Tracking Acoustic/VOX

[COOLCAT]

Whats a good setup for Tracking Vox and Acoustic rythm?

I have been recording Vocal and Acoustic rythm guitar at the same time
and seems the two fight each other thru my Studio Project B1.

any tips?

Chain: B1> 24488SIAB
also tryin
Chain: B1> channel strip> 2488SIAB

no real change.

[Kevin Deschwazi]

I usually use a stereo pair of SDC's for the guitar and what ever vocal mic suits.

Here's a good bit of the 'big thread' where Harvey talks about mic positioning to eliminate bleed with this setup, I found this really useful:

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

The Singer/Songwriter Syndrome

The singer also want to play guitar at the same time, and you want some decent separations between the vocals and the guitar. One trick is to use a X/Y stereo pair of small cardioids down low, aimed at the guitar, hile you position a large diaphragm mic at the singers forehead, tilted just slightly forward, toward his/her nose.

I think he might have expanded on this later in the thread if my memory serves me correctly.

If you can't afford another mic then it's really just a case of playing with the mic position until you get the blend of vox and instrument that you want.

On a side note, are you able to bypass the pres in your SIAB? If not then I see little benefit in having the chanel strip in your signal chain.

[gordone]

I have gotten good results with just a LDC pointed towards my mouth but then playing with the position so it picks up a good balance of the guitar and voice. Listen to
"Che Guevara T-Shirt" on my website. (http://www.evangordon.com/sounds.php) This was a Soundelux U97 into a Great River MP2 in my spare bedroom with Auralex on the walls. The guitar was a Larrivee OM03R.
Good luck!

[COOLCAT]

Kevin,
my understanding is if I use an outboard pre, and the SIAB
pre is at zero, this is bypassing the SIAB pre?
i always wondered about this too.
there are No channel inserts on this SIAB.

thanks for the inputs.

[Kevin Deschwazi]

Originally Posted by COOLCAT

Kevin,
my understanding is if I use an outboard pre, and the SIAB
pre is at zero, this is bypassing the SIAB pre?
i always wondered about this too.
there are No channel inserts on this SIAB.

thanks for the inputs.

I'm no electronics buff but I would think the signal would still be passing through the circuitry and hence degrading it a bit (even though the preamp itself wouldn't be adding additional gain).

If you're not noticing a difference though I wouldn't worry about it, just a though that's all (I used to record with a SIAB).

[COOLCAT]

Originally Posted by gordone

I have gotten good results with just a LDC pointed towards my mouth but then playing with the position so it picks up a good balance of the guitar and voice. Listen to
"Che Guevara T-Shirt" on my website. (http://www.evangordon.com/sounds.php) This was a Soundelux U97 into a Great River MP2 in my spare bedroom with Auralex on the walls. The guitar was a Larrivee OM03R.
Good luck!

i gotta get some half decent computer speakers, first. this is killin me.
i was listening to REEL's NWRadio too....just want to be able to hear
it well.

so you did this with 1qty mic?

[giraffe]

if you have the avalibility, try a pair of SDC's in hyper-c and a LDC on the vox in fig 8

(i run into this a bunch, and eventually went out of my way to get that setup)

you need a dead room though

[COOLCAT]

thanks.

took the advice, got a 991/603s SDC+ LDC SPB1&990.
$89 for mxl990/991. SP B1 $100.

if it improves, might try a small-upgrade in mic's. SM81 and SP T3.
my ebays been kickin'....$$

oh, yeah and making a long RCA/mini-plug to run out of the pc to
my stereo!!! cheaper than more speakers....

[COOLCAT]

Thanks for inputs.....i took your word on it.

Material: 1 verse of a Vocal and Acoustic only song.
Recording: Vox and Acoustic
#1 Track1) SPB1 Only
#2 T2&T3) SPB1 + 991
#3 T4&T5) SPB1>Joe Meek Channel Strip + 991

- TEST 1 "flat/dry"
- TEST 2 "sweetened with EQ and Compression"

RESULTS: Voting was done by "blindfolded listeners".
each set was called out as #1, #2, or #3.
I would mix up the order also, #1,#2,#3... would change.

3 qty Blindfold Consumer Listener results/votes:
It was interesting and put a smile on my face, how they could follow and vote the same for the Joe Meek during my random "trick em" playing.
The Joe Meek VC1Q won hands down evertime except twice...~8/10.
I did spend some time setting it up (pat on back).

It was even a stronger vote for the small condensor.
when I would bring the 991 in/out...response was "HEy!! leave that there, thats BEtter! or "oh yeah....that sounds BEST that way"!!
So the small condensor, MXL991, is a keeper.

In the End, I was actually hoping the used Joe Meek VC1Q would fail, so I could return it for $430+ and buy a whoooping $$$Microphone. seriously.
Unfortunately, I will have to go work some overtime to keep it!!

I made some ugly noises with the Meek today, playing with numerous settings..(your on your own, Manual SUCKS)
but when its there its there, and I can understand why people love their Joe Meeks when you "get it".

Small Condensor on the acoustic, ~$40.. KEEPER ...BIG THANKS!!!