Acoustic Test - need expert opinions thanks!

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andrushkiwt

andrushkiwt

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Hey yo,

I am trying to set up my mics properly for the times I want to record an acoustic track. I have access to the following mics:

-AT4040
-SM58
-Sterling ST51

I have a poor room for this, especially vocals, and I simply hung some blankets behind me and one behind the mics.

i used the at4040 aimed for vocals and the 58 under it for the guitar, though I'm realizing i should have switched those two around. oh well. the 58 was VERY VERY quiet...i really had to crank the input on the interface.

In the track below, I have only HP filters on each, some reverb, and mild comp on each track. The 58 mic is about 8db less than the 4040.

Any tips? should i move something around? how does this setup look and sound?

This is really raw and there's no vocal editing...so don't mind the mistakes, please....thanks! this track is set to private, as well.

https://soundcloud.com/andrushkiwt/acoustic-test-2-mics/s-zejTv

View attachment 96940View attachment 96939
 
Argh, I think I have way too much reverb on it. Let me know if I should go back into it and turn it down a touch to hear more clearly. Just checked it out in the car.
 
First of all, nice playing on that opening part! I don't hearing big problems on the guitar recording. It's a "warm" acoustic tone, with a lot of body and not much sparkle on top, but it's usable. I tend to go for the stringy, chimey acoustic tone myself just because it's easier to mix, but you could fit this tone into a mix. Some guitars do that tone more easily than others. My Taylor 414 is all chime. My early-80s Ibanez has a warmer, Martin-like tone. If you want more sparkle, first make sure your strings are fresh. Get the mic pointed toward the neck of the guitar and away from the sound hole.

The vocal sounds distant and roomy. I can't offer you practical advice on how to mic voice and acoustic at the same time, as I always overdub both.

You might have your mics backward. I use an LDC on acoustic, in fact that same Equitek that I use for vocals. It may not be ideal, but it's what I have at the moment and works better than any of my dynamic mics.

It's interesting to hear you singing covers in different genres. All I've heard from you have been originals in the alternative/modern rock genre that you write it. You've got a voice that could work in any number of styles. I'd love to hear more covers.

Oh, and we learn more about the "time-out chair!"
 
Yeah, the guitar is getting a time out for having 3 year old strings. I need to change those...I'm sure it'll brighen it up enough where to I wouldn't have to do it by some other means. Top boost or something.

I should've mentioned it's more likely that a track will be all acoustic and not "acoustic in the mix". I don't tend to write tracks that call for an acoustic somewhere, unless it's completely aacoustic to begin with.

Yeah I guess the 58 is pointing more at the hole than the 12th fret isn't it. Hmm ok I'll twist it a bit if that sounds ok otherwise. I'll see what that does for it.

And thanks...I've been advised to do YouTube covers to draw a crowd to my originals...but I really do not want to be one of those guys. I know plenty around here, locally, that got stuck doing covers and they're still doing it 10 years later. Glad you liked them though, nice selection huh, lol. Top of my head. That last one is a fav of mine. Do you know it?
 
Ritchie Valens, followed by Buddy Holly. On a motorcycle trip out west a couple of years ago, I stopped by the crash site outside Clear Lake, IO. In town, the Surf Ballroom where they played their last gig is still open for business and has a museum. Well worth a visit. Sorry for the hijack:

LB9.webp
LB13.webp
LB6.webp
 
Nice! What a tragedy. Yeah I was 5 or so when La Bamba with Lou Diamond Phillips came out. Man I loved the movie. One of the things that got me into music early. Couldn't stop watching it. Always liked the tune I did the best though, what a beautiful song. Not his though...apparently it was covered many times even before RV did it. Man, people have been stealing music forever. :)

The BH tune I know from Stand By Me. Another childhood movie fav of mine. Love that soundtrack.

And I forgot to comment about switching the mics. Yeah I think I need to do that. Not sure why I didn't set them up that way to begin with.
 
I thought the guitar sounded a little dark, but new strings will go a long way there if they are 3 years old.

I can hear the boxiness of your room.

Vocals just don't seem as refined as your tracks normally do. Maybe that's acoustic guitar bleed doing that. I dunno.
 
ibleedburgundy said:
I thought the guitar sounded a little dark, but new strings will go a long way there if they are 3 years old.

I can hear the boxiness of your room.

Vocals just don't seem as refined as your tracks normally do. Maybe that's acoustic guitar bleed doing that. I dunno.
Click to expand...

Well, in the original mixes, I really compress the shit out of them. EQ, diff reverb, de Esser, small delay, more comp..I'm standing not sitting, focused etc... So yeah it won't sound like the originals. But on its own, if this were the setup for a track, doesn't work so well? I hope the verb I put on isn't damaging it...Its a lot, and I noticed when I listened in the car. I wanted two mics so each captures predominantly one instrument, but a touch of the other too. That way, I could EQ and comp the vocal mic FOR the vocal rather than compressing for two, and vice versa.

I'll try a different setup this weekend. Maybe the sterling for vocals and 4040 for guitar. Also...I hate my room. Boxy indeed. Thanks ibb
 
The acoustic sounds good to me. When I record acoustic in my bad room, it sounds like absolute shit. How are you recording it, and what type of pick, mic position, which wall in the room did you face, etc? Is there a DI signal from it you're blending? I'm just surprised you're not getting nasty comb filtering. I'd be thrilled with that acoustic in my crap room.

Edit: NM, saw the photos. So you're getting a good sound for that setup, imo. I couldn't get that nice an acoustic sound.

I think you're good to go. Just put new strings on it and then notch a spot for the vocal.

Nice song choices, btw. Love that blues traveler song and the buddy holly.
 
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Thanks, can't you see the pictures? There's two of the room with mic placement
 
andrushkiwt said:
Thanks, can't you see the pictures? There's two of the room with mic placement
Click to expand...

Yeah, I just edited my post. Didn't see them at first.

Does your guitar have a DI signal you're blending or is it just mic'd?

If you want to brighten it aim the mic a bit more toward the saddle, but that could get harsh...I'd also recommend breaking in new strings for about three days before recording, because they'll be very chimey at first (unless you like that sound).

How did you eliminate the comb filtering? That's what I'd like to know. I stopped recording acoustic guitar because I pick up so much comb filtering...and I have couches and all that to diffuse, but it just doesn't help. Without the blankets, do you get combing? Maybe I need to go that route and hang up blankets. I'd be very happy with what you're getting.
 
Nola said:
Yeah, I just edited my post. Didn't see them at first.

Does your guitar have a DI signal you're blending or is it just mic'd?

If you want to brighten it aim the mic a bit more toward the saddle, but that could get harsh...I'd also recommend breaking in new strings for about three days before recording, because they'll be very chimey at first (unless you like that sound).

How did you eliminate the comb filtering? That's what I'd like to know. I stopped recording acoustic guitar because I pick up so much comb filtering...and I have couches and all that to diffuse, but it just doesn't help. Without the blankets, do you get combing? Maybe I need to go that route and hang up blankets. I'd be very happy with what you're getting.
Click to expand...

I don't know man, just sounds like two recordings blended into one. Couldn't tell ya. I have the 58 lower than the other, though I didn't notice anything odd when they were even. I have no idea how much the blankets are helping since I didn't record without them. I really doubt they're doing anything much...
 
I think it's too boomy sounding. I think the vocals should be louder in relation to the guitar as they would be the star of this track. And yes, I think you have too much reverb applied. At the same time, I think the strings themselves sound a bit dull.

You have two really nice mics for this situation. Myself, I would position the AT mostly to capture your vocals, but lower than if you were just capturing a vocal track (you played and sang live on this, yes?). Like pointing towards your chest maybe? You'd be kind of singing downwards towards it, but...

Then, I'd put the 58 close the guitar, but away from the soundhole to avoid the boom. But that's just me.

I think it's a good performance, but the recording itself sounds too bedroomy given the quality of the performance, you know?
 
heatmiser said:
I think it's too boomy sounding. I think the vocals should be louder in relation to the guitar as they would be the star of this track. And yes, I think you have too much reverb applied. At the same time, I think the strings themselves sound a bit dull.

You have two really nice mics for this situation. Myself, I would position the AT mostly to capture your vocals, but lower than if you were just capturing a vocal track (you played and sang live on this, yes?). Like pointing towards your chest maybe? You'd be kind of singing downwards towards it, but...

Then, I'd put the 58 close the guitar, but away from the soundhole to avoid the boom. But that's just me.

I think it's a good performance, but the recording itself sounds too bedroomy given the quality of the performance, you know?
Click to expand...

Agree completely. Ok cool, Thanks! I'll try that out next weekend. Good ideas.
 
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