Judge not lest ye be ready to hear the result. Whether it’s microphone placement or mix choices, there’ve been times where I thought, “that guy doesn’t know what he’s doing.” But then I heard the result. The last newsletter covered low passing drums. There are a number of other non-traditional methods that get some good sounds.
1. Acoustic Guitar Distortion
That’s right, I added distortion to an acoustic guitar – rhythm, mind you.
We usually run a full-size band of seven-to-eight people but this day we were short a few, including both of our electric guitarists (usually one rhythm and one lead).
One of the songs needed that grungy electric grinding in the background. Otherwise, with what we had on stage, the song fell flat.
I didn’t add a ton of distortion because the sound should match up with the band as much as possible. But I did add it. It wasn’t enough to destroy the natural sound of the acoustic guitar but it added enough of that backfill grunge to get me what I needed.
Another method I could have used would have been to duplicate the acoustic guitar channel on the console and added the distortion to only one channel. Then I could have blended the wet and dry channels to get both the distortion while keeping the acoustic’s clarity and brightness.
2. Center Amp Miking
I’ve seen this story pop up from a few people recently and I’ve experienced it myself.
Traditionally, we’re all taught (and we teach) that a guitar amplifier should be miked with the microphone at some point between the amp speaker’s center and the outside rim – adjusting for where it gives the best sound.
The last place to put the mic is the very center – in front of that voice coil/dust cap. But, you know what? Sometimes that placement gives the BEST sound.
I’m not saying you should always do it that way. However, if you aren’t getting the sound you like from the traditional miking method, give it a try.
3. Horizontal Hi-Hat Miking
This one’s new to me but it makes perfect sense. Drum miking means we have to deal with the whole bleed between the snare and the hi-hat and try to minimize it. Not that all bleed is bad.
James Cadwallader says, “Some time ago, I picked up the method of turning a small diaphragm cardioid condenser nearly horizontal above the hi-hat and pointing it away from the snare. Having the snare in the “nulling area” of the mic’s polar pattern is very effective in reducing bleed.”
He said when another tech would come in, it’s the first thing they would want to change – because it didn’t align with their traditional thinking about drum miking.
It’s very easy to set up the stage and mix like you’ve been doing for years. And that might get you a really good sound. Now step out of your comfort zone and look for non-traditional methods to everything from miking to mixing. Maybe you have a number of “ah ha!” moments.
Another method to get a better sound is through adding more power and energy to the mix. Check it out below:
Benjamin Rockwell says
February 25, 2016 at 11:00 amI’m always for finding a unique sound, and am often amazed at some of the things that people will do to create the sound they are looking for.
Years ago, I was prepping for a live concert, and this duo showed up. One was the guitarist and vocal, and the other was the drummer and misc oddities person. The duo was driving around in a sub-compact, so they didn’t have space, so the drummer had a snare, hi-hat, and a couple of other small things, but in place of the kick, was a (p)leather briefcase. It made for one of the tightest, cleanest kick sounds that I’d ever heard. I’ve found that other people have played suitcases over the years, but the first time you see it, it’s slightly confusing.
Another band that I had the occasion to mix for… showed up, and had two mic leads for the lead singer. One standard one, and I didn’t pay attention to anything in the scramble, as we had just enough time to check connections and go. Somewhere near the closing of their gig, the lead singer with long curly hair, grabs out this telephone handset, and duct tapes it to his ear/mouth/face/hair. “Oh, that was that other mic!” That telephone sound we all know so well, came through loud and clear, and was what he intended, but before that day, I would never have thought of it.
Anything and everything we do as sound people should be to explore strange new sounds, and new situations, to boldly hear what no one has heard before.
Chris Huff says
February 25, 2016 at 12:09 pmRock on man, that’s some great stuff…leather briefcase…brilliant. And if you came up with that last part, that’s the best things I’ve read in a long time. “Anything and everything we do as sound people should be to explore strange new sounds, and new situations, to boldly hear what no one has heard before.” LOVE IT!