sm57 proximity effect ( bass)

[bolero]

I was goofing around with a snarly little 20w amp I have & stuck an sm57 in front of it, there is a huge amount of bass boost if the mic is too close to the source, you can really hear it

 

 

close, right against the grill:

 

http://kt66.netii.net/audio/sm57_close.mp3

 

2 feet away:

 

http://kt66.netii.net/audio/sm57_2feet.mp3

[Horace]

Easy to hear the big difference. I wonder why ?

 

Horace

[212Mavguy]

Where did you place that close up mic with respect to the speaker cone center?

[Steiner]

There are a few constants with speakers. Sounds spread out quickly from the face of a speaker. When you move the mic straight out from the front of the speaker, you're always going to loose bass.

 

Nice playing.

[bolero]

I had it 45 degrees to the grill, sitting at the edge of the speaker cone.

 

basically parallel to the surface of the closest part of the speaker cone, and facing the far side of the cone directly

 

maybe I'll try it pointing straight in, at the center as well. I can't remember the "standard" way people close mic with these

 

but I've always fouind the bass to be boosted like that, close miking them. then you have to roll off the bass with eq

[Steiner]

I thought the SM57 & 58 were directional. I.e., to be used pointed straight at the source.

[TalismanRich]

I thought the SM57 & 58 were directional. I.e., to be used pointed straight at the source.

 

They are directional, but they will still pick up off axis to some degree. You'll hear some change in the frequency balance off axis, but if you are really close, a lot of that will be masked.

 

 

SM57s and 58 are cardioid dynamics and have a proximity effect (that's the bass boost). This is a characteristic of all unidirectional mics, and is due to the way frequencies are cancelled out to create the cardioid pattern.

 

An omnidirectional mic will have an even response regardless of the distance.

[DetroitBlues]

I use an SM57, the location of the mic in conjunction with the rim of the speaker makes a difference. I place mine somewhere about 1" from the speaker at an angle about halfway between the cone and edge.

[smurph1]

I usually just dangle the mic in front of the speaker..don't even use a stand..Works for me, but I live in West Virginia..