Miking an amp
G'day Greg, Im not sure if this is the right topic for your forum really but i expect youll have some insight.
I have a 6x8" SJ2. at festivals, big stages where there is a separate system and everything is running to the PA, ive been having a mic on just one of the speakers. (I forgot there is a line out)
Do you think this would have a negative impact vs using the line out? i dont have any feedback concerns, i'm not meaning that angle. i mean on the quality of the signal going to the PA and limiting the FOH sound.
i've been really happy with the stage sound but i just heard a recording from FOH and it was awful. thin and weak, nothing like the fat strong sound im hearing on the stage. im wondering is it just a bad mix or is it possible the single 8" speaker is limiting the operators ability?
interested to hear your thoughts,
thanks,
Dave
thanks Greg.
i‘ll experiment this weekenD. We are gonna run our own PA and record our gig, so will run some experiments in the afternoon trying the lineout and a couple different mics/placement. This will be our last gig for a few months but will still be good info and recording will give us something to release over the period we aren’t playing live.
incidentally, one of the reasons we‘re Taking a break is my trip to USA. not sure if you’ll attend the Hill Country Harmonica event, but if so would be cool to say g’day.
if not, I’m heading to cali in late May and interested in picking up a few items you may be able to supplY. I’m not sure if you make ‘workshop door’ sales?
I will be at Hill Country Harmonica - I'll teach a class there on amps, mics and tone. Look forward to seeing you there!
Hi, Dave
Mic'ing an amp is a process loaded with variables. How far, what angle, in back or in front, what position relative to the speaker cone, and - if your amp has a blend of speaker types or sizes, which speaker? Every situation is different but you are indeed at the mercy of the sound guy to get it right unless you've done your own experimentation AND listened to what's coming out of the PA - hard to do (but a wireless syste can help with that if you're really interested.)
Line out circuits on amps are USUALLY driven directly from the post-output-transformer signal going to the speakers. This means they get very close to true sound the amp is making, including its electronic interaction with the speakers - i.e. everything but the individual speaker's personality. My Sonny Jr amps' line-outs are done this way but the 6x8 is before my time so I don't know about yours. SOME newer amps have a line out that comes from the preamp circuit and those definitely DON'T sound like the "whole amp."
Line out has a few advantages over mic'ing. Because there is no mic placement to be concerned about, it is consistent every time. And I've never seen an amp mic'd where the mic didn't get moved during performance. Maybe someone kicked it, maybe it bibrated away - I don't know. But they never stay in the same place (unless you hang them over the front of the amp.) Since the line-out circuit isn't "listening" to anything other than the amp it can't contribute to feedback problems, or pick up stage noise either. I've had very good house sound from my amps via the line out. I've found some sound people who insist on mic'ing, and others who love the line out. Some will even try both. But all you can do is trust them and hope they get it right unless you're willing to set up your own complete PA system, get out front and listen yourself. /Greg