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KISSING AND CABINETS
A gentleman from Detroit stops by with some praise, and a young lad
craves instruction on the subtleties of multiple mics for guitar speakers.
Dear OSM,
I've tried this a few times but I can't really tell you how great your
contribution to Prosoundweb.com is!
Just had to say so.
Luv N8
THANKS
FOR THE COMPLIMENTS, N8!
THERE IS ONLY ONE THING I WILL MENTION,
AND THAT IS THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR E-MAIL, WHICH WAS “FATASSKISS.”
PERHAPS
YOU ARE UNAWARE THAT I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE EXPRESSION OF SAME-SEX
AFFECTION HERE. I KNOW YOU WERE PROBABLY JUST EXPERIENCING SOME COMRADELY
EUPHORIA WHEN YOU WROTE THAT, BUT N8, I AM A HAPPILY MARRIED MAN.
BOWIE,
JAGGER, LOU REED, THEY ALL TRIED TO GET IN MY PANTS BACK IN THE DAY.
BUT I HELD THEM OFF!
NOW BOWIE IS WITH IMAN, LOU IS WITH LAURIE
ANDERSON, AND JAGGER IS MADLY IMPREGNATING MODELS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
BUT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE OLD MIAMI!
I CHECKED OUT THE WEBSITE
OF THE PLACE THAT N8 WORKS AT, AND THIS IS WHAT I FOUND:
Established in 1979
as a haven for Vietnam Veterans, the Old Miami has been called "the
C.B.G.B.'s of the Midwest" for its history as a music venue. Across
the dance floor, a wall of speakers almost obscures the stage. The sound
system is unusually large for a room this size.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU
HAVE A NICE PILE OF BOXES THERE, N8! GOOD WORK!
YOU COULD PROBABLY
HELP OUR GREENHORN FRIEND HERE, BUT I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN ALONE …
I have been mixing bands for a handful of years now, and by no means
do I consider myself a pro, rather, a guy who mixes and is OK, but is
always looking for tips and advice.
I was pondering: When miking multiple guitar cabinets with one guitar
source, or using more than one model of mic to mic a single guitar cabinet,
what is the practice as far as distance goes from the driver and the
mic?
TOTALLY UP TO
THE OPERATOR, GREENIE. SOME FOLKS LITERALLY JAM IT RIGHT UP AGAINST
THE GRILL, AND OTHERS BACK IT OFF AN INCH, THREE INCHES, SIX INCHES.
EXPERIMENT!
TRY DIFFERENT DISTANCES, AND SEE WHAT SOUNDS BEST TO YOU.
What about different mics with different patterns?
WELL, IT IS USUALLY
UNWISE TO USE MICS WITH OMNIDIRECTIONAL RESPONSE PATTERNS IN AN AMPLIFIED
SITUATION.
CARDIOID MEANS IT BASICALLY PICKS UP WHAT YOU ARE
POINTING IT AT. HYPERCARDIOID MEANS IT PICKS UP PRECISELY WHAT YOU ARE
POINTING IT AT.
CHECK OUT “STUDY HALL” HERE ON PSW, THERE’S A LOT
OF JUNK IN THERE THAT IS EDUCATIONAL. YOU MIGHT APPRECIATE A MICROPHONE
USAGE ARTICLE
THAT IS THERE.
Will these ambiguities cause a delay, cancellation, constructive
interference, or phase issues?
THE MANIACAL HAIR-SPLITTING SELF-APPOINTED GURUS OF SOUND OVER ON THE
LIVE
AUDIO BOARD WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT HOW IT WILL MESS UP THE PHASE
RESPONSE. JUST ASK THEM AND SEE!
AGAIN,
GREENINGTON, IT IS UP TO YOUR EARS.
IF YOU DO NOT HEAR A PROBLEM,
THERE IS NO PROBLEM.
I DON’T CARE WHAT THOSE “LABSTERS”
SAY!
I have miked cabinets before with multiple mics, and miked different
cabs with the same guitar source and it worked fine, does it even matter
in this artful science we call Live Sound?
LIFE
USED TO BE SIMPLE BACK IN THE OLD DAYS.
WE DIDN’T USE ANY
SWINGING LARGE-DIAGHRAGM CONDENSER MICS, FOR ONE THING, LIKE YOU SEE
ON THE GUITAR CABINETS ON THE BIG TOURS NOWADAYS.
I DON’T
KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I CAN RE-PHRASE MY CENTRAL BELIEF, GREEN MON. IF
IT SOUNDS GOOD, IT IS GOOD. IF IT SOUNDS BAD, CHANGE SOMETHING.
IF
THAT MAKES IT SOUND WORSE, CHANGE IT BACK.
Your insight is highly valuable, and very appreciated.
Green Horn With Too Many Mics
SELL
SOME OF THEM ON E-BAY!
OR YOU CAN MAIL THEM TO ME FOR FREE!
LUV –
- THE OLD SOUNDMAN
