Mic the amp vs. Direct Input?

[GuitarsAndTacos]

What is the differencebetween miking the guitar amp and just going directly in through the line out? And if I go about mic'ing the amp, could someone fill me in on the details (i.e - how far away the mic is from the speakers, etc. etc.)

[KC_ArtRocker]

Hey Tacos. I am by no means a professional sound engineer, but I have done a lot of home recording. I used to mic my amp, but now I use an amp modeler/FX processor and I run it straight into my recording device. I have had fairly good luck with both, but I do not know anything about ruinning a cable from the "line out" jack on an amp into a recording device. As far as mic-ing your amp, I don't think there are any rules. i have seen a few videos with different advice. I am of the current conviction that getting an amp modeler (Pod, V-amp, etc. I use a Yamaha DG-Stomp and I love it) is the way to go, but that just works well with my particular style of music. Here is a good site on this topic. I just went to Google and typed in "recording guitar mic amp" (without the quotation marks): http://www.homerecordingconnection.c...ory&id=140

Good Luck. I wanna see some Journey posted in the Covers section!
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[vanhalenrock]

Mic + Amp imo

[3fingers]

Pod-like device is easier and sometimes better...however, I still love to mic a good tube amp...I use 2 SM-57's one on axis (right into the cone) the other off axis (about 45 degrees off the wall of the cone)...then I can blend or exclude....mic is about right on the grill cloth in each case...sometimes mic'ing the back of the cabinet on an old Fender is great too...lots to experiment with...but that's the fun of it...try everything until you get YOUR sound...good luck man!! [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

[VanMan2000]

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vanhalenrock said:
Mic + Amp imo

[/ QUOTE ]

When it is an option I'm with you. Of course, I have almost no experience in recording guitar, just bass. But I think it gives you a fatter, rounder sound if you will.

[andrewtheshreddr]

in my opinion mic+amp gets a more natural sound..

[VHF]

I have a lot of experience with mics, amp simulators, and direct inputs. Any of them can sound good...it's just a question of how much post processing you want to do....or how much $$$ you want to spend.

IMO-skip the direct input option....for the most part.

IMO-Only mic the amp if you have a good mic preamp....and a decent mic....which is at least an SM-57 or better.

Fact-A POD or other amp simulator is the easiest and fastest way to get a good recording. It's also the cheapest way to get a good stereo recording of a guitar which sounds much better than mono in most cases. You can get a V-amp on E-bay for less than $100 and you are all set. Pod 2.0's are about $150 used and POD XT's are about $300 new.

[Mr Crumb]

Then the major problem... a decent mic pre will set you back as much as a good guitar amp.

[VHF]

[ QUOTE ]
Mr Crumb said:
Then the major problem... a decent mic pre will set you back as much as a good guitar amp.

[/ QUOTE ]

I use a Tascam US-122...about $130 on E-bay.

[TongueNGroove]

It all boils down to the quality of the Mic, the sound of the room you're in (i.e is it designed for recording with acousticly balanced walls and sound proof etc...), and your knowledge of working with Amps and Mics. Now, if you have all of that and you are confident in your recording abbilities you can gain quite a good sound. However, you can skip ALL of that and just go straight into the soundcard and still get an Awsome sound with none of the hastle.

Seems like a cut and dry choice to me, unless of course you are a professional musician working in a real recording studio.

[Mr Crumb]

I tend to disagree. If you close mic a loud 4x12 guitar cab, the room has little to do with the equation. If you are using anything other than a 57 or 421 on a rock/metal guitar rig, you really shouldn't be. High quality LDC's do not belong in front of a rock guitar rig. There are a very few exceptions to this rule. Some ribbons sound nice in front of a rock guitar rig.

You would be surprised how a cheap "mic pre" can trash the sound to tape. I personally use several vintage tube pres and a Neve 80 series pre to do guitar. Anything else is either too clean or too shitty for my taste. Without a good mic pre, you can not capture good sound.