Richard Marples has over 10 years experience of playing and recording guitar, and also hosts a website exaplaining how you can record at home. If you enjoyed this article on Home Recording then you can get more free tips at =>
www.uncleslinky.co.uk
Posts Tagged Guitar
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The Best Speakers For Listening To Music And Playing The Guitar?
I just want to know what can i buy, so it would be an ideal choice for music (especially at low level), but still good enough for playing the guitar at.
Or maybe, what is the difference between a good speaker for music and one for guitar?
I have found bose 201 v, but i don’t really know what details should i care about..
P.S: My budget is under 260$
The Art of Microphone Placement When Recording Guitar
Posted by admin in Microphones on October 21st, 2009
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.
How Microphone Polar Patterns Affect Recording Guitar
Posted by admin in Microphones on October 21st, 2009
The polar patterns of a microphone indicate how sensitive it is to sounds coming from different angles about its central axis. Some microphones are directional and only pick up from a particular direction whereas others will pick up from all around.
There are essentially five main polar responses or pick-up patterns, these are:
Cardioid Patterns – With a Cardioid pattern (the name coming from the heart shape of the pattern) the vast majority of the sound is picked up from the front of the microphone with a reasonable amount from the sides. Very little, however, is picked up from behind.
As a result, you can point this microphone at the sound you want to pick up. This is probably the most commonly used pattern you will come across as it is very versatile and can be used in practically all situations.
Hyper-Cardioid Patterns – Hyper-Cardioid microphones have a similar pattern to cardioid but the response from the sides (referred to as off-axis) is less. This makes it more directional than the Cardioid. Hyper Cardioid microphones are used when isolation between sound sources is important.
They are less sensitive to off-axis sounds and will not pick up near-by sources as easily. Another common use is when used live and there is a feedback problem. Hyper-Cardioid microphones are less likely to pick up sound spill from speakers due to their more directional nature and thus reduce the chances of feedback occurring.
Shotgun Patterns - Shotgun microphones have a very tight pickup pattern and are highly directional. They have small lobes of sensitivity to the left, right, and rear but are significantly more sensitive to the front. This results from placing the element inside a tube with slots cut along the side; wave-cancellation eliminates most of the off-axis noise.
They are used primarily to pick up sounds from a distance, for example, the recording of wildlife. Shotgun microphones are also commonly used on TV and film sets. Uses are in broadcast/film recording work are where the microphone can be held or suspended ‘off-camera’ and in the theatre for picking up actors on stage without having to individually microphone them all.
Due to the sensitivity of these microphones, they are all condensers and, as such, require a phantom power supply.
Omni-directional Patterns – Omni-directional microphones pick up sound from all directions equally as can be seen from the polar response. They tend to produce the most natural sound of all the pickup patterns, capturing the sound source plus all the other acoustic reverberations and nuances.
Omni directional microphones are also not susceptible to the Proximity Effect as are Cardioids. As such, they are used mainly for recording work. Omni’s are not normally used for live work, as they would pick up unwanted sounds such as the audience and sound from speakers, creating one horrendous feedback problem.
Figure 8 Patterns – Figure-of-8 microphones again tend to find their use for recording work, picking up sound from the front and rear of the microphone but not from the sides. They are often used when making stereo recordings.
Richard Marples has over 10 years experience of playing and recording guitar, and also hosts a website exaplaining how you can record at home. If you enjoyed this article on Home Recording then you can get more free tips at =>
www.uncleslinky.co.uk
Popular Brands of Guitar Microphones
Posted by admin in Microphones on October 20th, 2009
Guitar microphones come in a variety of setups. They are intended to be used with equipment made for microphones. The concept is very simple. A microphone is meant for a PA system and not for a guitar amplifier.

The units will work to a degree in a guitar amplifier and then we hear the full potential of the instrument. Almost all the manufacturers provide the facilities for the acoustic guitar player to capture the most natural sound in a live or recording setting.

Guitar microphones from famous brands

AMT is one of the pioneers in the manufacture of various equipment for musical instruments. AMT also pioneers in manufacturing some of the best guitar microphones. AMT has engineered different models in order to fit into the needs or playing applications that acoustic guitarists might require.

Both S15G and S3G are available in the popular BP or belt pack version and are also available in the Studio setup as well. The S15G is a low-profile condenser microphone that has a cardioid pattern which gives it an advantage over most guitar microphones in the market.

The element as well as the mounting clamp is designed for the instrument. It is rugged construction of anodized aviation aluminum which makes it highly durable, while keeping it lightweight and non-corrosive. The microphone is attached to the side of the instrument, and is suspended in a 4 point isolation ring reducing handling noise.

The S3G is a unique, low profile condenser microphone that can only be used with an acoustic guitar that has a sound-hole under the strings. This microphone incorporates an omni pattern to capture the sound from inside the guitar. It is suitable for use in quieter applications. The AMT S3G features a flexible gooseneck, allowing the player to position the microphone for the best possible tone reproduction.

Wireless guitar microphones are widely used nowadays and some of the leading brands have come up with great wireless microphones with enviable features. One of the renowned brands in microphone manufacturing is NADY. Advanced features of the Nady DKW-1 wireless guitar microphone system include high-band VHF operation for interference-free performance and an operating range of more than 500 feet line of sight. Advanced compound circuitry is installed for a wide dynamic range so it would not overload the system with loud inputs.

The Nady DKW-8 GT wireless system represents an unprecedented advantage in a single-channel UHF instrument system with interference-free operation in any application or locale on select UHF frequencies from 794-805 Mhz.

Shure is another famous brand which pioneers in wireless technology and instrument equipment. The Shure PG14 Performance Gear Wireless Guitar System includes the PG4 Diversity Receiver, PG1 Bodypack Transmitter, and WA302 Instrument Cable for use with guitar, bass guitar, and other instruments with 1/4 inch outputs.

The AKG WMS 40 Pro Dual Guitar System includes the SR 40 Dual receiver, a pair of PT 40 Transmitters, and a pair of MKG L cables. It is the best for 2-channel applications. The transmitters each operate for 30 hours off a single AA size battery.
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for music gear, speakers, and microphones. You can find the best marketplace for music gear, speakers, and microphones at these 3 sites: music gear, music equipment, speakers, subwoofers, and microphones.
What Microphones Should You Use for Home Recording Guitar
Posted by admin in Microphones on October 19th, 2009
A microphone is a device made to capture waves in air, water or hard material and translate them to an electrical signal. The most common method is via a thin membrane producing some proportional electrical signal.
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.
Richard Marples has over 10 years experience of playing and recording guitar, and also hosts a website exaplaining how you can record at home. If you enjoyed this article on Home Recording then you can get more free tips at =>
www.uncleslinky.co.uk