Reducing background sounds while using SM57?

[Myst and rain]

How can I reduce/eliminate background sounds? Will using this suffice? Due to the size of the room I'm in, I'm sitting about four steps away from the mic...

[fretboardpyro]

good start it'll take away some harshness of sounds, but not really too much background noise. what you need to do is create a small isolation screen about a foot and a half behind and to the sides of the mic but obviously in front of the amp. large egg crates mounted to board or foam rubber mounted to some kind of board are good for this as they will diffuse the sound. Also place everything on a rug or carpet to assist in removal of superflous vibration. Unless you are in an isolated studio or booth you will get some outside ambience.

[shogun]

1 turn up your amp
2 ??????
3 PROFIT

[MattyG]

I record guitars from a very small amp, which I mic up - the amp and the mic all fit into a large storage box which I place over them. Literally just place the box upside down over the amp and mic, with the wires coming out the side.

This works a treat for me.
Obviously it all depends on what gear you're using and how 'professional' your set up is etc....

[fretboardpyro]

Originally Posted by MattyG

I record guitars from a very small amp, which I mic up - the amp and the mic all fit into a large storage box which I place over them. Literally just place the box upside down over the amp and mic, with the wires coming out the side.

This works a treat for me.
Obviously it all depends on what gear you're using and how 'professional' your set up is etc....

now there's inginuity!

[Myst and rain]

Originally Posted by MattyG

I record guitars from a very small amp, which I mic up - the amp and the mic all fit into a large storage box which I place over them. Literally just place the box upside down over the amp and mic, with the wires coming out the side.

This works a treat for me.
Obviously it all depends on what gear you're using and how 'professional' your set up is etc....

haha That's very interesting. The fact that the amp is in a closed space probably affects the sound, though. Not necessarily in a negative way, but still. It's interesting.


I don't know if me putting a screen behind the microphone, in the way you guys described is practical seeing the size of the room. But maybe I can move some furniture around and work something out.

This is also an interesting thing:

http://www.thomann.de/nl/the_tbone_micscreen.htm

But I don't know if I can attach that to the mic stand that I use. I should do some research on that.

[Myst and rain]

Originally Posted by shogun

1 turn up your amp
2 ??????
3 PROFIT

That was funny. lol