Microphone Help!

[Mvrphy]

Hi everyone. I'm looking to invest in some good guitar microphones for my upcoming band recordings. Can I get someone's take on the Sennheiser MD 441U?

Here is a link:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MD441U/

Now, my personal take on it is "you get what you pay for" ... however I don't always find that every microphone is more "effective" just because someone slapped a big price on it. I am thinking of buying a more upscale microphone and a cheaper microphone that is renowned amongst many engineers (SM57). Is this a good plan? and if not, may I get some suggestions on guitar mics?

Of course I'm aware that equipment is only as good as the person who uses it. I feel that I am an intermediate, so I don't feel that I should just buy cheaper mics for beginners if I honestly have a more flexible budget. Thanks everyone!

[Dism]

You can never have too many 57s around. Probably the most versatile mic you're ever going to have. Definitely get one or two (or twelve) of these.

Now, as far as other mics go... it really does come down to budget. You can get a pretty decent mic for around $300-400, (like an NT1A or B7) or you can get an awesome mic for closer to $1000 (like the 441U, or say a 414). You could also spend $2-3000 or more easily, and have a fantastic mic, but in the end, it depends on what you are willing to spend vs. what you are trying to achieve. It's also good to plan your mics for versatility. It's all well and fine to have a mic that is great for guitar amps, but I'd personally rather spend the cash (at least starting up) that is great for guitars, vox, drums, etc. YMMV of course.

The room in which you are recording also has a lot of play, as well. A well treated room will help any mic from a SM57 to a U87. Then there's the rest of your front end (mic preamps, AD converters, etc). There's no point spending $4000 on a microphone if you're just going to use it with an MBox.

[Mvrphy]

Gotcha. I am using a Saffire Pro 40 preamp/interface with Pro Tools 10, currently recording in a half decent room (for lack of a better term). I think my highest budget for a mic at this time would be that 441U. Would this be a fair purchase for my circumstances?

[albee1952]

The 441 is a great mic, but not a usual "go to" guitar amp mic. My preferences in order of price are:
Royer 121 or 122(the best.....period)
Shure SM7 (way better than an SM57)
Cascade FatHead II or DR2 (really good and my 2nd choice after the Royer)
MXL 2001 or similar LDC with a 6mil diaphragm
SM57(my absolute last choice, although it works well for many)

With any of these(especially a ribbon) don't aim the amp straight at a nearby wall(angle it to avoid reflections coming directly back at the amp/mic). Experiment with placement. My usual favorite spot is close to the grill, pointing straight at the seam of the dust cap and the cone(move outward to darken the sound).

With all ribbons, keep them vertical to avoid ribbon sag, don't blow into them and don't apply phantom(unless its an active ribbon like the 122).

[Mvrphy]

I'd also like to be clear that this is for Distortion heavy Metal guitar. How would those mics respond to heavy tones?

[touch]

Ah, my question was going to be about genre. I was going to suggest a ribbon in addition to a dynamic, but forget about that when going for aggressive metal sounds.

You can definitely get far with a sm57.

I really love 441's too. They're great, very bright, lots of definition.

Here's some good reading on the subject:
http://badmuckingfastard.com/sound/slipperman.html

[Dism]

Originally Posted by Mvrphy

I'd also like to be clear that this is for Distortion heavy Metal guitar. How would those mics respond to heavy tones?

Well any ribbon mic will give you a fairly warm "meaty" sound. A condenser will tend to give you a flatter, but crisper sound.

If you have the option, your best bet would be to rent or borrow a few different mics and see what fits your taste.

[TCM]

As mentioned SM57 or http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/e906