So I'm looking to get a mic to do some bedroom recordings. So obviously I'm gonna be recording at fairly low volumes, and with high gain (early metal type stuff). But I also need something that can handle a very clean, warm channel.
What would you recommend as a good budget option for someone like me?
I think for most purposes it's hard to beat an SM-57 or something similar to it.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
I don't care for the Shure SM57 for vocals. I like them for amps and instruments. every studio has them.
Yep, the standard for micing amps is the SM57. Other popular choices are the sennheiser 609 and Audix i5.
But most ppl recommend the 57 anyways...it's such an industry standard that it will always be worthwhile to have lying around.
Death and the Maiden - Guitars Playing String Quartets
So I'm looking to get a mic to do some bedroom recordings. So obviously I'm gonna be recording at fairly low volumes, and with high gain (early metal type stuff). But I also need something that can handle a very clean, warm channel.
What would you recommend as a good budget option for someone like me?
A 57 is always a good option for guitar amps, especially the heavier stuff. For warm cleans I like the Audio Technica AT-2020. Nice sounding mic for a stupid cheap price.
If you plan on just cranking the gain to record metal, don't be surprised when you get wimpy, buzzy sounding guitars. Most heavy stuff is recorded with far less gain than you think. A microphone one inch from the speaker isn't hearing the same thing you are 6 feet away in the room.
Here's a spot with the "bible" of recording heavy guitar: Bad Mucking Fastard: Recording Distorted Guitars From Hell. Language Advisory: Slipperman is a foul-mouthed, hilariously funny, East Coast recording engineer. Beware of F-bombs
Playing guitar and never playing for others is like studying medicine and never working in a clinic.
So I'm looking to get a mic to do some bedroom recordings. So obviously I'm gonna be recording at fairly low volumes, and with high gain (early metal type stuff). But I also need something that can handle a very clean, warm channel.
What would you recommend as a good budget option for someone like me?
A 57 is always a good option for guitar amps, especially the heavier stuff. For warm cleans I like the Audio Technica AT-2020. Nice sounding mic for a stupid cheap price.
If you plan on just cranking the gain to record metal, don't be surprised when you get wimpy, buzzy sounding guitars. Most heavy stuff is recorded with far less gain than you think. A microphone one inch from the speaker isn't hearing the same thing you are 6 feet away in the room.
Here's a spot with the "bible" of recording heavy guitar: Bad Mucking Fastard: Recording Distorted Guitars From Hell. Language Advisory: Slipperman is a foul-mouthed, hilariously funny, East Coast recording engineer. Beware of F-bombs
Yeah I definitely know what you mean about how much gain is actually used in most metal recordings, compared to the perception of what a metal sound is. Maybe because when you add some pounding drums, another guitar and a bass, you don't need such massive overbearing gain to create metal sound. Just when people sit in their bedroom on their own they think they do.
The SM57 was the main one I was considering. Just wanted to make sure there wasnt a much better option for metal.
Well, if you want a really good mic for a great price, the Behringer XM8500 is unbeatable in my opinion. I own four of these and they are awesome. I also own several Shure SM58s which is the standard in vocal mics. In my opinion, the Behringer is BETTER. But don't believe me, read the reviews.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-XM8500-Microphone?sku=270490
Now this mic is made for vocals, but you can mic instruments or your guitar amp with it and it works perfectly well.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
