Recording amps and hearing loss

Ermz

Ermz

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Apr 5, 2002
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So the unfortunate situation for many of us is dialing amps for tracking on a regular basis. The first problem with this tends to be that you really have to have your head in front of the speakers to really hear what's going on. The second problem is that for most tube amps to sing, they have to at least be turned up to moderate levels. With this combination of factors it stands to reason that beyond the usual threshold shift you'd get for the day simply doing that for a minute or two, it doesn't imply good things in the long term.

What are techniques you guys use to dial in solid amp sounds whilst protecting your hearing at the same time?
 
I would say having the amp in the control room and dialing it in through the monitors is the best bet, if we're talking tracking - but honestly, I doubt the tone of an amp really changes that much at higher volumes, so if you've got settings that sound good lower, you'd only have to do quick minor changes after turning it up, limiting the time you'd have to pummel your ears.
 
Metaltastic said:
... but honestly, I doubt the tone of an amp really changes that much at higher volumes...
Click to expand...

Not very accurate man. The more you push that Master volume, the better any tube amp will sound. Live, I keep my master DIMED. In the studio, I usually have it at about 3 o'clock. You get your best tone and saturation from pushing those big power tubes. You want to crank the master and leave it, then adjust your preamp volume as needed. I usually have that between 9 and 12 o'clock, depending on the application. That's really why the Hot Plate was invented, not for direct recording, but to have a lesser volume coming from your cab while the head is CRANKED.
 
What are techniques you guys use to dial in solid amp sounds whilst protecting your hearing at the same time?
Click to expand...

michael wagener has said that he'll have the guitarist turn the volume knob down all the way, then have an assistant move a mic around in front of the speaker while he listens to the hiss through the monitors - whatever spot projects the hissing the most clearly is where he sticks the mic.

you can also do it yourself by listening to the hiss through some isolation phones, or by just sticking your ear right up to the cone and moving your head around...but make goddamned sure the guitarist doesn't touch his volume knob!
 
Tommy Gun said:
Not very accurate man. The more you push that Master volume, the better any tube amp will sound. Live, I keep my master DIMED. In the studio, I usually have it at about 3 o'clock. You get your best tone and saturation from pushing those big power tubes. You want to crank the master and leave it, then adjust your preamp volume as needed. I usually have that between 9 and 12 o'clock, depending on the application. That's really why the Hot Plate was invented, not for direct recording, but to have a lesser volume coming from your cab while the head is CRANKED.
Click to expand...

Well you're kinda quoting me out of context dude; if you read the end of that sentance, you'll see that I'm not saying it doesn't sound better at higher volumes, I'm saying that if you dial it in so that it sounds good at lower volumes, you don't need to change it much (or at all) when you turn it up.
 
colonel kurtz said:
michael wagener has said that he'll have the guitarist turn the volume knob down all the way, then have an assistant move a mic around in front of the speaker while he listens to the hiss through the monitors - whatever spot projects the hissing the most clearly is where he sticks the mic.

you can also do it yourself by listening to the hiss through some isolation phones, or by just sticking your ear right up to the cone and moving your head around...but make goddamned sure the guitarist doesn't touch his volume knob!
Click to expand...

I, myself use the same technique, which I got from Cory, and he learned it from Devin Townsend. So Devin does that as well. And he doesn't end up reamping very much. Neither do we really.
 
Metaltastic said:
Well you're kinda quoting me out of context dude; if you read the end of that sentance, you'll see that I'm not saying it doesn't sound better at higher volumes, I'm saying that if you dial it in so that it sounds good at lower volumes, you don't need to change it much (or at all) when you turn it up.
Click to expand...

AHH, I see where you are going, but I think that should be up for experimentation. Every tube amp I've ever played through has a very different tone and color at higher volumes from lower volumes.
 
I was going to ask the same question actually. So I'm glad this discussion came up.

Anyways..what I usually do is sit in front of the amp and have a db meter with me and keep the amp around 90-95db and try to get the best tone I can while playing in front of the amp. Then mic it up(assuming I know the best speaker on the cab), crank it up, then go check things out in the control room and make adjustments from there.

Any other ideas would be great to hear.
 
that article on recording distorted guitar by slipperman or something like that said they did it the old school way of sticking yer head in front of it and finding the right speaker, then getting an assistant wearing phones to sweep around the speaker with a mic on a boom and stop and talk to you whenever you say to, this way after a while you'll hear the good spots and get 'em to stop there
 
colonel kurtz said:
michael wagener has said that he'll have the guitarist turn the volume knob down all the way, then have an assistant move a mic around in front of the speaker while he listens to the hiss through the monitors - whatever spot projects the hissing the most clearly is where he sticks the mic.
Click to expand...

This is the best way. Fast, easy, and it works every time.
 
well, any tube amp is going to emit a bit of hiss through the speakers when the master is dimed and the guitar's volume is turned down - whatever spot lets the hiss seem the loudest/most defined is where you want to stick your mic
 
I've heard of that trick many times before, but it seems like you skip the step of experimenting with the mic placement while actually listening to the amp w/ the guitar playing. It makes more sense to me to dial in the amp and get it sounding good in the room, then put the mic where on the edge of the dustcap and then listen to see what you think then move the mic accordingly, or completely start over when your still working on getting good tones like myself..haha.

But I've heard it works for alot of other engineer's and people on this forum, so I'm probably going to give it a shot this week when I get a chance.
 
I wonder if that trick works well for dual/multiple micing? Phase issues mostly in mind. It might even make it easier.
Click to expand...

yes, because you can sit and mess with the phase relationship of the hissing. it might be worth checking over again when you get the speakers moving, but it should get you most of the way there...
 
This is SLIGHTLY off topic but,

Have any of yous ever heard of this shit called Bio Ear?
I guess it's supposed to help with Tinnitus, I saw it in this catalog that I got at my house filled with retarded ass gadgets and shit and it looked like a good thing, if it works....
 
i've seen that before, and it looks pretty good but i've read numerous articles on how herbal remedies don't work for tinnitus. sadly, nothing really does anything to make it go away yet. i heard they were trying rogaine or some shit to get the hairs in your ear to grow back and it didn't work.

hopefully someday they'll get something that'll do the job, i know i'll be happier.
 
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