Acoustic Guitar mics

[A1A2]

I have done a little research on this topic, and the most common ones I have found were mxl603s, at4041, and some Rode mics.

Now, from where I live, I don't have the chance to test them out myself, so, I am asking for some opinions here. I have a C1 and 57, and they don't give me exactly what I am looking for from an acoustic gtr. I've tried dif micing positions, but 57 is too dull/unclear enough, and C1 is too bright. I have also tried using both at the same time, but the result was still lacking the "warmth" that I am looking for.

Can someone please either describe the mic characteristics or provide me with a short clip of whichever mic you suggest??

Thanks in advance, I don't wanna just order a 4041 online and end up sending it back. thanks

AL

 

[Track Rat]

I don't have any short clips but if you want to hear a Neumann KM-184 on acoustic, listen to Test Jam.
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/8/1331/singles.shtml
If you're interested, I'll put up something that was done with Octava MC-012's.

 

[B3Nut]

Now that's a cool tune! Tasty solos on that, and I love the head of the tune too. What are you using to get those drum sounds?

TP

 

[Track Rat]

Thanks. It's a drum loop out of Acid.

 

[A1A2]

trackrat:

Thanks for the song! Your acoustic gtrs sound real good. But, I have a regular metal-string acoustic gtr, not a classical one. Plus, I don't have the money to afford anthing more than $200-$300 right now. So, I can only listen to your song and dream about your sound lol.

Anyways, thanks for the song, and yes, I will definitely love to hear how Octava MC-012 sounds on acoustic gtrs.

AL

 

[Track Rat]

I can't get it posted today but tomorrow I'll put up a tune that's a Martin Dreadnaught (D-41) miced with the 012's.

 

[Scott Tansley]

Nice sound Track Rat.
Hey A1A2 persist with your 57.
I regularly record acoustic steelstring with either a 57 or my rode classic II. And most of the time I keep the 57. I position the 57 straight out of the 17th fret pointing toward the sound hole. and its a cheap fender DG-8 accoustic (about $175.00). I used it with the 57 throughout this song, but mixed back a bit. You hear it better at the end of the song. Many would say its a shit guitar and the wrong mic, but I got it to sound good. in my opinion.

 

[crawdad]

I've used the Oktava 012 on my Martin and liked the results--especially when the guitar has new strings on it. The MXL 603s is supposed to be pretty much the same at a lower cost.

Do some more mic placement tests too. Think of the guitar as one big resonating sound source. If you are close micing, you are only going to get part of the picture. As you move the mic back, it captures more of the whole. If you experiment, you'll find that different micing positions can capture radically different sounds from the same guitar. My favorite single mic technique right now is a variation of the over the shoulder placement that Harvey mentioned. I put the mic in front of me at nose level, facing down to the guitar and the floor. That captures my Martin nicely.

Last, you could always cut some high end in the mix if your C1 is too bright. It won't cost anything to try it.

 

[A1A2]

Track Rat:
I am looking forward to hear it right after my last final exam tomorrow

Scott:
I will definitely give 57 a try when I get it back from the drummer. Yeah, I like the sound you get out of 57, do you remember what EQ and other effects you used on the acoustic gtr part? It sounds really nice. Much nicer than what I got out of my 57 and $1000 Takamine!! And I also want to know more about your DRUM micing!! Damn, they sound good!

Crawdad:
I tend to do close micing more often cuz I really hate the ghetto room sound I get from my C1. But, I do agree with you that it takes more than 2" to have the sound built up. I will build a vocal/tracking booth once I move in a bigger house next semester.

thanks for the inputs, guys. It's been very helpful.

AL

 

[A1A2]

Ok, guys.

Here is a little tune I recorded with just a 57 awhile ago. Badly recorded/performed, butta, hey, it was my girlfriend's request. You all know how it is.
A simple birthday song, but my main focus was the acoustic guitar. I had to think twice before I decided to put this online cuz it's not even in English, and I CANNOT SING!! Anyways, please let me know what you all think about the acoustic gtr sound as I continue on my mic quest.
Thanks in advance

http://nowhereradio.com/a1a2/singles
it's called "Birthday"

AL

 

[Scott Tansley]

The eq on the acoustic (with 57) was a low shelf cut. Everything from 200htz down is gone. Then sweetened with a bit of 8 to 10k.
The drum kit in that thing sounded good before I even went near it with a mic. Which acounts for most of the drum sound. Micing was not too tricky, Just a 57 angled right into the snare and same for the toms. I used a beta52 on the kick. Nobody seems to like the 52 but I recon it gives just the right sound for our kick drum. I do a lot of compressing and eq on the drums too.

Im not saying using a 57 for accoustic is the way to go, just that it can give a different sound. It is workable.

 

[chessrock]

It really isn't too difficult to get a usable accoustic guitar track, when you think of it.

Condensers have their advantages, but you can still get a good sound, albeit very different, from a 57 or anthything.

 

[Track Rat]

OK, I have a tune up on Nowhereradio (very much work in progress, not at all finished) where the acoustic is recorded with a pair of Octava MC-012's. Recorded to ADATs through a DBX386 with no EQ. Follow the above link and check "Sky Above".

 

[A1A2]

TRack Rat:

Nice sounding acoustic guitar! I like that crispy sound alot. You said it was done with 2 Octava, what were your mic positions? I don't hear a lot of low end, so I am assuming you are not aiming them at the soundhole much, right?
Thanks for the demostration.

AL

 

[Track Rat]

This particular time, they were on a X-Y position at the 12th fret.

 

[Fed]

how far from the guitar?

Track Rat
How far from the guitar were the mics?
Allot of times people only mention 1 position.
We are still in 3(well, some would disagree) dimensions

Thanks

 

[Track Rat]

Out about a foot from the neck in a vertical plain angled slightly at the body. It's a Martin which are notoriously boomy so I try to stay well away from the sound hole.

 

[JMarcomb]

hey trackrat... what are you using for a mic pre? are you compressing before the mixer?
sounds nice... Im sure the martin doesnt hurt

 

[Track Rat]

On that particular cut, it was a DBX386. I don't like to track with compression. I have an RNC on the guitar tracks at mix.