Beam Blockers

[Trazan]

Anyone tried recording or miking a speaker cabinet with Beam Blockers (http://www.webervst.com/blocker.html) installed?

http://www.webervst.com/3d_diagram.jpg
http://www.webervst.com/installation.jpg

I feel sorry for the poor bastards sitting directly in front of a guitar cabinet in a club setting, so these would most probably help in that regard, but how about recording/miking? Something tells me there might be trouble in phase land? Or not?

[Tim Halligan]

I'm not an expert on this type of thing, but the whole deal smacks of snake oil to me.

If the HF is a problem...turn the treble down.

YMMV.

Cheers,
Tim

[Trazan]

You never sat in that "sweet" spot directly in front of a guitar cabinet, Tim? :Razz: That little spot sounds quite different, and I'm sure these helps taming it (you could probably rather make something yourself though). I've only heard good things about the design, however I've never heard or asked about how these affect close proximity miking situations.

[otek]

Hmmm.


When close miking, I tend to move the mic away from the center.

I can certainly see the benefits of these things in a live situation, but in the studio, I don't think they would contribute anything I can't achieve anyway by moving the mic.

YMMV.

[Trazan]

I don't think they would contribute anything I can't achieve anyway by moving the mic.

YMMV.

Nope, I was more wondering if they could get me into trouble. Seeing as the blocker reflects sound it could possibly add phase trouble?

[otek]

Trazan,


Judging by the images, there may be a risk of phase problems by the sound being reflected off of the center dome. But then again, the speaker cone in and of itself can provide plenty of phase problems.

I guess in the end, as usual, it's up to what you're hearing. Since I don't think the device would serve any purpose for recording, I probably simply wouldn't have it mounted for those occasions.

I suppose this might get awkward if the unit is complicated to screw on and off.....?

[dikledoux]

I suppose this might get awkward if the unit is complicated to screw on and off.....?
... and it is - gotta either take the speaker out or get behind the grille.

A better choice would be an amp stand that points the sweet spot right at YOUR head and then you'll dial in enough highs for the detail you want, while everyone else gets the less hellish version that sits in the band mix better. When it's time to record or even mic live, you have all your options still open.

my .02

dik

[Comte de St Germain]

In the 80s it was popular to tape Xs on the grill cloth to tame some highs in thos 800 series marshalls.

I've seen it on many Boogies of "Mark" descent too...

many older Voxes and combos had wood going in front of the cone too; this may have been a protective measure but i can assure you it does make a difference tonally.

If my amp is too bright/loud live i just lay my gig bag in front of one speaker.

[dwoz]

These things will likely change the sound, but not by doing what they SAY they're doing.

High's do not "beam out from the center" of a speaker.

At low frequencies the cone acts like a piston, at high frequencies the vibration travels all across the cone from center to edge, so this thing does NOTHING to block highs.

What it may be doing, is acting like a "phase plug", essentially preventing phase cancellations from antipodal sections of the cone. Interestingly enough, if this is what's happening, it would make the speaker MORE 'beamy'.

that's my grab-ass guess, and I'm sticking to it.


dwoz

[Tim Halligan]

These things will likely change the sound, but not by doing what they SAY they're doing.

High's do not "beam out from the center" of a speaker.

At low frequencies the cone acts like a piston, at high frequencies the vibration travels all across the cone from center to edge, so this thing does NOTHING to block highs.

What it may be doing, is acting like a "phase plug", essentially preventing phase cancellations from antipodal sections of the cone. Interestingly enough, if this is what's happening, it would make the speaker MORE 'beamy'.

that's my grab-ass guess, and I'm sticking to it.


dwoz

It kinda screams Turbosound to me when you put it like that...




:Confused:


Cheers,
Tim

[Droolbucket]

I haven't tried Beam Blockers yet, but I've read great reviews, and they're a cheap experiment.
Since we're discussing phase issues, I've always wanted to build a guitar cab like the old Sunn Beta Lead cabs with two speakers angled in for wider dispersion. How would you mike a cab like this?
Droolbucket

[Jason Phair]

Fuck these new kids. Do it the way the old guys did it.


Put a dildo in the middle.

[Pimp-X]

Beam Blocker sounds like an enhanced version of Cock Blocker.

Nobody likes a cockblocker.