Recording 2 different speakers or one with 2 different mics?

[Akkush]

had an argument with one of my guitarist friends and want to know your take on this.

What is more useful to get the "best" tone and get the most variety from a recording?

Recording two different speakers (with the same type of mic) or choosing one speaker and recording with two different mics?

I think the first option is better, since if one speaker lacks certain frequencies, like mids from a G12T75, pairing it with a V30 will give you the "whole" spectrum.

But if something is missing from a speaker, I don't really know. You can get it with a different mic, and I think it's a bit harder to find the right one.

I know there are no perfect answers...

 

[budda]

Two sides of one goal imo. Arguing which is better is just ego.

 

[tedtan]

First, go for the best tone for the project at hand.

Second, which way sounds better for the project?

Third, you don’t really need versatility or even to fill in frequencies. This can work well, but it isn’t necessary; you can get good results with “missing” frequencies. You need room for the snare, bass, etc., so you’ll be cutting some of those frequencies anyway, so why not start there to begin with?

 

[Baelzebeard]

They're both valid ideas. Also explore using different mics on different speakers.

There are several standard recipes, but experimentation is always worthwhile.

 

[wheresthefbomb]

you're both wrong. the best way to record guitar is in mono into a boombox inside of a trashcan.

 

[budda]

you're both wrong. the best way to record guitar is in mono into a boombox inside of a trashcan.

And take a DI to reamp with a 2203

 

[tedtan]

you're both wrong. the best way to record guitar is in mono into a boombox inside of a trashcan.

Worked for all the old school black metal bands.

 

[DECEMBER]

If I could only do one, I'd mix 2 different speakers. But I'm recording 2 pairs of different speakers (2 of each for stereo) with 2 mics each. Same mics on each side of the stereo pair, but 4 different mics per 2-speaker side.

The top 2x12 are G12M-65 Creambacks, the bottom 2x12 are MC-90 Black Shadows.

 

[Moongrum]

If I could only do one, I'd mix 2 different speakers. But I'm recording 2 pairs of different speakers (2 of each for stereo) with 2 mics each. Same mics on each side of the stereo pair, but 4 different mics per 2-speaker side.View attachment 156890
The top 2x12 are G12M-65 Creambacks, the bottom 2x12 are MC-90 Black Shadows.

looks like your cab is holding a press conference

 

[purpledc]

Man best is in the ear of the beholder. You know i watch spectre sound studio. And while some things I agree with others I dont. I dont know really where I stand on recording speaker cabs because use a cortex with the cabs and mic simulations.

I think Glen from Spectre is right that the quickest way to get a different tone is by using different speakers. But he was making it seem like just buy a bunch of speakers and swap them out all the time.

In a way I get what he is saying. Because the speaker it the last thing in the signal chain before you actually mic it up and it makes a drastic difference. But its not just the speaker itself its the size of the cabinet the speakers are in and multitude of different variables.

I think in any situation with recording or playing live or just being a hobbyist the rule is there really should be no rule unless its just really really stupid. Like wanting to mic up the backside of the speaker out of an enclosure etc. Because the way your buddy does it works for him and he likes the tone. You do it certain way and you like it better.


I guess the flipside to that is ive heard many of this mixes and mixes of other people and Im not hearing any actual unique guitar tones. I think 90% of it from the guitar, the pickups, your string choice all are for the player to inspire creativity and please their own ear. At the end of the day when I hear full mixes, half the time I have to wait for the vocalist to kick in before I know which band is playing because there are very few unique guitar tones out there. Thee are a few standouts. But today for instance i had a spotify random playlist going based on the first song I chose. I swore to christ it was the same band for 7 songs and then I rolled it back and found it was 7 bands that sounded identical. Some good songs but man. Not a lot of tonal variation within various musical genres.

So I say do whatever works for you best with the least amount of hassle to get to your desired result. I can get to chicago using 4 different major interstates and they all take the same amount of time and lead to the same destination. But I definitely have my preffered route. Which is to not go to chicago at all but if I had to there is only 2 of those 4 interstates i would use.

 

[purpledc]

Worked for all the old school black metal bands.

I thought that was the metal zone pedal that got that sound?

 

[DECEMBER]

Man best is in the ear of the beholder. You know i watch spectre sound studio. And while some things I agree with others I dont. I dont know really where I stand on recording speaker cabs because use a cortex with the cabs and mic simulations.

I think Glen from Spectre is right that the quickest way to get a different tone is by using different speakers. But he was making it seem like just buy a bunch of speakers and swap them out all the time.

In a way I get what he is saying. Because the speaker it the last thing in the signal chain before you actually mic it up and it makes a drastic difference. But its not just the speaker itself its the size of the cabinet the speakers are in and multitude of different variables.

I think in any situation with recording or playing live or just being a hobbyist the rule is there really should be no rule unless its just really really stupid. Like wanting to mic up the backside of the speaker out of an enclosure etc. Because the way your buddy does it works for him and he likes the tone. You do it certain way and you like it better.


I guess the flipside to that is ive heard many of this mixes and mixes of other people and Im not hearing any actual unique guitar tones. I think 90% of it from the guitar, the pickups, your string choice all are for the player to inspire creativity and please their own ear. At the end of the day when I hear full mixes, half the time I have to wait for the vocalist to kick in before I know which band is playing because there are very few unique guitar tones out there. Thee are a few standouts. But today for instance i had a spotify random playlist going based on the first song I chose. I swore to christ it was the same band for 7 songs and then I rolled it back and found it was 7 bands that sounded identical. Some good songs but man. Not a lot of tonal variation within various musical genres.

So I say do whatever works for you best with the least amount of hassle to get to your desired result. I can get to chicago using 4 different major interstates and they all take the same amount of time and lead to the same destination. But I definitely have my preffered route. Which is to not go to chicago at all but if I had to there is only 2 of those 4 interstates i would use.

There are a few bands with recognizable, unique, signature sounds. Like TOOL, Deftones, AFI, Smashing Pumpkins, Bad Religion, The Cure... Even if it's a song you've never heard, you can tell it's one of these bands, before you hear any voice.
But yeah, there is a ton of copycat repetition, which is actually the majority of what's out there. There are the few great ones that the many are trying to emulate. It's sad when you hear the bands trying to emulate TOOL... you hear it and it's obvious this is meant to be TOOL-like, but it's just so cheap and watered-down in comparison.

 

[cojoguitar]

had an argument with one of my guitarist friends and want to know your take on this.

What is more useful to get the "best" tone and get the most variety from a recording?

Recording two different speakers (with the same type of mic) or choosing one speaker and recording with two different mics?

I think the first option is better, since if one speaker lacks certain frequencies, like mids from a G12T75, pairing it with a V30 will give you the "whole" spectrum.

But if something is missing from a speaker, I don't really know. You can get it with a different mic, and I think it's a bit harder to find the right one.

I know there are no perfect answers...

Skinning cats is always tricky. So many ways to get the job done. It's a bit like putting a nappy on a baby. Is the butt covered? Mission accomplished!

The only thing that matters is how it fits in the mix. Use two mics and slide the faders to get the EQ you're looking for. Or use a mic for each speaker and use the faders to get your EQ. Or... Use some sort of decent IR processing plugin/device and move the sliders for your EQ. Whatever works is the one to use.

 

[budda]

Also, once it works; start tracking, not trying to do better.

 

[tedtan]

I thought that was the metal zone pedal that got that sound?

The guitarists played through the metal zones, but they had to record it somehow, hense the boombox in a trashcan.

 

[purpledc]

There are a few bands with recognizable, unique, signature sounds. Like TOOL, Deftones, AFI, Smashing Pumpkins, Bad Religion, The Cure... Even if it's a song you've never heard, you can tell it's one of these bands, before you hear any voice.
But yeah, there is a ton of copycat repetition, which is actually the majority of what's out there. There are the few great ones that the many are trying to emulate. It's sad when you hear the bands trying to emulate TOOL... you hear it and it's obvious this is meant to be TOOL-like, but it's just so cheap and watered-down in comparison.

Well yeah but thats what Im talking about legacy bands that defined a genre. Im talking about all the new up and coming bands. I grew up on eights hair metal, grunge and nu-metal. I wasnt referring to the originators. And many of them are older bands that continue to make albums.

Im with you though. Its the newer bands that im speaking of. Im just saying I have seen a band come out that will be remembered and be a household name in future generations for a long time. As an 80's hair band fanatic I am kinda seeing there what im seeing in metal. Lots of dudes copying each other, not really making good music except for one single. I just think the music scene is filled with a lot of music that proabably was written and programmed on a computer and the dudes have to sit and learn how to play it live after wriiing the song.

So aside from the big names? I dont see a lot variety. JMHO

 

[Drew]

Lots of ways to skin a cat, I guess. For what it's worth though, the excellent Slipperman tutorial here, he argues for a single speaker, in that almost without exception if you stick your ear in front of a 4x12, you WILL have a favorite speaker.

It probably matters less at my typical recording level but I usually choose one speaker and stick two mics on it.