recording electric guitar--mics clipping

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Member Since: Apr 04, 2009

I am having a hell of a time getting a decent sound when I record electric guitar--the mics always clip.

I am recording a Fender Pro Reverb, using an SM57 and/or and SM58 straight into a Boss BR1180CD digital recorder. I usually have the volume set around 2.5, and I've experimented plenty with mic placement. The result is always the same--the mics come across as clipping unless I set the sensitivity and input levels outrageously low.

What am I doing wrong? Do I need to run the mics through a mixer to alter the signal? I love the way my amp sounds live with my guitar (a tele), but I can't reproduce it when recording! Any help is most appreciated.

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I tune down down...
Member
Since: Jun 11, 2007


Apr 04, 2009 05:19 pm

Well, it would take a 747 taking off to clip those mics in the sense of what you are referring. Haha. What you are overdriving are the pre's in your device. Just turn the gain down on it and turn the "LISTENING" volume up to compensate. You are NOT GOING TO GET CD VOLUME while mixing. And if you do, that is a bad thing.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Apr 04, 2009 06:38 pm

hell yeah, i think the 57 can take up to 126dB. and im not sure even then if it would clip anyway.
Cynic's on with his comment.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Apr 04, 2009 11:04 pm

Yep, I don't remember exactly but you need to adjust the pre amp portion of the input section to get a clean clear signal in. The mic's you mention cannot possibly clip the diaphragm at the level you are setting the Fender to. Odds are really good it is the pre amp level setting on the BR that simply need to be adjusted lower.

Member
Since: Apr 04, 2009


Apr 05, 2009 08:37 am

Thanks much, everyone. Now where would that preamp level be? There are "sensitivity" and "input" knobs that I can adjust, but might there be something else?

cunning linguist
Member
Since: Mar 19, 2009


Apr 05, 2009 09:07 am

Try setting your active sliders to unity as well as your master slider. Unity on that board is the center mark on the black portion of the slider control.
Starting at zero on the input knob (marked "sens" on that unit), have someone play while you brimg the sens up slowly till you see he peak light. Then back it off a little till it doesn't flash anymore. Should do the trick.

If I'm wrong, someone will surely correct me but that's the way I set the peaks on my mixer.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Apr 05, 2009 02:04 pm

Yep, either the sensitivity or the input will be the one to adjust.

Member
Since: Apr 04, 2009


Apr 05, 2009 05:50 pm

Thanks again, everyone. I figured A Pro Reverb at 2-3 could't clip a Shure mic, and that it was something with the recorder.

But we seem to have gone back full circle here.

The problem is that the signal will clip with the sensitivity and input knobs opened only very slightly. And what gets recorded this way sounds like something from an old transistor radio (and not in a cool lo-fi way!)

By contrast, when I record drums/bass/vocals/keys with this unit, they come in loud and full...

I know about phasing mics (not that I've been especially successful at it)--but the problem here seems to be the overwhelming signal coming in...

Thanks again for the help.


Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Apr 05, 2009 07:16 pm

What are you doing different while recording the others? If its different mic's and or cables that might have something to do with it.

Its got to be something simple. I just don't think its possible for the Fender to be that loud that its pushing that much signal into the recorder.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Apr 06, 2009 10:54 am

Some preamps are just really sensitive. The preamps on my Yamaha MG mixer are pretty sensitive. Not as sensitive as yours are, but we had to use a compressor on a kick and snare of a drum kit to tame the signal picked up from a couple of SM57s. With the gain all the way down it would still clip pretty easily.

If all else fails, you can look into an inline pad for each channel that's clipping at unreasonable signal levels.

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