2 channel Recto Tone test : Royer R121/SM57

[Mesa4x12er]

Made a quick tone test for anyone that may be interested.

Just mic'd up my Mesa cab with the R121 and SM57, chose a random chord progression and quad tracked. Royer and SM57 are on both sides. Both mics 1" off grill cloth.

No comments about the musical selection or random note choices at the end haha. It was off the cuff just to do this real quick! At the end of each take I just went into some single note randomness. All clips peaked at the same level before export so even if one seems louder, it shouldn't be.

1. Just Royer R121 http://www.netmusicians.org/files/26-R121.mp3
2. Just Shure SM57 http://www.netmusicians.org/files/94-SM57.mp3
3. Both equally mixed http://www.netmusicians.org/files/67-EQUAL.mp3
4. 75% R121, 25% SM57 http://www.netmusicians.org/files/21-R121sm57.mp3
5. 75% SM57, 25% R121 http://www.netmusicians.org/files/79-SM57r121.mp3

HP@65
LP@12K
on the royer bus I boosted 1.5K and 4K 1.5dB as it's quite a bit darker and wanted to get similar tones. Nothing drastic.

Anyway I figure most metal guys will prefer either the 57 alone or the mix with mostly SM57. It is more grindy. I personally prefer the mix with mostly royer and a sprinkle of SM57 as I like huge and a little smoother.

 

[alan1990]

I think they all sounds great! good job taming the beast. I am liking the 75% SM57, 25% R121 clip best though

 

[Mesa4x12er]

Thanks man. The source had a little more treble than I'd normally like so the 57 is a bit fizzier than normal, but I think I could really work with these tones.

 

[PostMortem1666]

I love the all Royer clip and the 75% Royer, 25% 57. Sounds great man!

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Sounds GREAT! Mixing ribbons and 57s is the way to go! I really dig it man.

Oversized cab?

Where were the mics placed in relation to the dustcap?

Which guitar/pickups? boosted? Which channel?

thanks

-Joe

 

[grywolf627]

...I personally prefer the mix with mostly royer and a sprinkle of SM57 as I like huge and a little smoother.

I've got to agree with you there. That 75% Royer clip is just awesome sounding!

 

[Mesa4x12er]

Thanks guys.

EC1000 w/ 500T in the bridge > Fulltone OCD > 2 Channel Mesa Dual Rectifier > Mesa 4x12 Rectifier Cab (Oversized) > Royer R121 & Shure SM57 > Chandler TG2 > Firestudio Project > Cakewalk Sonar

 

[Metaltastic]

DAMN, sounds fucking righteous dude, so much balls! When the harmonies come in, it gets painfully epic too! Fuck, it's really hard to choose, but I think I'm gonna say my favorite is the 75% SM57 / 25% R121, cuz IMO the EQUAL and 75% R121 / 25% SM57 are full as all hell but just a bit too muffled sounding in comparison. I LOVE the R121 by itself though! Damn, gotta clear my head and come back to this...

Ok, I can definitely rule out equal, way too much mids in that one (still sounds great of course, I'm just speaking in relation to the others )

 

[Metaltastic]

And holy crap, did you not use any kind of OD pedal before the amp?

 

[Mesa4x12er]

haha glad you like em. There was an OD pedal. After I created the chain post I went back and edited. Guess it didn't go through. I used a Fulltone OCD.

FIXED!

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Finally was able to listen at home on my own speakers and man I dig that!

Can you describe where the SM57 was placed in relation to the dustcap?

thanks

-Joe

 

[AdamWathan]

The all Royer clip sounds fucking awesome! Damn...

 

[Metaltastic]

Coming back after clearing my tone palate and listening to the 57 only clip first, I feel the the mic sounds just a bit closer to the dustcap than I'd like, which of course would influence the blended tracks as well. Still sounds awesome though!

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Makes me want to buy a dual rec...want...rackmount...rectifier...grrrrr!

-Joe

 

[J.DavisNJ]

Oh, and is this the red channel?

-Joe

 

[Mesa4x12er]

The SM57 was near the edge, but on the dustcap side.

It was orange channel modern btw.

 

[Unavailable]

Love it! My favorite clip was probably the 75% SM57, 25% R121. The 57 by itself rocked too, though.

 

[Mesa4x12er]

Thanks for the input man. I really need to work on my 57 placement. For some reason the 57 is always hit or miss with me. Same settings, same mic, same spot I seem to always get different results.

 

[Obscura]

I like the 75% Royer clip although all of them sounds great.

Hey J.Davis, keep an eye on craigslist in Philly. Saw a rack Recto going for about a grand last week. it's gone but they do show up sometimes. Mine is the greatest amp I've ever owned.

 

[Metaltastic]

It was orange channel modern btw.

Wait...so the Orange channel in "variable high gain" mode you mean? Or did you use the channel cloning switch to clone the red channel to the orange?