AKG C414 on acoustic guitar

  • Thread starter Thread starter nuemes
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nuemes

nuemes

Be Here Now
I've been experimenting with a single C414 on steel string acoustic guitar and am curious what's been working for others who've done the same.

My prefference so far has been to keep the signal clean (no or very little compression, no EQ other than using the 150Hz roll-off on the mic) with the mic pointed near the 12th fret.

I'm recording a musician tomorrow whose guitar sound is fairly percussive - along the lines of Jack Johnson & Dave Matthews. Any advice on EQ (specifically reductive) or compression settings that have worked for you with that type of sound?

Thanks!
 
Akg

I like the C414 in omni for acoustic guitar about 18" away from the soundhole, though my room is well treated. Cardoid always works well also.
But anyway, I could be wrong but the E string on an acoustic resonates at around 82 hz, so I believe the 150hz lo cut might not be so good. I would either go for 80hz cut or none and EQ it later.

I track with a little compression if I to bring out the picking if it calls for it and to tame transients.

Whats is you exact chain?
 
Suggest you PM Richard Monroe - this sounds pretty much like the chain he was using, including the Avalon. He might have some tips for you.

Cheers
 
Ok, I think I can do clips. The signal chain is Taylor 710CE > AKG C414B-ULS > Joemeek TwinQcs/Avalon AD2022 > TC Electronics M300 (in bypass mode, for A-D conversion only) > Roland VS1824CD by S/PDIF. Burned to CD, then ripped to MP-3.
The 414 was placed about 8" from the 11th fret, give or take, in cardioid.
The basic fingerstyle was done through the Joemeek, and lead was done with the same Taylor, into the Avalon, different guitarist, much more percussive, as you say. That describes "Requiem". "Sunset Nostalgia" is the same deal, but both guitar parts are run through the Avalon. Bass is DI into the Avalon. That's enough for now. My album "Reunion" was pretty much done with the Taylor, the Avalon, the Joemeek, a C414, a B.L.U.E. Kiwi, AKG C2000B, and a pair of C-4's.
Any song on the album, except the rare electric cuts, involve the Taylor and the C414, except "Goody's Song", which was recorded DI with a Fishman Blender into the Joemeek. These songs are the raw recordings, before mixing and mastering. In other words, no EQ, no compression except occasional Meek comp on vox. No cool doubling, reamping, nada. They are also rendered without panning, mono.


http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/?aid=3239/album680

Wow, I just listened to some of that stuff, and I can tell you, Littledog's mix is a hell of a lot better than mine. If you want to hear some short clips of what it sounded like after Littledog and Sjoko got done tweaking it, try this-

http://www.cdfreedom.com/cdfreedom/artist.asp?prodid=1176&ref=sr

Enjoy-Richie

BTW- My advice in most cases is to not EQ or compress acoustic unless you have to. I did, however, make liberal use of the bass cuts on the 414 and the preamps, to reduce boom.-Richie
 
vangore said:
how does the c414 sound with the M5?
Click to expand...

I just posted a review of the M5 in 'The Rack' section. Yours is a difficult question right now. The M5 with the C414 together let you hear everything that is acoustically wrong with the room you're in... very frustrating. Also, my acoustic guitars are cheap so it's hard to really tell how the preamp & mic sound when testing on them. I'll have a higher quality guitar in next week for testing. For now I can honestly say that the M5 sounds slightly more smooth than Mackie VLZ Pro preamps on acoustic guitar with the C414; other than that it's still hard to say!
 
Richard Monroe said:
BTW- My advice in most cases is to not EQ or compress acoustic unless you have to. I did, however, make liberal use of the bass cuts on the 414 and the preamps, to reduce boom.-Richie
Click to expand...

Thanks Richard; I got a lot out of listening to your clips. I've found that there are some trouble frequencies but I think it has more to do with the quality (well, lack thereof) of the guitar I'm trying to record, possibly the room as well. I think EQ is my only option for now until I can spring for a better acoustic.
 
Well Nuemes, there may be truth to what you say. Acoustic guitars and guitarists are somewhat like singers in that respect. The better they are, the more accurate your signal chain can be, and the less post production tweaking you need to do. For cheap guitars, I often use AKG C2000B, Oktava MC012, or Rode NTK, all of which provide more color thst the 414. The C2000B especially shines on cheap guitars. I am blessed with a good room, which has been somewhat modified to improve it. I recorded those songs sitting in the control station. The 414 and the Avalon work very well together. They will record what they heard. Time to go to work improving what they hear.-Richie
 
I'm running a C451B through a Grace and it's a beautful thing. I have a big boomy guitar and a bad room. The 451 cuts a lot of the deadweight and leaves me most of the sheen. By close mic'ing I reduce the room's contribution. (It helps that my guitar is high-end and great for the rock sound I'm looking for.) I only slightly compress because the 451 is good at handling really percussive playing. I think it's because the low end of heavy thwaks on muted strums is greatly attenuated.
 
Richard Monroe said:
For cheap guitars, I often use AKG C2000B, Oktava MC012, or Rode NTK, all of which provide more color thst the 414. The C2000B especially shines on cheap guitars.
Click to expand...

I think you're onto something here Ritchie - I'm going to pull out some other mics today and give those a shot. Thanks!
 
it seems to me that a hi pass at 150hz seems a little much.

but noone else has mentioned it. dose everyone here (or most of you) hi pass an acu that hard?

is it something i should try?
 
I high pass at half that. Especially if I have drums and bass in the mix.
 
Not only did I high pass at 150hz on the 414, I used the Avalon's shelving high pass at 180hz as well. That allowed me to close mic the Taylor, dealing a lot of the room out of the equation. I think the results were pretty good, and Littledog EQ'd the acoustic damn little. Most of his efforts were spent dealing with vox and drums. I would use a lot less with a smaller body guitar, but the Taylor booms like a mother, if it's allowed to.-Richie
 
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