User Manual

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So let’s get started! Here’s a swarm of Tricks & Tips to help you get the most out of your Worker Bee.
Part of the joy—and challenge—of recording instruments is that they each have unique personalities, so a placement strategy
that works for one instrument may not work so well for another. Often, even a small adjustment to the mic’s angle or distance
from the source can make a world of dierence in the results. We’ll provide you with some starting points, but don’t feel limited.
Use your ears, and let your creativity soar!
Vocals
There’s no better way to get your vocal session o to a great start than by putting your singer in front of a microphone that looks
and sounds truly inspiring. Needless to say, the Worker Bee is the perfect creature.
Start with the microphone at lip level and position the vocalist 4 to 5 inches (10 - 13 cm) away. For more intimacy and pres-
ence, move in—as close as 1 inch (2.5 cm), if needed. This won’t overpower the mic, but always use the supplied Honeycomb
pop filter. The filter helps control breath pops and also protects the diaphragm.
Experiment with dierent angles. Aiming directly at the mouth provides the most clarity and articulation. A slight upward tilt
adds head tone and projection. A downward tilt adds warmth and softens the top end.
For group vocals, position the singers as close in as possible. Be sure to have some honey-sweetened breath mints close at hand . . .
Electric Guitar
Because of its robust characteristics, the Worker Bee is an excellent choice for any amplified guitar sound, clean or dirty. The
speaker cone provides a broad palette of tones and as the artist, you supply the color. Brightness is strongest in the cone’s center,
and decreases gradually as you move to the outer edges. Clean sounds often benefit from the top boost near the center, while
overdriven sounds enjoy the warmth and “beef” at the outside. Keep the mic close for a “direct” sound, or move it back a foot (30
cm) or more for some room ambience. With distorted guitars, a little distance adds depth and helps round out the rough edges.
Here’s a nifty trick: the next time you record a “Jazz Box” guitar through a direct (D.I.) setup, place your Worker Bee in front of
the guitar, toward the fingerboard. Now mix in a small amount of that “finger” sound with the direct signal to add personality.
A little bit can make a big, big dierence.