Record Production
Distorting room mics for explosive guitars
Dan Austin demonstrates a creative technique for recording guitars by heavily distorting a room microphone to add energy beneath the main guitar sound. He uses a bright condenser mic, like the AKG 414, placed about 12 feet from the guitar cabinet. By cranking up the mic preamps, he achieves a unique distortion, adding a lively character to the mix. Austin emphasizes the importance of recording this distorted room mic on a separate track, allowing it to be blended subtly under the close mics for a fuller, more exciting guitar sound.
Reverb.com
More sustain with a kick resonator
Noam Wallenberg demonstrates a creative miking technique to achieve more sustain and a bigger sound from a kick drum using a kick resonator setup. By placing two kick drums in sequence, the first with no front head and the second with both heads closed, Wallenberg captures the attack with an AKG D112 microphone and the body with a Bock iFet microphone. This combination allows for a controlled, punchy attack from the first drum and a resonant, sustained low-end from the second. This approach is particularly effective for sparse arrangements where the kick needs to leave a lasting impact, providing both clarity and depth without sacrificing control.