Correct way (if there is one) to mic with 2 mics

[beyond dead]

If I have to use a calculator than Im not doing it haha

 

[beyond dead]

I like to throw up a bunch of mics and get them sounding good on their own on different parts of the cab. then I can use any combination of multiple mics, or any mic on its own at any given point in the mix, depending on which one fits that part.

 

[darthjujuu]

anyone wondering about this should read the stickied thread "that clayman sound" in its lengthy entirety.

 

[Lasse Lammert]

this!

The easiest way to do this is:

1. Turn your amp on, switch to the distorted channel and turn the gain and volume up until you can hear a decent amount of white noise going on.

2. Put your two mics in front of the speaker and turn your mic preamps to eleven.

3. Flip the phase on one of the preamps.

4. Grab your good isolation headphones, bring one mic into position. Then move the other mic until the white noise gets very thin and almost disappears on your headphones.

5. Flip phase and have phooooon!

finally...
I couldn't believe the nonsense I was reading before this reply.
all I would add is that it helps to watch the meters in your DAW...I switch to peak view in PT (command click on the meter I think) and adjust the preamp volume so that the mic signals ere equally strong.

I can't believe people think they can phase align 2 mics with their eyes or some sort of measure, fucking bollicks....especially with two different mics

 

[darthjujuu]

finally...
I couldn't believe the nonsense I was reading before this reply.
all I would add is that it helps to watch the meters in your DAW...I switch to peak view in PT (command click on the meter I think) and adjust the preamp volume so that the mic signals ere equally strong.

I can't believe people think they can phase align 2 mics with their eyes or some sort of measure, fucking bollicks....especially with two different mics

i understand white noise, but not quite in this context...is the idea to flip the phase, try and cancel everything but the thin shitty shit, and then flip the phase again so that only the thin shrill unwanted crap is what is ultimately cancelled out?

edit: sorry meant to quote the thing you quoted

 

[mva801]

I can't believe people think they can phase align 2 mics with their eyes or some sort of measure, fucking bollicks....especially with two different mics

?? I do it all the time. As long as you know where the diaphragm is in the mic, it's easy. That's the important part. I've never taken apart an i5 or 421, so when I use those mics I'll ear align it. The 57 and royer combo is usually my starting point, and I know right where each of those diaphragms are. It never fails.

 

[AllanD]

Has anyone tried dual mic other instruments, like drums and whatnot? It sounds a little stupid, but I'm interested in results

 

[slashvanyoung]

Well it's quite common to mic both top and bottom of a snare for example, but that's a bit different since it's practically two sources your trying to capture then.

 

[Trevoire520]

Inside and outside kick is also really cool. One right up at the beater to capture the click and one just inside the sound hole to get the boom. Filter hard and compress each one separately and you'll have a very controlled kick sound without sample replacement.

There's also quite a few producers who use two mic's for the top snare. Normally a SDC (AKG C451B seems to be a common choice) and a dynamic (normally a 57)

Align the capsules as well as you can and then tape them together.

 

[Erkan]

If I have to use a calculator than Im not doing it haha

Best thing that's been said in a long time

 

[Lasse Lammert]

?? I do it all the time. As long as you know where the diaphragm is in the mic, it's easy. That's the important part. I've never taken apart an i5 or 421, so when I use those mics I'll ear align it. The 57 and royer combo is usually my starting point, and I know right where each of those diaphragms are. It never fails.

well, bear in mind that the membrane of the speaker is not flat.

 

[AllanD]

I'm aware of the dual micing in that style, I was talking about the fredman technique

 

[mva801]

well, bear in mind that the membrane of the speaker is not flat.

Which is exactly why i measure from the point where the dust cap meets the speaker cone. One mic on the left edge of the dust cap, one on the right. The seem is the same depth all the way around, creating a known distance from the mic diaphragms. If I'm not into the sound at that juncture, then of course I start moving things around and it becomes near impossible to measure out; that's when I break out the headphones and polarity buttons.

With regard to dual micing other instruments, I also dual mic the snare sometimes (usually an sm7 or 57 paired with a KM84 or AKG 451) Just make sure the diaphragms are the same distance from the snare. I'll also dual mic acoustic guitars, Stand up bass, and whatever else I feel could use some extra depth/ presence/ top end from some other mic that's not currently on it. The trick to all of it is to understand phase, LISTEN and mic accordingly.