Best Mic For MONO acoustic guitar recordings

[Marcellovalerio]

From what I have understood the mxl 603/Octava 012 are good and cheap ways of recording Acoustic Guitar.

BUT, only when recording in stereo (with matched pairs?).

If that is not an option, what mic would you recomend?

A large diagraph condenser, Akg 414, At4033 ?
A shure sm-81, Akg 451, GT 33 ?

All suggestions appreciated.

Marcello

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

It depends ENTIRELY on the room acoustics, the player, the guitar itself, and the sound you're looking for.

All the ones you listed (Akg 414, At4033, shure sm-81, Akg 451, GT 33) are viable options.

There's really no way to answer your question specifically...

 

[Henri Devill]

There are as many choices as there are blades of grass!As for ste. vers mono it depends!But you can do fine with one mic of any type..As for the O12..I have some of those..Alot of times its just one mic at the 12th fret for a rock track..As for the 012 I have found that its pretty good at adding some "wood" to cheaper acoustics{its a "darker" mic}when the top of the guitar is a little stiff and all you get is string ect. The 012 is a good bang for the buck!.All the other mics you mention will work as well MONO too..and ster. also its about what you are trying to do and learning how to get there..Experiment with placement and learn your{ones you own} microphones..in the prossess you will develop a "ear" as to what you want to hear in a mix..thinking ahead ect. I'm rambling LOL...Good luck

 

[Big Kenny]

I have learned from Henri and the Bear (not the sitcom) there are no right or wrong answers here, just good and bad recordings. Work with the room and see what you like. I have tried out mics in the store that sound great and when I get 'em home in my studio, phlrbst! You, like the rest of us, will buy some mics that don't do what you want them to, sell 'em and get others or start building a collection for later when you need that particular sound

 

[mshilarious]

For a mono guitar, a lot of different mics will yield cool unusual sounds. I have an omni dynamic that gives a cool chunky sound, not boomy when close miked but no fret/string noise due to its lack of high end.

Another cool sound comes from my Green Bullet, which is dirty but not low-fi. It's a cool mic for acoustic slide.

Good options for when you don't want a big stereo guitar taking up an entire mix.

But ordinarily I use an SM81.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

All good answers, but the best single mic I've ever heard on an acoustic guitar was the Schoeps CMC6 body with the MK41 hypercardioid capsule. It will set you back about $1,200. The Calrec Soundfield mic is another great mic on guitar, but it's at least 5 times more expensive.

Since your question was about the "best", with no mention of price, those would be my choices.

 

[smtcharlie]

....and you may want to post what kind of style you play...finger-picking, alt-acoustic, rock, slide, etc. I like much different mic's for playing hard with a pick than for soft finger-picking. You will probably get better advice on what people like.

smt

 

[Dot]

I agree with Harvey on the Schoeps CMC6 body with the MK41 cap being the best single mic for use on acoustic guitar. Run it through a John Hardy M-1 mic pre and you've got the best mic running through the best pre for acoustic guitar, IMO.

 

[JohnnyMan]

Which mic is best for recording acoustic guitar?

This was one of the first things I wanted to know when I entered the world of recording. Having asked this question many times in the past, the most common response that I have received is “the Neumann KM184”. They are usually in the $500-$600US range. I do not own one YET. I will first have to spend some time justifying that type of expense for a budget-minded hobby recordist such as myself. In all likelihood I’ll step up to a Neumann through smaller steps like MK012 (I already own 2) and then maybe the MXL603s or maybe the Shure SM81.

 

[Big Kenny]

And by the time you buy the good one, you could have bought two with the money you spent on the cheap ones. Of course I say this following your procedure to the letter.

 

[Dot]

This was one of the first things I wanted to know when I entered the world of recording. Having asked this question many times in the past, the most common response that I have received is “the Neumann KM184”.

That's the response you'll get from people who haven't used very many mics and are just assuming. And a lot of them haven't even used a KM184.

 

[chessrock]

Honestly, my favorite will fluctuate depending on the season or what kind of mood I'm in.

My current "flavor of the month" is to just use a completely neutral reference mic type deal like an Audix TR-40, or a Stapes if I'm lucky enough to have access to one. Back that off several feet and move it around a bit until I find a nice sweet spot . . . or just move my head around until I find one, and then stick the mic there.

If I know it's going to be a busy mix, though, and the guitar isn't excessively bright, there's not a lot of fret noise, etc. . . . then I'll use an mxl-603 to brighten it up a bit.

If the guitar is basically going to be solo, or a featured instrument, then a good Large Diaphragm condenser close up is a good thing to try out to make it sound more forward.

 

[cavedog101]

A step from 012's to MXL603's is a sideways one...a pinch of tonal difference to me is all you'd get...Going to an SM81is going the right direction and they are good on so many things...Find an old 451L or a KM84(not 184) and you're getting closer....microphone nirvana in this case can cost an arm....I liked the KM184's in our last sessions for a snare top mic...and a Audio Technica 4051 for the hat...the AT 37R Pro is an interesting mic for several uses...and cheap.

 

[DJL]

Best?

From what I have understood the mxl 603/Octava 012 are good and cheap ways of recording Acoustic Guitar.

BUT, only when recording in stereo (with matched pairs?).

If that is not an option, what mic would you recomend?

A large diagraph condenser, Akg 414, At4033 ?
A shure sm-81, Akg 451, GT 33 ?

All suggestions appreciated.

Marcello

No... both the MXL603S and Octava MC-012 work well for mono too... so do those other mics.

 

[ozraves]

For a one mic setup on acoustic, I like the Blue Dragonfly. I'm primarily a guitarist and it's probably my fave mic for this app. A single Oktava MK012 works good for $100 if money enters the equation.

 

[hognogger]

How do you guys find the Shure KSM44 on acoustic guitar?

 

[John Mayes]

I tend to prefer large D. condensers, and the ones I've liked are the the TLM-103, SP TB1, Rode NTK, U87, BLUE Bluebird (little boomy but smooth).


Edit: I prefer LDC's one MONO and Just Guitars and Vocals, that kinda thing. For big mixes then SDC's are the ticket... Although SDC's work great on simple stuff too...

 

[DJL]

How do you guys find the Shure KSM44 on acoustic guitar?

It sounds good... but most of the time I prefer SDC mics for acousitic guitars, because most of the time it's going into a busy mix... but the KSM44 is nice and can sound good, expressly for solo and or solo/vox work.

 

[hognogger]

Thanks DJL.

Most of my recording projects at the moment will involve just guitar and vocals, or small ensembles, so thanks, that info is helpful.

 

[hognogger]

Actually, DJL's reply to my question has me thinking.

I've tried a Rode NT1000 and a Marshall V67 to record my acoustic guitar.

The Marshall I didn't like at all with my particular guitar. The sound was kind of murky, dead and undetailed. The Rode was much better, but it did give a kind of fat sound that was OK for solo voice and acoustic guitar.

In fact, I was surpised at the sound I got from the Rode, since makes my vocals sound a little more trebly than I would expect, but my guitar a little less trebly than I'd expect - maybe it has to do with placement.

In any case, I see that some people prefer LDCs for acoustic guitar and some prefer SDCs.

But is it the case that LDCs might be better for sparse arrangements where you want the acoustic to be strongly present than SDCs, and that SDCs are better in a busier mix?

Or is it more complicated than this?