Big Boy Mic

  • Thread starter Thread starter WhiteStrat
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WhiteStrat

WhiteStrat

Don't stare at the eye.
This is not so much a mix to be commented upon, but rather a sample tracked with a new mic. For the first time in my life, I jumped out of the low-to-mid budget gear realm, and bought a mic in the "upper" realm (at least to me). I bought an AKG C414 and it just came today. Here's some acoustic guitar with said mic:



Before I tracked the acoustic with it, I tried it on my voice. Wow...I was blown away! I'm not a singer, so you don't get to hear those samples. I just spoke various lines into the mic, and I was seriously impressed. There really is a difference. Now I just have to write and record some music worthy of that difference.
 
It does sound great, for reals. You being able to play probably has 90% to do with that though. Give me an acoustic and that mic and it will sound like one thousand dollars of ass. :D
 
It does sound great, for reals. You being able to play probably has 90% to do with that though. Give me an acoustic and that mic and it will sound like one thousand dollars of ass. :D

I appreciate the sentiment. I'm very aware of the pecking order when it comes to recording. I know that the ability comes first. But I've recently been recording enough "talented" players, that a mic upgrade made sense (technically and financially).

If the quality of the sound is 90% my playing--hell, I'll take that. I'm just thankful that I'm blessed enough to be able to pursue the other 10%!
 
Sweet. Nice full sound. love that there's no boominess at all.

Good score!!
 
I've said it before, and i'll say it again, i love the C414 on acoustic guitars. Sounds great man :) is that the C414 in cardioid?
 
So how'd you place the mic?

Just saw the pic from my phone in my email inbox and remembered that you asked this. Here's how the mic was placed. Double tracked, same placement on each track.

mic_placement.webp
 
Cool, kinda makes me wanna pickup a C214 (i'm not that fussed about the extra polar patterns)
 
sounds very nice mate...I get a similar effect from my Karoake mic and my one stringed banjo :D
 
While I'm not a crazy fan of the C414 for some things....acoustic guitar is certainly one thing it captures well almost effortlessly, and probably the only reason I've considered getting one just to have in the locker.
Of course, as others have said....it helps if you can play acoustic really well, and you certainly play it well, so the mic is just picking up what is already there.

I'm not much of an acoustic guitar player...I'll use them to add some backing rhythm tracks sometimes, or a few basic riffs/lead lines for accenting purposes, but I'm not really a "picker", and I never got into it to get good at it....
...and to make matters worse, my left hand isn't what it use to be, I've had some injuries over the years, so when I use an acoustic, I can only play it for so long if I'm grabbing big chords, and then I have to put it down.
When I'm going to record, I have to get it down in a few passes otherwise my hand will start to hurt...so another reason I don't focus too much on acoustics.

Good luck with the mic, I'm sure it will serve you well for your purpose.
 
WOW! That does sound really good!

Now I will ask Santa for a C414, and some more talent.

I will probably receive only a lump of coal....:(
 
Cool, kinda makes me wanna pickup a C214 (i'm not that fussed about the extra polar patterns)

I thought the same thing myself. Ah, but several years down the road. :o

So, Bob, are you interested in doing some more takes for my albuquerque song? Umm, with the new mic??? :D
 
While I'm not a crazy fan of the C414 for some things....acoustic guitar is certainly one thing it captures well almost effortlessly, and probably the only reason I've considered getting one just to have in the locker.
Of course, as others have said....it helps if you can play acoustic really well, and you certainly play it well, so the mic is just picking up what is already there.

I'm not much of an acoustic guitar player...I'll use them to add some backing rhythm tracks sometimes, or a few basic riffs/lead lines for accenting purposes, but I'm not really a "picker", and I never got into it to get good at it....
...and to make matters worse, my left hand isn't what it use to be, I've had some injuries over the years, so when I use an acoustic, I can only play it for so long if I'm grabbing big chords, and then I have to put it down.
When I'm going to record, I have to get it down in a few passes otherwise my hand will start to hurt...so another reason I don't focus too much on acoustics..
Yes, but this isn't about you.

:D
 
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