Why Do I have to Mic a Speaker? Guitar Amp Recording Basics

Answering a fundamental question about recording electric guitar!

Many thanks to Rudy AyoUb for helping out on this one!

I think we've all asked this at one point or another.

Check out my recording tutorials!

The Intro & Outro song - "The Eagle Has Landed"

Subscribe to SpectreSoundStudios and help the channel grow!

About Spectre Sound Studios:
I'm Glenn Fricker, engineer here at Spectre Sound Studios. I love making records, and after doing it for sixteen years, I want to pass on what I've learned. On my channel you can find tutorials on how to record guitar, bass, real drums and vocals. There's reviews and demos of tube amps, amp sims, drums, mics, preamps, outboard gear, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, and plugin effects.
We've covered Moon on the Water, played Bias FX, given you the absolute best in Stupid Musician Texts, ranted & raved about bass guitar, and this channel is where The Eagle has Landed.
Everything you've wanted to learn about recording Hard Rock & Heavy Metal can be found right here on this channel!

I also respond to your comments & questions: The best make it into the SMG Viewer's Comments series of videos. Loads of fun, lots of laughs.

Thanks for checking out my channel & please subscribe!

[RudyAyoub]

Thanks for having me!

Im tilted im not first tho

[rapscallion]

the direct out sounds like a lo-fi effect you might use for an intro before the full band kicks in

[MarioMario-myib]

Dude as a rock / metal fan since I was 6 I don't get tired of saying that the sound of a distorted electric guitar is one of the most majestic sounds in this world.

[johnwallace]

Finally explained, with examples. Great vid

[MrVadymMykh]

Asked this question several times and didn't get a response as clear as you gave in this video. Thanks for being awesome and for teaching us! Que te jodes, Glenn (analogy of F.Y. 😂), cheers from Spain 🇪🇸!

[valium-fm]

Sounded ok on my phone. What’s all the fuss about Glenn?

[JorgeSalasGuitar]

Hey Glen, a lot of us live in apartments so turning up a tube amp is not the best way to record. I have found great results in using my Marshall JVM emulated out as a silent recording.

[Puggles]

This channel is fucking gold! Finally, I found a dude I can relate to that likes the same kind of music and I can learn from all your tips and tricks! I'm a musician and a recording engineer and I find it's a constant uphill battle. Things get so overwhelming and this helps.

[tylerjohnson]

“But, it’s balanced!” needs to be a shirt now lol

[janvirtanen]

I really like it that you spoof yourself! That proves you are awesome. A balanced and humble person can laugh at oneself

[themetalmaniac]

Glenn i thank my lucky stars you make these videos. Not only did i learn the importance of why you mic an amp but i enjoy those nasty sounds in terms of an effect (ie a pre-riff part) please keep making content

[kingatheist]

This was one of the first things I wondered too. Great video! It really shows the clear difference between both methods and it sounds like 2 complete different amps. I guess it also shows a good chunk of your guitar's sound is in the speaker itself rather than the amp.

[capnzilog]

Oh, The GK 250ML - love of my life, owned three of these. Brilliant!

[gearmoe]

Pure truth and fact, a lot of people have never donned headphones and swept a mic across a speaker. I know when I have done this for guitarists they often look like a deer in the headlights. Try stuff.

[darcmanschlosser]

i'm binge watching these videos. love the info my dude. thanks so much for sharing your knowledge
you've solved so quickly many of the issues I've been having!

[RoyishGoodLooks]

Hey Glenn,

I know you and others are touting Pulse as the only free IR loader for Pro Tools, but that's a bogus claim. There is also an AAX (and AU and VST) version of Boogex by Voxengo - comes with IRs, IR loader, a basic amp sim, and and EQ - all FREE! Hard to find it, maybe not as popular, maybe not the sexiest of plug-ins, BUT it's been around and I use it every day. Maybe do a review on it and see for your self!

Best,

Roy

[timesink]

Glenn, just fix it in post like a real engineer!

[edwin]

Hah, seeing Rudy out of nowhere was a pleasant surprise. Glad to see him getting plugged. Definitely the best up and coming youtuber in the metal niche.

[javonaziz]

Great video, this is definitely something I wish I had seen when I started out! One thing I will say is that sometimes a direct signal from an amp or pedal can be a great layer (especially when you want a slightly trashy/aggressive element). It is something I haven't tried with metal though so maybe it's not as applicable to some genres... Definitely try it out through!

[FrestRangr]

WOW THAT CABNET DIFFERENCE!! so much more clarity between notes and the muted riffs! Glad i learned this early :)