Sound pressure levels and condensor destruction
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Posted on Jul 17, 2006 03:34 pm
jetglo
Member Since: Jul 23, 2004
Is there a good way to know, rule of thumb etc to know how close/loud a guitar amp can be miked with a condensor? I get a great tone.. but I would like to move the mic closer and try to eliminate a bit more room tone. But I am very concerned about destroying my mic.
I am not playing loudly, I am conscious of staying within human volume range thus far.
I am assuming if I stick with this idea of using the condensor as opposed to an sm57 or 58, I will ultimately need to find a SPL tester of some sort.. any thoughts on these devices? Is one that is accurate enough to do the job way expensive?
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Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 17, 2006 05:32 pm You can find them online for a decent price. Places like Radio Shack and the like will have them. ANd yes the more money you sepnd the more accurate it will be. Or I should say the more bells and whistles it will have.
You will need to find the maximum SPL handling spec for the given mic and then use the meter to determine where you are in respect to that signal with the mic.
I use one frequantly here.
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Jul 17, 2006 06:47 pm I lost mine :P
jetgloMember
Since: Jul 23, 2004
Jul 17, 2006 07:53 pm www.chem.purdue.edu/chems...in/dblevels.htm
well ok I found this comparison chart. My GT55 maximum spl is 134dB.
I called GrooveTubes but could not get a tech guy.. he/they said unless I am really playing loud, painfully loud, I should not have a problem.
Well I need numbers, baby.
If this chart is even close to reality, I should be okay.. since my best tone/volume is certainly less than a vacuum cleaner, and I've got the mic aimed a bit off axis.. as opposed to dead on.
At this point I am not sure if it is worth getting the meter.
Any thoughts though would be greatly appreciated since I just got this mic recently and can't afford another.. well maybe a tin horn.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 17, 2006 09:58 pm I would agree, if you are aiming off axis yo will probably be just fine. However I would definately double check the maximum SPL rating of the mic just to be safe. If you need help finding the rating for tmic, list the mic here and I will have a look for the specs tommorrow.
Noize
jetgloMember
Since: Jul 23, 2004
Jul 17, 2006 11:16 pm Its the GrooveTubes GT55.
In this instance I've got it off axis and about 10 inches out away from the face of the cab. The mic is aimed off to the side of the speaker, centered between the speaker and a port.
The speaker is a fifteen so it does have some bassy push, but like I said the vol is less than a vac or blender. But to move it closer... I am concerned.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 18, 2006 07:02 pm The GT55 is good for 134 to 145, so you should be good to go as you are.
jetgloMember
Since: Jul 23, 2004
Jul 18, 2006 07:55 pm Yeah I think I must be playing at about 60-80dB just going by the chart.
Of course a very hot guitar with neck humbuckers going into a fifteen inch bass speaker should be adding up to most of the SPL.. but I'm really not playing loud.. just trying to get a great clean tube tone.
However, I've spent some time reading about condensores before buying this one... and I really thought they were much more sensitive to SPL.. perhaps I've confused physical fragility with SPL though. I AM surprised to learn that a condensor can handle over 130dB; based on this dB chart.
Thanks.
