How to Place Microphone Tips and Tricks

December 19, 2009 | By Max Penning In General |

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There is a true art when choosing where to place a microphone on an instrument. But a couple of standards that are used to help achieve the best sound possible. I’ll share a few tips and tricks on how to place a microphone, but it might not always work in every situation. The most important thing to remember, you have to listen. If possible, put your head down where the mic is going to be placed and see if it sounds good. If it sounds bad to your ear, then it will sound bad after the mic has recorded it.

Guitar Amps

Every guitar amp has what I like to call a sweet spot. It is usually 2-4 inches off the center of the amp speaker. Don’t just place a mic there, get down and listen with your head right to the amp while the musician plays. Of course, remember to turn down the amp before you do. You don’t want to destroy your hearing before you start the session. Once you place the mic, make its facing straight into the sweet spot about 4-6 inches away. I also like to add a second mic to add a more fuller sound. I generally place it about 4 inches away from the first one, but put it on a 45° angle facing towards the other mic. The second mic isn’t necessary, but can be useful if you have the time.

Bass Guitars

The majority of engineers record the bass guitar using a DI box (Direct Input), and I agree. You want to keep as much noise and leakage out of the bass channel as possible, because it can make your mix muddy. Hook up a the bass to the DI and and feed a monitor mix through a pair of headphones for the player. If you choose to mic a bass amp and cab, be sure to place a mic on the up and lower speakers. They are usually different sizes and you’ll need to do this to capture the full sound of the bass.

Now for my little bass secret that does wonders and most engineers don’t know about. This is just an artistic choice, but I put a mic on the bass to pick up the musician’s finger plucks and slaps. This will really help a bass to pop out in a song and really does wonders for the mix.