[Harp-L] micing amp

[Cl...@aol.com]

Hi,

What would be the better mic for micing a four speaker amp through a PA?
A Shure SM 57 or a SM 58 ?

Thanks,

Chris Mastakas

[Timothy Kane]

A four speaker? Normally I'd go with a 57 pointed directly at the speaker face over the 58. Unidirectional polarity will cut back on other on-stage sound it picks up and reduce the risk of feedback.

But I dunno about a 4 cab. I've found that the best mic for this application is the Sennheiser e906. It was designed for this purpose and has great response.

Hawkeye Kane
I'm mobile and lovin' it!
Sent from my Android

[The Iceman]

I approach these issues perhaps a bit differently.

1. If amp has 4 speakers that are the same, I assume that the sound from each speaker is equal to any of the others.
2. Therefore, I would only consider micing 1 speaker and not worry about all 4
3. I will place the mic facing the center of 1 speaker and listen to the result through the PA. Then I will place the mic facing closer to the edge of the speaker and listen to this through the PA.

If memory serves me correct, I found that I liked the sound from the edge of the speaker more. I also don't place it right up almost against the speaker, but leave 1/2 foot space or so.

As to which mic, try one of each. I know the 58 has a proximity effect, enhancing the bass frequencies the closer you get to it - especially for vocals.

Spend a little time, close your eyes and listen.

Decide which sounds best to you.

[Mike Fugazzi]

57 off axis on a stand. 58 if that is all you had. e906 if you are
ballsy...it is meant to be draped. I've had one for years.

[Bluz...@aol.com]

Chris, the SM57 is made specifically for the use you mentioned, it is a
much better choice to mic an amp.

The SM58 is a vocal mic, it has a pop filter for plosives', the popping P
sounds from a vocalist, because of that it filters some sounds from amps
and instruments that you want to preserve. The ball on the 58 makes it
impossible to place the mic element as close to the speaker as you can with a
57, so the 58 can pick up more unwanted sounds from the room when used this
way.


With a cardioid pattern mic like a 57 or 58 you will also pick up some
sound from directly behind the mic. Be sure it is not pointed at a stage
monitor, the back of another amp, a humming neon sign, cooling fans on a PA amp
or any other source of sound.

When you mic a 4-10 or other multiple speaker cabinet, mic the speaker
toward the inside of the cabinet adjacent to another speaker. Micing towards
the outside of the cabinet allows a higher amount unwanted ambient noise to
be picked up. Mic dead center on a speaker cone and you will get a trebly
sound that most people do not like, most prefer the mic positioned at
least half way out toward the rim. I've seen sound 'tech's' point the mic at
the center of a 4-10 cabinet, directly at the baffle board... don't do that!
Most people want the mic as close to the speaker grill as possible
without touching the grill itself. This is the best way to reduce the amount of
ambient sound from that mic channel, but, there are a dozen+ different ways
to mic something, all have their merits and drawbacks.

Christopher Richards
Twin Tone Harmonica Microphones
www. harmonicaplanet.com

In a message dated 3/2/2012 10:53:47 A.M. Mountain Standard Time,
harp-l-...@harp-l.org writes:What would be the better mic for micing a four

[Lare Sattler]

The Shure 57 and 58 are basically the same mic with a different head. Either work well when micing an amp and although you often see them hanging over the top of an amp, they don't pick the sound up properly unless set in front, which means a stand of some sort. I decided to try a Sennheiser e606, which is in the same price range ( I got mine for $60 on ebay), because they are a flat design which can hang over and be in a perfect position for the right sound. I don't play big enough clubs to need it often, but it has done a great job when used.
Lare Sattler     The Little Chicago Band     Canton Ohio

[Mund...@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/2/2012 5:39:32 P.M. GMT Standard Time, Chris Mastakas
asks:

<<What would be the better mic for micing a four speaker amp through a
PA?
A Shure SM 57 or a SM 58 ? >>

Either will work fine, but in my experience an SM 57 will work slighty
better. I would put the mic on a stand and aim it from the front of the
cabinet, at one of the loud speakers, off center. That is not directly at the
speaker cone.

Best wishes

John "Whiteboy" Walden
(Just now in Glasgow Scotland)

[Tom Ball]

Chris Mastakas asked:

What would be the better mic for micing a four speaker amp through
a PA? A Shure SM 57 or a SM 58 ?

----
I'd try the SM58 first. Being more omni-directional, it''ll pick up
all four speakers better. Having said that, though, the SM58's
omni-directionality could also lead to more feedback... If you find
yourself feeding, you might want to (A) experiment with the amp
placement; (B) experiment with the mic placement; (C) experiment with
the amp's volume. If you still feed, go to the more directional
SM57. If you *still* feed, turn the amp down and the PA channel up.
And if you STILL feed, order a very tall beer. :)

cheers,
Tom Ball

[Bob McGraw]

I've always been told that the 57 is the better choice for micing an
amp.
WVa Bob

Sent from my iPhone

[Mojo Red]

I'd definitively go with the SM 57. Less feedback. Point it directly at the amp, don't hang over the front.

Harpin' in Colo.
--Ken M.

________________________________
From: "Cl...@aol.com" <Cl...@aol.com>
To: har...@harp-l.org
Sent: Friday, March 2, 2012 10:35 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] micing amp

[Richard Hunter]

Tom Ball wrote:
<Chris Mastakas asked:

<What would be the better mic for micing a four speaker amp through
<a PA? A Shure SM 57 or a SM 58 ?

<----
<I'd try the SM58 first. Being more omni-directional, it''ll pick up
<all four speakers better. Having said that, though, the SM58's
<omni-directionality could also lead to more feedback...

Tom, I double-checked this against Shure's site, and here's how they describe the SM58:
A unidirectional (cardioid) pickup pattern isolates the main sound source while minimizing unwanted background noise.

I believe you may have been thinking of the SphereOdyne, which is an omni mic and looks something like the SM58. In any case, the SM58, like the SM57, is a uni-directional mic, meaning basically that it's listening to what's directly in front of it; any sound from the back or sides is only going to be picked up if it's reflected off something that's directly in front of the mic. If you stick an SM57 or 58 an inch in front of one of the speakers in a 4-way cabinet, it's not going to hear much of anything the other speakers put out. Which is fine, because as a previous post noted, the sound from each of those speakers is going to be pretty much the same. (Unless you're using a Sonny Junior amp--Sonny uses mixed speaker types in his designs. But Sonny also gives you a line out, which in my opinion is a better choice for bigging up the sound than micing the amp.)

Regarding my opinion on the 57 vs. 58 issue, if you're micing a speaker cab, the SM57 is a better solution, mainly because (as per another comment on this thread) the 58's pop filter will filter out frequencies that you don't want to lose.

Regards, Richard Hunter

author, "Jazz Harp"
latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com
Myspace http://myspace.com/richardhunterharp
Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
more mp3s at http://taxi.com/rhunter
Twitter: lightninrick

[Tom Ball]

Richard Hunter wrote:
I believe you may have been thinking of the SphereOdyne, which is an

omni mic and looks something like the SM58....
--------
You're right, Richard -- I stand corrected.
thanks & cheers,
Tom

[Splash!]

I'd prefer the 57 and you can only mic one speaker. Aim the mic about
half-way from the center of the speaker to the outer edge of the cone. If
you want to get really picky, place the mic as far away from the OT as
possible to minimize inductive reactance. For example, on a tweed Bassman
looking at the amp from the audience, lower right speaker toward the lower
right corner. OT is on the chassis (of course) a bit to the left.

When life asks you to jump in...
Splash!