Ok, so I took a plunge into the digital recording realm and bought the relatively new Boss BR-600 multi-track, a SM-57 mic and other various accessories. Now, I went through some parts of the manual but still have some general Q's. I'm mic'ing it up to a Ampeg VH-140c near the speakers in the back since it's open. The sounds ok but it's kinda low volume. With that in note, when you record and finalize a track, do you then screw around with cleaning out the muddle through an EQ and make the volume louder somehow? Or is what you record what you generally get? As, I get some good tones at low volume but everything loud sounds like shit. My other question revoles around stereo and mono. Right now I record tracks in mono and the general consensus on the board is to do stereo to not make the song sound like shit. Do you mean duplicate that track onto another track and pan them left and right? Or completely record a new track to go along with that rhthym? I'll probably upload something from the Boss just so you guys get a better idea.

micing in the back? I never heard of that.

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Why are you recording in the back and not in front of the speaker?

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I read on some forums that people who have a open back mic close to the speaker and get a decent sound. The only sound at the front I get which is decent is low volume and still kinda sucks.

Have you tried different positions on the mic and how close are you to the speaker when you record in front?

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I have the same amp. I might try that, just to see how bad it is.

I suggest recording at lowER volumes, and using your program to amplify the sound and then EQ it. Using a mic and a mixer is hell, especially when you are trying to mic an amp. I'm really not sure if this amp has a line out specifically for a mixer, but if it does, run a plug between the two and you'll get a sound that is about 10xs better.

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I wouldn't listen to this personally.

Recording correctly is more of the answer, not lowering volumes. If it sounded like shit because hes recording his amp so loud that it sounds like shit yeah. But other than that, turning down the volume is almost a WORSE idea. I would imagine there is a function or something on you're boss mixer that will allow you to change the incoming gain, and that is what you will need to change this low volume thing. Most of the time there is also a 20+ gain switch on almost every preamp/mixer so take a look out for that function.

Next. Since you are using an sm57 there is about only one way to use this mic correctly.(as from what i've been told and read zillions of times) I've posted about it before, but the general concencous is to place the mike towards the outer edge of the cone of the speaker (in the front) right up against the grill. The sm57 isn't designed really (or at least not used) to capture ambience and all that other kind of mess, thats why its use right up against the grill of a speaker.

Looking at what you put, i could almost imagine that you're recordings sound very airy and with some sort of boxed in air reverb. Basically a completely muffled sound with guitar playing in teh background.

Many people on here record in the middle of the speaker or whatever they're doing, that too is a bad idea. You will end up having to cut mids and highs like a fiend, and not have any real bass to work with.

I'm definately not a big supporter of using line out unless you have no other option and/or you're attempting to mix it in with multiple mikes to pull certain eqs from it. I've heard of people using an sm57 up against hte grill, a condenser mic a few feet or so from the speakers to capture the sound + ambience and line out to get a lil more distinct clear sound. Whenever i use the direct out function it get insane amount of freqs that i have to cut out. Mostly in the high section. Theres alot of fuzz that comes from guitar amps.

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Thanks for the input but there is no gain switch as you mentioned. What IS there is a volume adjustment for the mic and a volume adjust for the actual recording. I will take your advice but just how loud should I set my amp if I may ask? Btw my amp settings for recording are 6.5 on gain, about 2 on volume (the ampeg vh-140 is a LOUD motherfucker, and I mean loud), high is 9, mid is 2-3, bass is like 1, etc. But basically if I place the mic to that location you stated, I will get a louder sound but should I get a mixer then to smooth it out?

I'm not neccesarily saying play louder. People probably wouldn't believe their ears at the low volume i play my bvh-300 head at when i normally record. But all i'm saying is turning down the volume never solves anything as far as quality goes unless its producing analog to digital distortion which in this case isn't even coming close to happening.

well i tell you what mike placement is definately something that shouldn't be taken likely. I think alot of people on here just do the direct out because they don't want to fool with art of miking an amp. It takes alot of trial and error, and the best thign you can possibly do is set up some sort of headphone monitor system, to be able to actually hear what the mike is putting out. Basically you'll able to HEAR the difference between putting the mike next to the edge or closer to the center of a speaker. Not just the volume changes but the eq DRASTICALLY changes depending on where you place it.

But to answer your question you could use a mixer to do a little eq work. But i generally will record the guitar straight to my computer and use my program to do all the eq editing. If you use a mixer, you basically have to do just like the mike. You'll have to do trial and error until you get what you like... or like the headphones idea find your mike placement then listen to the change in sound when you change the eq.

But as I would imagine lots of people who do serious attempts with recording, the best eq changing after the fact will not save a bad mike placement, and on that note, eq should be done in MODERATION. It shouldn't be used to completely change the sound of your recording, as that creates tremendous amount of distortion.

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NVM guys. I found out what was the problem. The problem was the BR-600 and its shitty sound. Got a firebox instead and am getting great results.