PG-81 condenser mic.
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Posted on May 28, 2009 07:35 pm
Dematrix
http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member Since: Nov 27, 2007
Before i go ahead and kill it, does anyone know if i could use this mic in front of a loud distorted amp?
i got it in my shure drum mic set. Ive already used the bass drum mic for a bass guitar close mic, which worked better than i couldve hoped.
just wanna make sure i dont hurt the PG81. i heard people use it for acoustic gits.
any done this?
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May 28, 2009 09:27 pm It won't hurt it... You might find it a bit... grainy...?
You might find yourself backing it off some. Maybe even suspending light cloth (a handkerchief, t-shirt, something along those lines) in front of it to take some of the edge off.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
May 28, 2009 09:44 pm Gotta agree with MM on that. On heavy distortion it is going to emphasize the grit a good deal. As he suggested you can move it off a bit and try a light baffle of sorts.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
May 28, 2009 11:33 pm ok, im just trying some different things, as i would like to get some more clarity and response from my git tracks.
they sound good, but its like the nuts from my amp just inst quite transfering to my compy enough without losing punch.
im using a normal length (10 metres i think roughly) xlr lead to my mic pre. not sure if that could be it or not.
maybe i need to tips on how to et the pre going better i dunno.
May 29, 2009 09:53 am You could use 100m without losing much. No problem there.
Keep in mind that with low-transient signals (such as a distorted guitar), you're going to want what some people would consider very low input levels. 0dBVU is going to be around -16dBFS - PEAKS - at the converters. Otherwise, you could very easily be overdriving the mic preamp (with an already overdriven signal). That rarely works out in the long run...
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
May 29, 2009 10:38 am firstly i have not much of an idea of what you are saying here, but i really would like to know, as its things like this that make the difference.
this is sorta what i was getting at, im not up to speed with everything i could be on these matters. and now i think of it, im more than likely i am overdriving it.
i would really appreciate if you expalin what you mean here from guitar amp, to pre, to compy.
I'll at least tell you what im doing.
basicly going from Guitar amp mic, to mic pre and driving it till the "pre" is at around 0 dB, give or take, and the output at around the same.
i set my mono in, in the software at -18/19dB. and record at that.
cheers.
May 29, 2009 03:55 pm EVERYTHING (E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G) should be at unity. EVERYTHING. No exceptions, no if's, and's or but's.
Setting levels in software is like pouring ice cubes on a burnt steak and expecting it to uncook itself. Far too late to do any good (actually doing more harm with the additional calculations).
0db... what? 0dBVU? 0dBFS? Assuming it's not 0dBSPL...
Set the output on the preamp (it's a shame that they even have them) to unity. Any sort of attenuator on the converters/interface (again, if they're even there) to unity. For sure, anything after that (such as any trim or level controls in the DAW) to unity.
Twist the HEAD AMP GAIN ONLY to read around 0dBVU (sigh... IF the preamp even has VU meters - Sadly, too many don't have this most basic and *only* truly useful meter anymore) and you should notice a signal bouncing around -16dBFS in the computer.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
May 29, 2009 09:35 pm excellent mate! thanks, I feel like a bit of a nob not really knowing this, and i wouldve learnt long ago if i hadve known it to be in the frst place.
yeah when i was setting the softy at -18 i knew that had to be off, least im not that dumb, although i did it. hahaha.
yeah changin that is like putting a bandaid at the tip of the finger when the its hanging off at the knuckle.
and yep my Pre has VU meters and when i say 0dB i mean on the VU meter. now i just got what dBVU means.
when you say HEAD AMP GAIN you do mean guitar amp?
so it seems maybe im not running the Pre too hard, but i have the amp up too loud.
May 29, 2009 10:42 pm Head amp = preamp input gain.
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
May 30, 2009 03:12 am cool ok, well if anything im not allowing enough thru on the software side of things.
basicly it could be at any bloody level in the software but im turning it down there so who knows what it could be at.
im not sure it would make any difference how loud i set it at unless it was peaking out at unity from the pre.
thanks again MM.
