how loud is too loud? (close mic condensor)

[mick8569]

gday, im wanting to close mic my guitar amp with my sp b1 condensor mic and am paranoid about damaging it. my amp is a 100w tube amp which doesnt really open up at minimal volume. it claims to have a max spl of 132 db and to be good at close micing guitar amps, so should i be right to crank my amp and record close? also im assuming that the windscreen wouldnt protect it at all from loud noise, just from wind if u are recording outside?

 

cheers,

mick.

[Phil O'Keefe]

I don't think you'll have any problems with the mic in front of the amp - you should be fine. 132 dB SPL would cause you pain if you were exposed to it... so if you can hang with the sound of the amp in the room, the mic should be able to.

 

But please - remember to be careful with your hearing and loud SPL's.

[mick8569]

Originally posted by Phil O'Keefe But please - remember to be careful with your hearing and loud SPL's.

as long as the mics ok thanks

[toddlans]

if you wanted to get really anal about it you could pick up a cheap spl meter and put it where the mic would be. the ones i've looked at usually have only gone to a little over 120 so if you stayed under that you'd be ok even if the 136 spec isn't exactly accurate.

[where02190]

You won't be able to get near your rig if it's 132db.

 

You won't damage the mic if you did momentarily expose it to too much SPL, it's just crap out and sound bad while it was overexposed.

[mick8569]

ok thanks guys i was just paranoid cause i just spent ALL my money on it, but i had heard that loudness will just sound crap but gushes of air are what kills them.

 

thanks for the help, mick.