Acoustic guitar in the mix

[Bigsnake00]

...I have sort of a newbie question...funny, how i have been recording for 5 years or so, of course there is always room to learn... Anyway, say i want to have an acoustic guitar track in a fairly dense band setting, you know the type that is way back in the mix. Is it better to record the guitar louder and more in your face, and then just lower the volume after its recorded. Or is it better to just record the guitar at a distance, as if you really were "back" in the mix. I hope this makes some sense.

Thanks

 

[producerkid]

Well, it depends on the sound you're going after. If you want a more ambient fell to the acoustic, record it at a distance. In a dense band setting, what I would do is record the acoustic(s) as in your face as you can, and mix them back farther in the mix. This will help for clarity and definition. If I understand correctly, what you're going for requires a good, up-front acoustic sound to be meshed in with the other instruments.

 

[Bigsnake00]

How would you go about recording it? X/Y on the 12th fret? I think you are definatly getting my question.

 

[producerkid]

Well my method for this application is relatively simple. Throw a LDC mic (whatever sounds good with the guitar) in front of the sound hole about a foot or so away from the guitar (maybe less), with the diaphragm pointed at the 12th fret. Use new strings for that chimey percussion effect in the background, and a thin pick.

 

[Track Rat]

Good advice. I'd tight mic it if it's going to sit in a dense mix. I like a 4033 at the neck/body joint but then again it can vary depending on the guitar itself (Grand Concert vs Dreadnaught, etc).

 

[Bigsnake00]

Thanks guys! Ive been trying to do it backwards all along, and not getting the results I wanted. Ill give this a try tonight!