not sound up front (if that makes sense). Almost as if it is capturing the room ambient sound more than the sound that I hear coming out of the speaker. Not sure I am explaining correctly.

PA

[Padams4]

Also - I am playing at the volume the band would typically play at (which is fairly loud). Master 5-6 Channel 3-4 on the Boogie 400+

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Padams4

Thanks for the response. In particular the mic'ed track does not sound up front (if that makes sense). Almost as if it is capturing the room ambient sound more than the sound that I hear coming out of the speaker. Not sure I am explaining correctly.

PA

There are all sorts of things that could cause that, but without knowing what you have and what your room sounds like, it's hard for me to know what's going on. Maybe Justin or one of the other studio gurus would, but even for them it would be educated guesses, albeit more educated than mine. Try getting closer on the cab, try putting something behind the mic to baffle out room noise, you just have to experiment around till you hit the right thing.

[IB3K]

I'm certainly not JMJ, and I'm much more familiar with little Ampegs than big Boogies, and I don't really record in this way that much anymore with modeling available to me. OK if anything still applies, then this is how I do what you are doing with what I've got.

I would just use my U5 DI and Ampeg B-15. I would use your Senn 421 (better yet a Neumann U47 tube), about 4 inches away and either straight on or just slightly off center.

Volume is going to be dependent on the room dynamics and what you want to get (kind of like mic placement). Along those lines, for me, if there are any other musicians in the room, or if the room is somewhat big I would go to an iso booth or definitely baffle it off. If you can't isolate at the moment you can always use a clean DI signal and record back through an amp at a later time (using the cue system). I hope this helped in some way.

PS Thanks JMJ for allowing us to come into this little section of your world. It's cool to read how you do stuff and approach the craft.

[jmjbassplayer]

Yeah, you need to "doghouse" the amp a bit. Even a 57 has a pattern that gets sound from the sides of the capsule. So you need to think about building a little chamber with thick foam and packing blankets around the cab. Try moving the mic around a bunch. Also, get your deepest fundamentals from the DI. Don't plan on getting that stuff from the mic. What you want is mids, highs and the resultant character. As well as some low-end wool of course, but not the real beef. That way, when you blend the mic and DI you'll have less phase issues on the bottom. So try messing with your amp gain and eq to get a sound like that.

JMJ

[Padams4]

Thanks all for the input - suggestions on building isolation?

PA

[jmjbassplayer]

suggestions? Just go for it. Get some crappy wood and put very thick foam on it, both sides, I'd say. That's your walls. Then prop that up, cover it with giant foam pieces or a gang of packing blankets. Don't get too mathematical about it, just throw stuff together.

[JimmyM]

With a cab that big, I'd consider moving it out of the main room altogether and putting it in a room with nothing else if you're going to crank it. You can keep your head in the main room and run a longer speaker cable. But if that's not possible, I've found that you can make a nice little iso tent on the fly using moving blankets or old quilts and mic stands.

[Padams4]

Perfect - Thanks for the suggestions. Will try it this weekend.

PA