Acoustic Recording

[Ecadad]

I've never been able to get great acoustic recordings. It always comes out a bit dark and muddy, really heavy on the bass end. I'm only using one mic: either and SM57 or an MXL condenser. Which one would you use, and how would you place it to get the best recording? Does the weight of the pick effect the sound that much?

[fezz parka]

Wear headphones, move around until it sounds good, hit the red button.

http://snd.sc/MwAegU

[Old Cane]

A small diaphram condenser is probably the most widely used. Several spots to try but a lot depends on the guitar. With an amp you can kind of put up a 57 and get something usable but acoustics are individuals. Some popular spots are at the neck joint, over the shoulder looking down or just 12-18 inches out from the sound hole. It's just trial and error.

[Old Cane]

Originally Posted by fezz parka

Wear headphones, move around until it sounds good, hit the red button.

I wear earplugs until I can't hear myself. Then it sounds good.

[fezz parka]

Originally Posted by Old Cane

I wear earplugs until I can't hear myself. Then it sounds good.

Shhhhhh! Don't give away the farm, man.....

[Old Cane]

what?

[WrayGun]

If I just had one of those mics, I'd use the condenser mic, pointed at about the 12th fret, 5-6 inches away. But that's just me, and I'm not expert by any means. I've found that my acoustic guitar recordings always need EQ, mainly a high-pass filter.

[Old Cane]

Yeah, boy that true. I was recording a d28 the other day. Set my Red (c12 type) about eyeball high and tried to do a one mic pass. You know, I think I can tell somebody's trying to sing in there somewhere. It boomed the vocal right off the track.

[mbennettbrown]

Not sure what style you are playing/recording, but play as loud as you can. Get the soundboard and strings resonating - it will make a difference no matter what mic you use. I usually use two - a condenser and a dynamic and blend them in the mix.

[Chud]

Are you limited by your I/O setup somehow to only use one of the two mics? Don't get me wrong, the one right mic can record an acoustic beautifully in the right hands, but typically the recording setup for an acoustic has one placed by the soundhole and one placed around the 12th fret. The exact distances, angles, and ultimate placement of course varies depending on too many factors to list here, but I'd play around with a dual mic setup and see if that helps.

[Ecadad]

Originally Posted by Chud

Are you limited by your I/O setup somehow to only use one of the two mics? Don't get me wrong, the one right mic can record an acoustic beautifully in the right hands, but typically the recording setup for an acoustic has one placed by the soundhole and one placed around the 12th fret. The exact distances, angles, and ultimate placement of course varies depending on too many factors to list here, but I'd play around with a dual mic setup and see if that helps.

I currently only have 1 mic cable (my others have all died on me). It's probably a good idea to get more

[Old Cane]

It is a good idea but don't let it stop you from trying stuff right now.

[still_fiddlin]

What are you plugging the mics into? Either of those should record "ok" but you probably need to do some EQ on the guitar in the mix if you've got almost anything else in there.

I would work on one mic until you get a good sound with that. Two mics can introduce phase issues, in my limited experience. If you want to add something else, I'd consider a good pickup on the guitar and mix that in with the mic'd track.

The style you play and your guitar itself, as well as what you want to hear on the recording, can have an effect on how you record, so it's hard to make generalizations. But, the basic recommendation to start with a mic pointed at the 12th fret is a good place to start. It certainly will have a more open/treble sound than recording off the bridge area.

[Ecadad]

today I tried using my condenser above my right shoulder pointed down towards the guitar and it sounded incredible! Like almost perfect! I'm definitely doing it like this for now

[Fran Guidry]

This solution tells you that you were previously too close to the source, triggering the proximity effect that is part of the physics of directional mics.

Fran

[Old Cane]

Try the left shoulder too, unless you're left handed. Aim for the neck joint. Might be better. Might not.

[winny pooh]

Most common is the condenser around the 15th fret off maybe 5-6 inches with the capsule aimed at the sound hole. Move further away if you want more room sound or are strumming.

[Bartholomew3]

Have to say those SM57 mikes sound a bit muddy to me on vocals and also miking guitars.

I use an Audio Techica, approx $85 more but way better for this.