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[M462]Microphone For Recording Guitar

by Ian Marples, Ian

Most microphones in use today for audio use electromagnetic generation (dynamic microphones), capacitance change (condenser microphones) or piezoelectric generation to produce the signal from mechanical vibration.

What are the differences between the types of microphones available? Well, that's what we'll be looking at in this article.

There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to the sound you get from your microphone, not only in terms of price and quality, but also where you actually place the mic in relation to your amplifier.

Whilst the chances of getting a great recording are consistently better with a high quality microphone, price and quality do not always match. However, with that said, when it comes to high quality recording, the most important part of the entire process is the original sound source. If you're original sound from the microphone is good to begin with it will generally have fewer problems at later stages when you are mixing.

Dynamic Microphones -

Most people's first microphone is a dynamic one. They're simple, versatile and they generally sound quite good on everything from voices to guitar amps and brass instruments. Also, dynamic microphones are usually cheaper than condenser microphones (which we will look at next?)

Dynamic mics are usually cardioid or hyper cardioid in their polar pattern, which means that they only pick up the sound that's coming at them from the direction in which they're pointing.

Dynamic microphones can be great for use at home as they tend to reject a lot of background sounds like the noise of traffic outside your house. Once you start using a quality microphone, you won't believe how noisy your home studio room can be. Dynamic microphones also have a high SPL, which stand for sound pressure level, this means they are perfect for pointing at loud amplifiers.

Condenser Microphones -

Condenser mics are generally more expensive than dynamic microphones; however they do share a lot of the same characteristics.

You'll find that a lot of condenser microphones are used when recording vocals. Most artists record vocals through a large diaphragm condenser microphone because they are a little less harsh than a dynamic mic, can be smoother sounding and have a broader frequency range.

Condenser microphones may not be entirely suitable for use in an ordinary house as they could well receive sound from televisions, neighbours or sounds from the streets.

Some condenser mics have a cardioid polar response while others have an omni-directional pattern. This means that they pick up sound equally from all directions. What's great about some condenser microphones is that they have switch-able polar patterns. This means they can be cardioid, hyper-cardioid or super cardioid like a dynamic microphone, but can also be figure 8, which means it'll accept sound from the front and back, or omni, meaning it will accept sound from all round.

You can find some great condenser mics for $150 - $250, which will serve most home recording needs. There are absolutely tons on the market, even at the lower end of the price range.

Another factor to take into consideration is that condenser mics require power to operate. Some will take an internal battery but others need to be powered remotely from the mixing desk. This is done through a power source called Phantom Power.

The biggest problem with many amateur guitarists is poor tone, and that's the first thing you might want to correct before you start placing a microphone for recording. Get down and listen to your amp and guitar combination on microphone level - that is where the microphone would be placed when recording. Adjust your tone so that you're happy with it, but remember one thing: the low-end will be increased with a microphone placed close to the source, which is known as proximity effect.

Like any other piece of kit, the same microphone can give tremendously different results depending on how it is used. To get the sound you are looking for takes a bit of expertise and a lot of experimenting. Even the best microphones available can sound “boomy” and unusable if not used correctly.

So, is microphone placement an art or a science? Well, it's a little of both, but often just a matter of experimenting until you hear something you like.

To begin with, get a flashlight and press it against the cloth on your amplifier. This is to locate the centre of your speaker cone, once you've located the centre, mark it with a pen or some chalk. Next mark the edge of the speaker.

Take your microphone and stand it perpendicular to your amplifier at a 90-degree angle and point it at the centre mark you made earlier, this is known as on axis. Do some recording and listen to the sound files. You'll find that the sound is aggressive, tremble filled, and maybe a little harsh.

Now move the microphone to the second, outer mark you made. Again, record some tracks and listen to the results. You'll notice that the sound is a lot mellower than the first with less high end, however can sound a little dull or muddy.

The next step is to do a third recording with the microphone boom moved in on an angle between the points you made, this is known as off axis. This sound is a mixture of the two, not as aggressive as the first however not as dull as the second. Re-listen to the recordings and see what you like.

From here it is really all about experimenting until something grabs you, use on and off axis positions, use different parts of the speaker. It's important to get the initial sound as you like, as it's something less to worry about later with an eq, as sometimes you may not be able to fix it.

You might also try using two microphones on your amp - one close up and one farther back and mix and match the two. You also need to remember, when running your amp in a recording situation, recording it at the highest volume possible while still achieving your desired tone is really recommended.

But, how can you really blast your amp without annoying the neighbours? Well that's where something called an isolation box comes in useful. Take a look at my article on Isolation Boxes.

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About Author

Both Ian Marples & Richard Marples are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Ian Marples has sinced written about articles on various topics from Guide Guitar. Ian Marples has been playing guitar for over 10 years, and now runs the website http://www.uncleslinky.co.uk to help other guitarists learn how to succesfully record music at home.For similar information to this article subscribe to his FREE Newsletter by. Ian Marples's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.

Richard Marples has sinced written about articles on various topics from Guide Guitar, Entertainment Guide. . Richard Marples's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.