Acoustic band recording

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zbatinic

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Hello everyone,
I play in a band which consists of two acoustic guitars, 1 main vocal, 2 backing vocals and occasional percussion. Our intention is to record rehearsals and live tracks.
Recording equipment we use is Shure Beta 58a microphone for vocals, large-diaphragm microphone for recording environment and our guitars are equipped with LR Baggs Anthem System (piezo + mic), as the audio interface we're using Behringer U-phoria UMC404 and Reaper software for recording.

I wonder, from your experience, how can we get our recording are nicer and warmer? We want to get a clearer picture of the acoustic band and tracks in higher quality and dynamics. Current recording are pretty dry and flat.
What do you recommend? Are we missing a piece of equipment (DI box), other software or something?
Just to remind you, everything is recording live over 4 channels.

Thanks in advance,
Zac
 
I assume you have sorted something to deal with the fact you have more sources than tracks? The Beta 58s, with lips near the grill are often described as too warm, so you wanting warmer is a bit weird? We probably need to hear more about how you currently do it? The guitar systems are designed to be quite bright and twangy, for live use - always difficult to make this warmer - so perhaps for recording, go with mics for these too?

Perhaps we could have a listen to what you don't like so far?
 
Are you multi-tracking individually or playing live (together)?

Playing live 'can' have the advantage of 'feel' (although if the band are tight it becomes less of an issue) but multi-tracking will obviously give instruments and vocals more separation/options within the mix....

Maybe record percussion and a 'guide' guitar first, then re-record that guitar (using a mic this time), record second guitar and then record vocals...

With your set-up that's how I'd do it...
 
Zac;
I recommend posting some samples so we can hear what you're up against, as Rob alluded. It's much easier to give advice on your individual problems, than to guess which of the many you may have...
If you're dealing with dull and flat, I'll guess that you could be dealing with bad room acoustics. Move yourselves and your mikes around the room and find "sweet spots". Try facing into corners, try facing away from corners, try standing in the middle of the wall facing the other wall, 45 degrees to the wall. Whatever you can think of....or you might need to address your room acoustics with bass traps and panels. Or if your sound is completely dead, your missing piece might be a larger room with good properties.

I am assuming (from your description) the four channels are vocal, room, guitar 1 and guitar 2?

Dave, he said, "Just to remind you, everything is recording live over 4 channels." They want to record their practices.
 
BroKen_H said:
Dave, he said, "Just to remind you, everything is recording live over 4 channels." They want to record their practices.
Click to expand...

Ah... Missed that... However... They could still play live using the piezo pickuped geetars as guides and then re-record through mics as suggested as long as they control spill to percussion mic...

Would still advocate rehearsal followed by multi-track recording
 
True that. If they want a fuller sound, multitracking the instruments would help, too. But we need to hear something to identify what "nicer and warmer" really means...
 
Do you want a live recording or a studio recording? If your group sounds really good together and you want to capture that, then it is all about the room, as you will need to mic the group.

If you want a studio style recording, then it would be the same method as recording alone. Click, working track, etc. record the tracks as required for each part. Close mic if the room sucks, put some distance between source and mic if you have a good sounding tracking room.

If you look at the drum and percussion section. Greg put together a nice sticky on recording drums with four microphones (just what you need). Greg's general guide to rock drums for NEWBIES! I really think reading that would help you sort out your drum recording.
 
hiring some microphones might be the best solution, for example hiring 4 neumann u87 mics, it's not that expensive
 
really? also 87s can produce horrible sound if you don't know how to use them properly - they're rather strange sounding off axis in cardioid.
A couple of days hire would have bought a decent dynamic or cheap condenser!
 
rob aylestone said:
really? also 87s can produce horrible sound if you don't know how to use them properly - they're rather strange sounding off axis in cardioid.
A couple of days hire would have bought a decent dynamic or cheap condenser!
Click to expand...

yes and they are also capable of sounding amazing as well, any mic is capable of sounding like a tird depending on what is in front of it.
 
Hello everyone and Happy New Year!
Thank you for your advices and suggestions. During the next rehearsal I will take tracks in order to show you the quality of the recordings and put them on SoundCloud.
@BroKen_H'Thanks for tips, you assume well, four channels are vocal, room, guitar 1 and guitar 2
@Dave Holmes We will use your method when we want recording with a little higher quality
@DM60 Live recording is more important to us

Thank you very much guys,
Zac
 
Hello everyone and Happy New Year!
Thank you for your advices and suggestions. During the next rehearsal I will take tracks in order to show you the quality of the recordings and put them on SoundCloud.
@BroKen_H'Thanks for tips, you assume well, four channels are vocal, room, guitar 1 and guitar 2
@Dave Holmes We will use your method when we want recording with a little higher quality
@DM60 Live recording is more important to us

Thank you very much guys,
Zac
 
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