How important are they? are they the reason im getting a hollow sound with my recordings? Ive got a yamaha 16/4 mixer im using for a preamp, then it runs into a compressor, then into a tascam US-122. I just cant figure out why my sound is so hollow.

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Check your settings on the compressor, But if that isnt the problem your mic pres may be the problem. I havent ever used any of that gear but i do know that shitty mic pre's = lower sound. What do you mean by "hollow"

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heres an example of a recording: http://www.geocities.com/black_draxxx/Tone1.wav

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When you say "lower sound" do you mean more lower freq. or less Db? Im not sure why my reordings sound gollow, its just almost like theyre missing a part. I dont know, but what i hear coming through the amp sounds good.

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Mic pre's are to microphones as pickups are to guitars. Some things you can do to alleviate the hollow sound is trying to double track the guitar / play with the panning. That helps some but a good mic pre will bring more quality/presence easily.

It could very well be just a shitty mic. My friends had the same problem and we just switched out the mic and it sounded fine.

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My recording setup consists of a Shure SM-57 and a Tascam US-122. I doubt it's the pres in the tascam. Check my clip in the "ENGL 530 Clip..." thread, i get that out of just the mic and the tascam, nothing else.

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Wow i like it, how do you have you mic placed? Off Axis, 45 degree? and also are you doubletracked?

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the mic is indeed off axis, i dont know what exact angle though. 45ish is decent estimation...

It is double tracked. It's not the best but it's an example. I'll have more in the coming weeks when my band records. It wont be metal but it'll be an example.

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Hey, if you wouldnt mind, if you have a digital camera if you could snap a few shots of the microphones angle, and refrence to the speaker?

Thanks a ton
Drake

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Just for comparison this clip is done with a Radio Shack Sm-58 clone ($20 mic) into an ART Tube Microphone preamp into the line in of a Santa Cruz sound card.

Guitar :
Ibanez RGT42DXFM - Peavey Triple XXX - Some rack effects (Sonic Maximizer, Parametric Eq, Reverb, Hush) Genz Benz 2x12 cab - Radio Shack mic - ART Tube pre - Line in on Sound Card

Edit: Tuning is E standard btw

Bass:
Douglas 5-string (rondomusic.net cheapie) - Digitech RP200 - Line in on sound card

Drums:
Drum Machine

http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=...S13UIXYSRN4MC4C

You have a good mic. The mic can't be the problem. You maybe need to increase the gain level in your mic preamp. Adding effects makes vocals really smooth and diminshes gurgle sounds and makes the voice sound big. Try adding some Adobe Audition effects to it especially the QuickVerb sounds. Also when vocals are in a music mix they seem to be bigger.

Ahh, im sorry, i forgot to mention, vocals sound fine, i use my condenser, Perception 200 for those and its fine. guitar comes out hollow. when i record clean guitar it sounds great, but once distortion is added it seems to loose something, and become hollow.

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