Wizard
Can I drive my SM57 into my GDec guitar amplifier?
If so, what is the most practical way to do so?
(money is a practical force too)
deanBailey
Sounds a little Unorthodox to me ???.
I wouldn't do it.
TomCat
What will the microphone be picking up?
Generally the amplifier input is a high impedance load, suitable for the high impedance's of guitar pick up's.
The output impedance of the SM57 is about 200ohms and is what is called a balanced output (3 Pin XLR).
The microphone output will also probably be too low for the amplifier to increase sufficiently to be of any use.
One can connect the microphone through a suitable pre-amp or mixer to add the required gain.
Another aspect will be the tone of the amplifier. Guitar amplifiers do not have the frequency range to reproduce vocals accurately for example.
Hope this helps.
Wizard
mmmm ...
I am wanting to mic a marimba ... and amplify it through the guitar amplifier.
Not a good idea?
TomCat
Mic'ing a marimba is not easy. I have mic'ed a few myself over the years and it is always tricky at the best of times.
One cannot close mic as the mic will pick up parts close to the microphone stronger than parts further away so the mic has to be further away to balance the output.
This results in the level to the microphone dropping. To restore this level the mic gain needs to be higher(Probably beyond the range of the amplifier without the whole affair getting noisy (and possibly inducing acoustic feedback as well).
Not recommended IMO.
Wizard
Wizard thinks: "I should re-open my idea of putting separate piezo pickups on each key ..."
CDee
Would it not work to use a mixer and 2 (or more) seperate mics for this?
Connect the 2(or more) mics to 2(or more) channels on the mixer and record (or play) that way. I know it's cumbersome and probably not a good idea, but it can work...
Is that for recording or gigging?
Wizard
Sounds like a magic idea if you have 2(or more) mics and a mixer ?
your_art_is_life
sup wizard!
unfortunately a marimba is very difficult to amplify correctly, atleast without a mixer and multiple mics per marimba.
having pickups on each key could be a start, but imo...if you want to have a natural marimba sound you would either combine pickups and condenser mics or just use a set of super cardioid condensers if feedback is a possible problem.
a set of stereo condensers would be my first choice tho, but i would be very picky as to remain true to the original sound, but then again im a studio cat...
i must add i havnt recorded marimba's but have played in a few marimba bands and am almost allways disappointed by the sound when using a pa.
good luck man....
try speak to some local sound companies that specialize in african instruments, i know eastern acoustics are pretty good...also maybe speak to matta.
peace
