This has probably been asked before, but I can't find it when I search. I would like to know about micing an amp into a PA system. Do I just get a mic (probably SM57) and mic it like I would into a computer? What about the speakers? Would the guitars kill off vocals? If so, should I have certain or seperated speakers for instruments and vocals? Also, is there a way to stop amp/speaker feedback? The singer in my band always gets feedback from the PA and when I'm not playing a piece, my amp goes nuts with the feedback. I've heard about Noise Reducer/Hush pedals. Is that what I should buy? Oh yeah, and is micing a bass okay?

To mic anything is alright.....you need it done in order to have your sound heard at a show. You mic basses, guitars, drums and vocals.

If you're playing a small gig, a room no bigger than a master bedroom, then you probably don't even need anything mic'ed except the vocals. Otherwise, do it. I'm not sure what is all invovled with hooking all that shit up, usually the sound-man at the show will know what to do, and he'll most likely do it all himself since it's probably his equipment.

As for noise reduction, you can buy pedals which reduce noise such as unwanted feedback. In my band, i use a Boss Noise Supressor pedal. It does the job a little "too" well though......it cuts out all my feedback, but it also cuts into my "chunk" and sometimes when soloing it will completely mute a note here and there. I've grown to dislike the pedal enough because of that.......right now i turn it on just when there's a "stop" in a song, or between songs we're playing. I thought it might have been an old battery that was messing up the sound, but even with a new one it still cuts in.


By the way, i'm moving this to Gear Talk.

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i have a boss noise suppressor and it works wonders.

as for miking, most good bass amps will have some form of preamp out that allows you to send a direct signal to the mixer which gives you a better sound then miking it.

for guitar, a good mic, and proper placement of the mic, and eq settings on the mic channel, are all key. never point a mic at the speaker like its a bullseye, i usually put the mic at the edge of a speaker and angle it in a bit. and then adjust the eq until you get a good sound.

and as far as drownding out vox. turn the guitar mics down and/or the vocal mic up accordingly.

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