Members 55fmj Posted January 16, 2012 Members Share Posted January 16, 2012 What is the better/preferred method ? To mic the guitar amp, or to just run a line out of the amp and to the mixer ? I have not yet done either and was wondering what is the best way. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StratGuy22 Posted January 16, 2012 Members Share Posted January 16, 2012 Mic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jwlussow Posted January 16, 2012 Members Share Posted January 16, 2012 VERY loaded question. It really depends on the gear and the user. We go direct and emulated. Many mic their amps. There probably is no preferred method except the method you prefer. As a sound guy I prefer either high quality emulation or a mix of mic/direct. As a bassist, and an old one at that, I prefer high quality emulation because it is quicker to set up and tear down and it saves my back. In the old days I would never consider giving up my SVT. If you are talking straight out of a non-emulating amp like a Line 6, I'd mic the cab unless you can get the sound you need out of the direct connection. A mix of miced and direct usually works good if you trust the sound guy. It really depends on your amp and the FOH system you use. Listen out from to figure out which is best for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bobby1Note Posted January 16, 2012 Members Share Posted January 16, 2012 Depends on the amp. If it has a good sounding speaker/cabinet,,, then mic'ing is a no-brainer,,, but,, if it sounds like crap,,,, go direct, Also, if stage-noise is an issue, going direct will help. A buddy of mine, has a little Line6 "Jam" combo-amp. He brought it to band practice, and although it was fun to noodle around with,,, it just sounded bad. Just for kicks, I told my buddy we'll take a line-iut, and go to the PA. With the very first chord on his guitar, he had that "deer-in-the-headlights" stare,,,,,,jaw dropped,,,eyes as big as saucers. It sounded freakin' incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 6Imzadi Posted January 16, 2012 Members Share Posted January 16, 2012 Many(not all) guitar amp's line outs must have an active direct box(radian red box) to sound good. Bass usually has the direct box built in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tlbonehead Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 What is the better/preferred method ? To mic the guitar amp, or to just run a line out of the amp and to the mixer ? I have not yet done either and was wondering what is the best way. ThanksI always use the line-outs on my guitar amps if they are cab-voiced and sound good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sharnrock Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Guitar gets miced; bass could do either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Musicman717 Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I have done both and I would say Miced sounds way better to me. I do run direct if i had to but much rather perfer miced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Either way, depending on the gear and the sound the player's trying to achieve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 55fmj Posted January 17, 2012 Author Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I run a telecaster through a Fender Hotrod Deluxe amp if that helps. I have a shure sm57 to use if I need to mic it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 It really depends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bobby1Note Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 It really depends. Maybe,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but what would Mogwix say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Alan Roberts Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 If you have the luxury of doing both, then I'd try that. You can then choose the one that sounds best or blend the 2 together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twostone Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 If you have the luxury of doing both, then I'd try that. You can then choose the one that sounds best or blend the 2 together. I agree try both then decide what you like best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Axisplayer Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 You can have good results either way. Mic is cheaper. Direct has some pro's to it when you sit on our side of console, but it isn't cheap to do it right. A good Palmer can easily cost as much as many amps. As you spend less the outcome is more iffy. Good DIs are important, and also expensive. Side story: When I started out I bought a handful of name brand but cheap DI's ($30-40 each.) A few months into doing this, one of the musicians asked me something that made me think. "You spend $2-300 on a good microphone for the singers voice. Why do you spend $30 on my bass?" That was sobering. I bought a handful of Radials. They are not cheap, but no more than a mic for the same instrument. Don't buy a $30 DI and think it replaces that esoteric microphone that sounds like angels on the guitar cab. It usually won't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twostone Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 What kind of amp do you own? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Miko Man Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 What kind of amp do you own? Post #10; Fender Hotrod Deluxe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 You can have good results either way. Mic is cheaper. Not if the amp has a (good) speaker emulated balanced DI out. I've designed a few amps w/ balanced emulated DI out and when all things are considered (bleed, common mics, lack of stage space, knocked over mic stand, drummer accidents etc.) I think it may be a toss-up for many applications. There are times where a mic is the "best" way to go, I'm not arguing this, but for many gigs any potential quality difference is just too buried to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gonzobassman Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 It is crucial though,that a guitar amp DI not only offers speaker emulation,but that has to be excellent.I think its safer to mic until you know if,and how good the emulation your amp has is.Just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members flanc Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I had a guitarist with a Fender Cyber Twin the direct out was harsh and brittle. My current guitarist has a Blackstar Series One and the emulated output is excellent...never use a mic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I use the line out. A lot of amps are doing a pretty decent job with an emulated line out these days. It's easier. I did some recording recently where we miced my amp and sent the line out signal to the board, then blended both sounds. It sounded really good. The miced sound was a little brighter, but both tones were good and very usable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GCDEF Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 I run a telecaster through a Fender Hotrod Deluxe amp if that helps. I have a shure sm57 to use if I need to mic it. That amp doesn't have a line out does it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Axisplayer Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Not if the amp has a (good) speaker emulated balanced DI out. Have never run across one that sounded good, but I live in a world of Fenders and Marshalls, not much else. If the amp has a good DI I would use it, but if you have neither and are starting from scratch, a good mic is cheaper than a good cabinet simulator/DI. Personally I always like it when my regular band does the DI thing, but then again I only have one amp on their stage and everything else is direct so it just sounds more cohesive out front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 55fmj Posted January 17, 2012 Author Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Thanks for all the input guys. My amp has a "pre-amp out" jack. I will try both ways to see what difference there is. I was planning on using a mic, but if it works and sounds good to go direct, then that might be the easier way to go. I will try both and let you know. Thanks again for all the help. This forum is a great resource for people like me asking questions ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted January 17, 2012 Members Share Posted January 17, 2012 Have never run across one that sounded good, but I live in a world of Fenders and Marshalls, not much else. These amps do not fall into the "good DI catagory", so micing will probably be much better for most applications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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