As a former sound engineer back in the old analogue days I can endorse this as a very clear and well explained introduction to mics and how to use them. Some of the brand names have changed but the fundamentals remain the same even in this digital age. Get the sound right at source and life is a lot easier than trying to correct it later. And the SM57 and the U87 go on and on!
Literally spent all day recording and getting mad at why my tone wasn't recording to my DAW the way I was hearing it in the room. This video was a god send. EQ and compression next please :))
Suggestion let's start with "What you need to have to record at home". From work area to hardware to software to set up for say a Helix or using your pedal board etc. What the cost is and some good beginner bundles etc.
Hey. I think that your question is great but probably out of the scope of what Rhatt tried to explain. I explored a lot in your area of interest. I started small and scaled up to a full studio for recording and live band rehearsals. The answer is a little bit more complex I guess but I don’t mind investing the time and help you with options. Let me know if you want more.
It really depends on what you are trying to do. Software is usually bundled with the interface. I'm assuming you already have a guitar and amp that produces a sound you enjoy. For the barest setup, you can get 1 microphone and a cheap interface, a mic stand, and a cable for under $200 easy. I used to record rehearsals with two strategically placed small diaphragm condenser microphones and they sounded good. Certainly not professional but you could hear everything and things sounded good. I think you should consider getting a decent microphone, cable and stand, and a cheap basic interface. SM57s and Sennheiser E609s are both about $100. The cheapest audio interfaces start at $50. You'll want to upgrade that interface soon but you will get $50 worth of education and fun out of it. Then, when you decide to plop down $200-$500 you will be making a much more informed decision.
Also, if you are recording live, like a rehearsal, you may want some sound treatment. The natural reverb of the room generally seems much more intense if close miking is not an option.
@Pete Brown. It's said 100's of times on forums but you'll enjoy the process more and get more satisfaction if before you go all in on gear, pony up for some acoustic treatment. I built all my (12) 4'x2' 2" panels for under $200 and my bass trapping, for maybe $50. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
Important thing to remember about the R121 is that even though it's figure 8, the backside has a significantly lower SPL limit at 115 dB, compared to the frontside 135 dB limit. The backside is a little brighter sounding, so a lot of people tend to use the different sides for different sound sources, especially for micing acoustic instruments. Avoid using the backside to close mic your cranked stack...
@@notbraindead7298 Very very true. I have pretty bad tinnitus in my L ear, but my R ear is more or less still pretty sharp - which for an old guy, I'm lucky. I have to swing my R ear towards both speakers quite often when I'm doing critical mixing as my 5K has been really damaged in my L ear...
@@MoreMeRecording I'm sorry to read of your loss of higher frequencies in your left ear, it's certainly a handicap for someone who loves the recording processes. Most of the guys in my age group that spent considerable time in bar bands have the same loss of hearing that we have. I think the kids coming into the live music world have been better informed about hearing loss and certainly have plenty of old farts to learn from. Things are vastly different in todays gigging and recording. 100 watt and 200 watt amps (cranked) were desirable when I was a kid and you had to crank them to get them to distort. Kids today have amps that will do heavy metal at less than bedroom volume.
What perfect timing! The band has been talking about setting up a recording studio. Better yet, band practice is in a few hours from now. I will make sure to show them this video.
This. Please more of this. Details like avoiding clipping, balancing EQ, balancing a mix, recording with a mic and amp vs something like a Helix/ iridium. All some stuff that would be great to hear about. Love your content man!
Fun fact! Most multi pattern microphones will have differing frequency responses per pattern, so not only do you have a tonal shift from more/less ambience in the room, but the mic itself usually will change tonally as well. If you were in an anechoic chamber and you switched patterns on the mc, you'd still hear a tonal shift.
From all the guitarists on RUclips I always loved your recorded guitar sound the most, because it sounds the most alive and “raw” somehow, so this video is really really helpful to make my own recordings sound a bit more lively!
0:15 the purpose of this video 0:58 Tone Course 1:47 what microphones are 2:42 the three most common microphones for a guitar 3:06 dynamic microphones 4:15 condenser microphones 6:37 ribbon dynamic microphones (7:39 no phantom power warning) 8:05 the amp' I'm using 8:58 examples: Shure SM57 9:14 Blue Baby Bottle SL 9:29 Royer R-121 9:47 frequency response 11:10 polar patterns 11:29 cardioid 12:44 omnidirectional 13:30 figure eight 14:12 microphone placement (15:10 example) 15:31 proximity effect 16:03 placement axis (16:46 example) 17:07 multi-microphone recording (18:11 example) 18:52 phase 20:24 conclusion
As a gigging guitarist in a rock trio your explanations and demonstrations have given me more to think about on how to mic my amp when playings and doing some minor home recording. Thank you so much!!! Very helpful and infomative!
Finally decided to start recording a bit. I know nothing of the basics of interface/DAW. Would really like a continuation of this series that just outline the basics of how to actually capture the sound in a DAW and basics of eq/compression/reverb. Would be really cool to also spread some focus to the acoustic players!
All condenser mics use phantom power. The figure 8 is called bi directional. Good to hear the different sounds from them. Been a recording engineer for a long time. Love your work Rhett.
Rett, I love that you started this guide series. One of the things the always gets me is how to use daws for adding effects and eq if (and when) needed. I would appretiate if you took the time to talk about this next time. Cheers.
I don't worry about aligning mics for phase cancellation. I just shift the wav forms in my DAW to make them line up. The only problem with this approach is you can still get phase cancellation of reflected sounds from the room. But that really only applies to high frequencies. You have to have your mics fairly un-aligned to mess of low-low frequency phase too much. All of what Rhett said aligns with my experiences recording guitars and vocals. I like to record vocals using three mics, a ribbon in the center and two LDCs off to each side. That way I can get a stereo field of the room tone as well as do a blending of the EQ responses. Again, I align the wavs in my DAW to get rid of phase cancellations.
Don't remember which recording engineer... But it was on Warren Huart's channel I think. He just flipped the phase on one mic, moved one fader on the mixing board to the point where both mics cancelled each other out the most, flipped the phase back. boom! there it was. Great vid! More recording engineering please! Also can't wait 'til the studio is up and running!
That was one of the best videos I've seen as a practical guide and introduction to using microphones. Much of what Rhett talked about also applies to Modelers and the simulated mics inside of them. I have an HX Stomp, and the excessive highs, and fizzy, sizzling overdrive/distortion tone was really irritating on many of the Presets. After adjusting all the usual suspects (sag, bias, biasX, high/low cut, etc.) which did help some, I discovered that it was the "57 Dynamic" mic, i.e. a Shure SM57 being used in the Preset. I switched that out for the "Ribbon 160" mic, and finally got the tone I was looking for.
Dude, this is an amazing video. I’ve learned more in the past 20 minutes than I have in the 5 years I’ve been playing guitar. Can you please make one about the thing you plug the mics into?
@@faboolean7039 Well yes and no? Preamp quality (d-pre, iso, audient, unison etc.)? Sample rate, bit depth, buffer size? Phantom Power (some will ship with 24v for some incomprehensible reason)? USB2 vs USB3 vs Thunderbolt? Quality vs Price? the sheer number of options out there? I feel like there's lots to talk about here.
Man where was this video 20 years ago when I was getting started!? I'll always remember trying to record my amp with two mics after seeing that was how my favourite band got their guitar tone and wondering why it sounded so hollow and weak. Looking back my mics were obviously out of phase but back then didn't understand what was happening. RUclips really is an amazing place to learn these days.
That was very helpful, especially the sound comparisons: mic vs mic, placement vs placement. Actually hearing the differences takes it from the theoretical to the practical. Thank you very much.
Great video … i work in a company producing concerts and live shows with som pretty big bands at time …. We use the sm 57 almost every show … we also use the Sennheiser e906 on the guitar and bass amps ,, it works and sounds very well .. neither of the two brands of mics we use have failed us yet ….. great video and very informative and educational for the novice person getting into the field ….
As an aspiring self recorder this is a great and really informative video. Would love more deep dives into what you need to record at home. Thank you for a great video!
Thanks Rhett, all good to know stuff here, you are saving people a ton of time and heart ache. Been doing this a long time and still picked up a trick or two.
Thanks Rhett. I was going to buy the SM57 for my home recording mostly because of my experience as a "church soundman". Better said a learning volunteer. I now will go with my gut backed up with someone who I have learned to trust. You lol.
It´s a lot more satisfying to find that G spot yourself than have someone´s IRs given to you digitaly, and even more sexy to be recon as one finds and captures the G spot. If you are into instant gratification, get yourself the Neural or the Kemper. although, I would like to have a Neural DSP as well.
I would love a beginner's guide to recording straight into an audio interface and using software like Guitar Rig in your DAW to get a tone. I'm trying to make music in an apartment with thin walls and that seems to be the only feasible way to go about it at the moment. Really great video! When I graduate to recording with amps and mics. this is going to get repeat viewings. Thanks for all the information.
Man this video is so well built and you explain everything so clear, really helps as someone who’s starting to record and create music, there’s so much gear and possibilities out there and it all seems like total abracadabra to me😅 I’d love to directly copy the sound that comes out of my amp instead of plugging the guitar directly into the interface. The presets on logic sound absolutely horrible to me compared to the sound from my amp
This was so interesting I was grabing my chair not to miss anything, scrolling back severall times. Very nice and thank you very much. You're a great musician but also, even if without knowing, you're a great teacher. Your passion for the gear and music shure helps bring the message across. Once again, thank you!
Really good information for people to know it’s very important when you’re recording especially when you’re recording otherwise things end up not coming out the way you wanted them to to begin with. Great job explaining that.
Something important to add for the dynamic mic is, that it doesnt need 48V phantom power but can handle it if its turned on. For example when you switch your mic on the same input from condenser to dynamic you dont need to check if phantom power is turned off. As a Broadcast/ENG audio technician this is hella useful for me when I switch mics on field fast, not quite sure how important it is for studio musicians.
recording cheap is my issue .. I bought an interface for the PC , got some free software and I have a Shure 57 mic and not very happy with my sound so far , and 23 decades ago I got some satisfaction using the standard cassette recorder that could turn Jimi Hendrix leads into bird mutilation's then there was the double cassettes and direct ins from rack effects processor and I guess the real question is why doesn't God love me ? that Royer 121 is going to run about 1,300$ and will run at 3 times the stock price of my Epiphone SG . Nice show Rhett live my dream bro live my dream lol
Great content Sir. For the next vid - Mic Pre and EQ/Compression. Then, one on getting it routed into your DAW. I know when I first started out recording, I struggled with the whole internal routing thing, buses,etc. The terminology just made no sense and it's not like they provide you a block diagram for signal flow.
Oh the phantom power doesn’t just power the electronics in a condenser, it’s also needed for the capsule itself. “Condenser” is old school word (British?) for “capacitor”. The diaphragm vibrates against the back plate and the distance change is changing the capacitance of the capsule; the capsule has to have a voltage applied across it. The tiny variations of the current caused by the changing capacitance is then what has to be amplified (e.g. by tubes or transistors, which also need power to work).
I learn so much from your videos. I have been afraid to jump into buying tube amp because I am or was intimidated by all the tech stuff, pedals, microphones etc. I am purchasing a tube amp this weekend and ready to use it thx to videos you’ve made
As someone who knows a lot about mics you did a fantastic job explaining everything and your examples were great! Very well spoken and you were concise and clear. Also I just realized that I've watched maybe 20-30 of your videos without being subscribed. I fixed that for you.
Just today I was thinking on searching a tutorial on how to do this and before you know it, Rhett popped up with this video today. Thank you for the info man!
Good start on studio basics. One issue I have as a home studio neophyte is the hardware vs software debate, especially as it relates to guitars. Should I buy multiple amps and pedals or rely on my daw for those tones? The hardware solution may provide a better sound but digital is getting very close and is much cheaper - most of us don’t have the multiple thousands of dollars for that extra 5% bump in quality. An emphasis on cost/benefit of all gear would be great. I appreciated that you used a relatively standard amp for this episode, it might be a good idea to use the same amp for all demos 😎. Thanks for all your effort.
Im really getting into a home studio, and really wanted to fill out my mixes. I just ordered 4 sm57's to mic drums, and whatever else I want them for. I can make good mixes already, but my drum sound is weak due to only having one 57 at the moment. I am very excited to get a good drum sound. The 57 is so affordable, and so reliable for its price. Oh.... and also stole a 4x12 AVT for $250 aswell. Lol. Great video Rhett
A great way to experiment with mic/mic placement, would be through using a DI (Direct Input) box and reamp box in my opinion. You can record a single take in DI, output to the reamp box to compare the same sound and decide what works best using A-B comparisons. A reamp box allows you to output from a +4dBu sound source and converts it into an amp level signal, which can be plugged into you amp's guitar input. Great video by the way
great way of showing how mic placement matter! as a newbie experimenting myself on the topic I appreciate the effort that went into making this video. thanks!
Beginners guide to compression and eq, possibly separate videos, would be great. As would a comparison of, say, large condenser microphones at different price points so we can get a feeling whether we want to go from a Behringer B1 to a Rode NT1 to something a bit more expensive
For me, the Number One rule for getting the best results with almost any endeavour is "Experiment!" Try different ideas, setups, combinations --- whatever applies --- and find out what does the trick for you. All you have to invest (other than the cost of equipment) is time. In some cases, writing detailed notes can be helpful, especially when something really works well.
The dual micing technique with open back cabs, & one mic in front of speaker, one at back of speaker, through the open back works well on the cheap too. Just flip the phase, for the rear mic. It sounds big, almost as big as SM57+Royer121 (you get the bass from rear, and some figure of 8 effects), albeit without that smooth articulate top end. Royer R-121 are fantastic, and my favourite ribbon, or any mic on guitar cab. But, the are expensive and outside of the vast majority of people's budge. They're similar in price to a typical recording tube amp (Fender '65 Princeton or Deluxe Reverb Reissue). Some great alternatives are the Beyerdynamic M-160, which I find _almost_ as good as the Royer R-121, at less than half the price. The Beyer M-160 is also more flexible mic to have as your first ribbon, because I find it to be a better drum mic, vocal and bowed strings mic than the R-121, so I'd rather have a pair of M-160s than one R-121, when kitting out a studio that will record more than just guitar cabs. At a similar price, the Royer R-10 is good, same capsule though not quite as big, warm and smooth sounding as the R-121. Then the Rode NTR is a slightly cheaper. At the more affordable end, there is the Cascade Fathead (about 200-250 second-hand), Golden Age Project R1 or R1A (150-250 or under new). That Rode NTR and GAP R-1A are both active ribbon mics, so are ok with phantom power. And solves some impedance issues you might have with ribbon mics and some preamps.
Suggestion for another vid: How to incorporate guitar pedals into a DAW. Ex) If I want to use my HOF2 in a vocal chain or mix my tape delay pedal into a keyboard chain. I know there are pluggins but in some situations I'd rather use my pedals b/c i like the sounds and can dial them in just how I want.
Hey Rhett, thanks so much for this video. You put a subject that has always mystified me into simple, straightforward terms. This vid will be the perfect reference that I can keep coming back to when I start recording. Invaluable!
Thank you so much for the attention to detail with this video! I've saved this to my playlist and will continue to use it as a guide until the knowledge is fully cemented. Thanks again
It's so great to hear the differences to clearly! How much difference do choices made in the rest of the mic signal chain change the sound? Mic preamps/compressors/in the box gear etc.
Not to sound like a grandmother, but your videos are a real treat
Oh, honey. Look at you. You need to eat something.
Who’s this young man? You’ve gotten so big!
They do a thing
Just eat some cookies and have a glass of milk while watching!
Such a nice young man
Rhett talking mics. I’m all in.
Thanks man! Love your channel.
As a former sound engineer back in the old analogue days I can endorse this as a very clear and well explained introduction to mics and how to use them. Some of the brand names have changed but the fundamentals remain the same even in this digital age. Get the sound right at source and life is a lot easier than trying to correct it later.
And the SM57 and the U87 go on and on!
I used to own 2 SM57s. Don’t think they sound that great. They sound like cheap plastic to me.
@@Migler1 try one of the unidyne reissues, sound great
Rhett: "Kind of looks like an upside down heart"
Me: I know a butt when I see one.
This guy knows what's up.
came to the comments to say exactly this lol
“Cardio’ upside down heart pattern. Easy to remember
Literally spent all day recording and getting mad at why my tone wasn't recording to my DAW the way I was hearing it in the room. This video was a god send. EQ and compression next please :))
Suggestion let's start with "What you need to have to record at home". From work area to hardware to software to set up for say a Helix or using your pedal board etc. What the cost is and some good beginner bundles etc.
Hey. I think that your question is great but probably out of the scope of what Rhatt tried to explain. I explored a lot in your area of interest. I started small and scaled up to a full studio for recording and live band rehearsals. The answer is a little bit more complex I guess but I don’t mind investing the time and help you with options. Let me know if you want more.
It really depends on what you are trying to do. Software is usually bundled with the interface. I'm assuming you already have a guitar and amp that produces a sound you enjoy. For the barest setup, you can get 1 microphone and a cheap interface, a mic stand, and a cable for under $200 easy. I used to record rehearsals with two strategically placed small diaphragm condenser microphones and they sounded good. Certainly not professional but you could hear everything and things sounded good.
I think you should consider getting a decent microphone, cable and stand, and a cheap basic interface. SM57s and Sennheiser E609s are both about $100. The cheapest audio interfaces start at $50. You'll want to upgrade that interface soon but you will get $50 worth of education and fun out of it. Then, when you decide to plop down $200-$500 you will be making a much more informed decision.
Also, if you are recording live, like a rehearsal, you may want some sound treatment. The natural reverb of the room generally seems much more intense if close miking is not an option.
@Pete Brown. It's said 100's of times on forums but you'll enjoy the process more and get more satisfaction if before you go all in on gear, pony up for some acoustic treatment. I built all my (12) 4'x2' 2" panels for under $200 and my bass trapping, for maybe $50. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
@@MoreMeRecording What did you build the panels out of?
Rhett, you and Rick Beato are an absolute wealth of invaluable information for us home recording axe-slingers. Thanks for everything you do, man!
I couldn't agree more.
Important thing to remember about the R121 is that even though it's figure 8, the backside has a significantly lower SPL limit at 115 dB, compared to the frontside 135 dB limit.
The backside is a little brighter sounding, so a lot of people tend to use the different sides for different sound sources, especially for micing acoustic instruments. Avoid using the backside to close mic your cranked stack...
There is complete lack of content from most of the major guitar channels on basics of home recording. Please keep this coming!
We need an episode on how many guitarists with tinnitus are needed in order to hear all frequencies when recording.
The sad truth is that the differences between mics, speakers and pickups can barely be heard by many of us old school musicians.
@@notbraindead7298 Very very true. I have pretty bad tinnitus in my L ear, but my R ear is more or less still pretty sharp - which for an old guy, I'm lucky. I have to swing my R ear towards both speakers quite often when I'm doing critical mixing as my 5K has been really damaged in my L ear...
@@MoreMeRecording I'm sorry to read of your loss of higher frequencies in your left ear, it's certainly a handicap for someone who loves the recording processes. Most of the guys in my age group that spent considerable time in bar bands have the same loss of hearing that we have. I think the kids coming into the live music world have been better informed about hearing loss and certainly have plenty of old farts to learn from. Things are vastly different in todays gigging and recording. 100 watt and 200 watt amps (cranked) were desirable when I was a kid and you had to crank them to get them to distort. Kids today have amps that will do heavy metal at less than bedroom volume.
What perfect timing! The band has been talking about setting up a recording studio. Better yet, band practice is in a few hours from now. I will make sure to show them this video.
This. Please more of this. Details like avoiding clipping, balancing EQ, balancing a mix, recording with a mic and amp vs something like a Helix/ iridium. All some stuff that would be great to hear about. Love your content man!
Fun fact!
Most multi pattern microphones will have differing frequency responses per pattern, so not only do you have a tonal shift from more/less ambience in the room, but the mic itself usually will change tonally as well. If you were in an anechoic chamber and you switched patterns on the mc, you'd still hear a tonal shift.
From all the guitarists on RUclips I always loved your recorded guitar sound the most, because it sounds the most alive and “raw” somehow, so this video is really really helpful to make my own recordings sound a bit more lively!
0:15 the purpose of this video
0:58 Tone Course
1:47 what microphones are
2:42 the three most common microphones for a guitar 3:06 dynamic microphones 4:15 condenser microphones 6:37 ribbon dynamic microphones (7:39 no phantom power warning)
8:05 the amp' I'm using
8:58 examples: Shure SM57 9:14 Blue Baby Bottle SL 9:29 Royer R-121
9:47 frequency response
11:10 polar patterns 11:29 cardioid 12:44 omnidirectional 13:30 figure eight
14:12 microphone placement (15:10 example) 15:31 proximity effect 16:03 placement axis (16:46 example)
17:07 multi-microphone recording (18:11 example) 18:52 phase
20:24 conclusion
Recording guitar is definitely important to getting and making music together! Great information!
Is that you Magic?
This is by far the best microphone video I have seen. And I am an engineer I know what I talk about.
I may be old fashioned, but an SM57 is all I’ve ever needed… not all I’ve ever used… just all I’ve ever NEEDED.
I've seen a lot of videos on mics, placement etc. I thought that I would skip this one - I'm glad i stayed! Great vid!
As a gigging guitarist in a rock trio your explanations and demonstrations have given me more to think about on how to mic my amp when playings and doing some minor home recording. Thank you so much!!! Very helpful and infomative!
Finally decided to start recording a bit. I know nothing of the basics of interface/DAW. Would really like a continuation of this series that just outline the basics of how to actually capture the sound in a DAW and basics of eq/compression/reverb. Would be really cool to also spread some focus to the acoustic players!
I might be old enough to be a grandmother, but as a guy, I'll give this gift of content a rockin' awesome!!! Way old and still learnin"!
All condenser mics use phantom power. The figure 8 is called bi directional. Good to hear the different sounds from them. Been a recording engineer for a long time. Love your work Rhett.
Rett, I love that you started this guide series. One of the things the always gets me is how to use daws for adding effects and eq if (and when) needed. I would appretiate if you took the time to talk about this next time.
Cheers.
Your in the prime of life Rhett and your really homing your skills.
I don't worry about aligning mics for phase cancellation. I just shift the wav forms in my DAW to make them line up. The only problem with this approach is you can still get phase cancellation of reflected sounds from the room. But that really only applies to high frequencies. You have to have your mics fairly un-aligned to mess of low-low frequency phase too much.
All of what Rhett said aligns with my experiences recording guitars and vocals. I like to record vocals using three mics, a ribbon in the center and two LDCs off to each side. That way I can get a stereo field of the room tone as well as do a blending of the EQ responses. Again, I align the wavs in my DAW to get rid of phase cancellations.
Don't remember which recording engineer... But it was on Warren Huart's channel I think. He just flipped the phase on one mic, moved one fader on the mixing board to the point where both mics cancelled each other out the most, flipped the phase back. boom! there it was. Great vid! More recording engineering please! Also can't wait 'til the studio is up and running!
Never learned so much so fast. You are a treasure to us bedroom guitarists.
Man I’ve said it before but I really just enjoy coming to this channel
That was one of the best videos I've seen as a practical guide and introduction to using microphones. Much of what Rhett talked about also applies to Modelers and the simulated mics inside of them. I have an HX Stomp, and the excessive highs, and fizzy, sizzling overdrive/distortion tone was really irritating on many of the Presets. After adjusting all the usual suspects (sag, bias, biasX, high/low cut, etc.) which did help some, I discovered that it was the "57 Dynamic" mic, i.e. a Shure SM57 being used in the Preset. I switched that out for the "Ribbon 160" mic, and finally got the tone I was looking for.
Rhett is the GOAT of guitar youtubers!
Dude, this is an amazing video. I’ve learned more in the past 20 minutes than I have in the 5 years I’ve been playing guitar. Can you please make one about the thing you plug the mics into?
You plug them into an audio interface. Honestly they're pretty simple to understand.
@@faboolean7039 Well yes and no? Preamp quality (d-pre, iso, audient, unison etc.)? Sample rate, bit depth, buffer size? Phantom Power (some will ship with 24v for some incomprehensible reason)? USB2 vs USB3 vs Thunderbolt? Quality vs Price? the sheer number of options out there? I feel like there's lots to talk about here.
I agree totally 😃🎤🎸
Man where was this video 20 years ago when I was getting started!? I'll always remember trying to record my amp with two mics after seeing that was how my favourite band got their guitar tone and wondering why it sounded so hollow and weak. Looking back my mics were obviously out of phase but back then didn't understand what was happening. RUclips really is an amazing place to learn these days.
You and Eric Haugen have the best recorded tone on RUclips
That was very helpful, especially the sound comparisons: mic vs mic, placement vs placement. Actually hearing the differences takes it from the theoretical to the practical. Thank you very much.
Great video … i work in a company producing concerts and live shows with som pretty big bands at time …. We use the sm 57 almost every show … we also use the Sennheiser e906 on the guitar and bass amps ,, it works and sounds very well .. neither of the two brands of mics we use have failed us yet ….. great video and very informative and educational for the novice person getting into the field ….
Just in time! I buying some stuff for my home "studio" on my kitchen and info about mics was really useful! Thank you Rhett, greetings from Russia!
As an aspiring self recorder this is a great and really informative video. Would love more deep dives into what you need to record at home. Thank you for a great video!
Thank you Rhett! This is exactly where I am right now in first time guitar recording.
I finally just bought a new interface yesterday and I need to piece together the rest of my recording rig. Looking forward to this.
i needed this. great video, rhett has fostered the next generation of guitarists
Thanks Rhett, all good to know stuff here, you are saving people a ton of time and heart ache. Been doing this a long time and still picked up a trick or two.
Love this new series, just the information I needed.
Thanks Rhett. I was going to buy the SM57 for my home recording mostly because of my experience as a "church soundman". Better said a learning volunteer. I now will go with my gut backed up with someone who I have learned to trust. You lol.
Thanks Professor Shull. A great way to spend my Saturday morning.
This video meets me at a perfect time in my home-recording development. Thanks for all the the helpful detail and practical perspectives, Rhett.
It´s a lot more satisfying to find that G spot yourself than have someone´s IRs given to you digitaly, and even more sexy to be recon as one finds and captures the G spot. If you are into instant gratification, get yourself the Neural or the Kemper. although, I would like to have a Neural DSP as well.
I would love a beginner's guide to recording straight into an audio interface and using software like Guitar Rig in your DAW to get a tone. I'm trying to make music in an apartment with thin walls and that seems to be the only feasible way to go about it at the moment.
Really great video! When I graduate to recording with amps and mics. this is going to get repeat viewings. Thanks for all the information.
This was fantastic, thanks, Rhett! Easily the best youtube video I've found on the subject so far.
Man this video is so well built and you explain everything so clear, really helps as someone who’s starting to record and create music, there’s so much gear and possibilities out there and it all seems like total abracadabra to me😅
I’d love to directly copy the sound that comes out of my amp instead of plugging the guitar directly into the interface. The presets on logic sound absolutely horrible to me compared to the sound from my amp
This was so interesting I was grabing my chair not to miss anything, scrolling back severall times. Very nice and thank you very much. You're a great musician but also, even if without knowing, you're a great teacher. Your passion for the gear and music shure helps bring the message across. Once again, thank you!
Really good information for people to know it’s very important when you’re recording especially when you’re recording otherwise things end up not coming out the way you wanted them to to begin with. Great job explaining that.
Hey Rhett. I’d like to see a simple rig or setup basics for beginners! Thanks!
This video answered every question I had about cab micing. Thanks for breaking it down and making it easy to understand. Excellent examples too!
Something important to add for the dynamic mic is, that it doesnt need 48V phantom power but can handle it if its turned on. For example when you switch your mic on the same input from condenser to dynamic you dont need to check if phantom power is turned off. As a Broadcast/ENG audio technician this is hella useful for me when I switch mics on field fast, not quite sure how important it is for studio musicians.
Also he got wrong the ribbon mic description, they are far from accurate, they sound very dark
Amazing job Brett you are a great teacher as well as musician
recording cheap is my issue .. I bought an interface for the PC , got some free software and I have a Shure 57
mic and not very happy with my sound so far , and 23 decades ago I got some satisfaction using the standard cassette recorder that could turn Jimi Hendrix leads into bird mutilation's then there was the double cassettes and direct ins from rack effects processor and I guess the real question is why doesn't God love me ? that Royer 121 is going to run about 1,300$ and will run at 3 times the stock price of my Epiphone SG . Nice show Rhett live my dream bro live my dream lol
Superb guide man! Not only for real life recording, but also for amp simulation!
EQ's and parallel compression, thanks!🌺
Great content Sir. For the next vid - Mic Pre and EQ/Compression. Then, one on getting it routed into your DAW. I know when I first started out recording, I struggled with the whole internal routing thing, buses,etc. The terminology just made no sense and it's not like they provide you a block diagram for signal flow.
Oh the phantom power doesn’t just power the electronics in a condenser, it’s also needed for the capsule itself.
“Condenser” is old school word (British?) for “capacitor”. The diaphragm vibrates against the back plate and the distance change is changing the capacitance of the capsule; the capsule has to have a voltage applied across it. The tiny variations of the current caused by the changing capacitance is then what has to be amplified (e.g. by tubes or transistors, which also need power to work).
I’m in love with the Royer R-121 😍
Great info! A DAW video would be awesome!!
Very interesting. I learned more than I knew but not so much my head exploded! Thanks Rhett!
This is one of the best videos you have made Rhett. Great job.
This video explained so many things I've been wondering about.... excellent.
I learn so much from your videos.
I have been afraid to jump into buying tube amp because I am or was intimidated by all the tech stuff, pedals, microphones etc.
I am purchasing a tube amp this weekend and ready to use it thx to videos you’ve made
Wow that's a lot of information. I have a condenser mic and a dynamic. Just getting started in home recording.
Awesome video, thanks Rhett
As someone who knows a lot about mics you did a fantastic job explaining everything and your examples were great! Very well spoken and you were concise and clear. Also I just realized that I've watched maybe 20-30 of your videos without being subscribed. I fixed that for you.
You’re doing the Gods of Rock work right here. Keep doing your thing 🤘🏼
Can you talk about IRs and how to pick the right "profile" for the best sound?
Just today I was thinking on searching a tutorial on how to do this and before you know it, Rhett popped up with this video today. Thank you for the info man!
One of the most concise and clearest informational videos (on any topic) that I've seen, thanks Rhett!
Super super helpful - starting to get into home recording and this is a really great primer.
Good start on studio basics. One issue I have as a home studio neophyte is the hardware vs software debate, especially as it relates to guitars. Should I buy multiple amps and pedals or rely on my daw for those tones? The hardware solution may provide a better sound but digital is getting very close and is much cheaper - most of us don’t have the multiple thousands of dollars for that extra 5% bump in quality. An emphasis on cost/benefit of all gear would be great. I appreciated that you used a relatively standard amp for this episode, it might be a good idea to use the same amp for all demos 😎. Thanks for all your effort.
This video was such a good use of 20 minutes. Dense with good knowledge for a beginner. Thanks!
Terrific video, Rhett! I'll try to apply what I learned to amplitube today after work.
Im really getting into a home studio, and really wanted to fill out my mixes. I just ordered 4 sm57's to mic drums, and whatever else I want them for. I can make good mixes already, but my drum sound is weak due to only having one 57 at the moment. I am very excited to get a good drum sound. The 57 is so affordable, and so reliable for its price. Oh.... and also stole a 4x12 AVT for $250 aswell. Lol. Great video Rhett
I finally understood how all of this work, thank you!
Really clear video! Please explain how to lay down basic drums tracks + draft guitar parts using Luna and/or Garage Band!
A great way to experiment with mic/mic placement, would be through using a DI (Direct Input) box and reamp box in my opinion. You can record a single take in DI, output to the reamp box to compare the same sound and decide what works best using A-B comparisons.
A reamp box allows you to output from a +4dBu sound source and converts it into an amp level signal, which can be plugged into you amp's guitar input.
Great video by the way
great way of showing how mic placement matter! as a newbie experimenting myself on the topic I appreciate the effort that went into making this video. thanks!
Great video. I just started using a R10 and a SM57 live and this video helped me out. Thanks so much.
Beginners guide to compression and eq, possibly separate videos, would be great. As would a comparison of, say, large condenser microphones at different price points so we can get a feeling whether we want to go from a Behringer B1 to a Rode NT1 to something a bit more expensive
Royer is beautiful in combo...but dang its sensitive and expensive. Mic placement is so spot on! Great vid!
Good thing you were holding a match up to it! :) Thanks Rhett, I thought this was really well done!!!
Great video Rhett, this video will hit over 1m views I guarantee. Very helpful to a lot of people.
I was just hoping some high quality content would show up in my feed....Thanks Rhett!
I am primarily starting to record acoustic guitar and voice at home but found this info really interesting and informative.
Thanks
For me, the Number One rule for getting the best results with almost any endeavour is "Experiment!"
Try different ideas, setups, combinations --- whatever applies --- and find out what does the trick for you.
All you have to invest (other than the cost of equipment) is time.
In some cases, writing detailed notes can be helpful, especially when something really works well.
The dual micing technique with open back cabs, & one mic in front of speaker, one at back of speaker, through the open back works well on the cheap too. Just flip the phase, for the rear mic. It sounds big, almost as big as SM57+Royer121 (you get the bass from rear, and some figure of 8 effects), albeit without that smooth articulate top end. Royer R-121 are fantastic, and my favourite ribbon, or any mic on guitar cab. But, the are expensive and outside of the vast majority of people's budge. They're similar in price to a typical recording tube amp (Fender '65 Princeton or Deluxe Reverb Reissue). Some great alternatives are the Beyerdynamic M-160, which I find _almost_ as good as the Royer R-121, at less than half the price. The Beyer M-160 is also more flexible mic to have as your first ribbon, because I find it to be a better drum mic, vocal and bowed strings mic than the R-121, so I'd rather have a pair of M-160s than one R-121, when kitting out a studio that will record more than just guitar cabs. At a similar price, the Royer R-10 is good, same capsule though not quite as big, warm and smooth sounding as the R-121. Then the Rode NTR is a slightly cheaper. At the more affordable end, there is the Cascade Fathead (about 200-250 second-hand), Golden Age Project R1 or R1A (150-250 or under new). That Rode NTR and GAP R-1A are both active ribbon mics, so are ok with phantom power. And solves some impedance issues you might have with ribbon mics and some preamps.
My old audio teacher in film school would've appreciated this video.
Suggestion for another vid: How to incorporate guitar pedals into a DAW. Ex) If I want to use my HOF2 in a vocal chain or mix my tape delay pedal into a keyboard chain. I know there are pluggins but in some situations I'd rather use my pedals b/c i like the sounds and can dial them in just how I want.
Great job on this. And great guitar playing too. You've got it down, man.
Great detailed information on mics. Would like to see details on audio interfaces. Like what's a good audio interface for beginners ?
Basically every audio interface over or around 100$ now days are all good
Hey Rhett, thanks so much for this video. You put a subject that has always mystified me into simple, straightforward terms. This vid will be the perfect reference that I can keep coming back to when I start recording. Invaluable!
This is a topic I have been very interested in lately, thanks a lot. More recording videos would be awesome
Thank you so much for the attention to detail with this video! I've saved this to my playlist and will continue to use it as a guide until the knowledge is fully cemented. Thanks again
It's so great to hear the differences to clearly! How much difference do choices made in the rest of the mic signal chain change the sound? Mic preamps/compressors/in the box gear etc.