"down spikes"

[Bumpy]

I record mostly acoustic guitar and vocals. I would like to explain a situation that happens when I track the guitar using DI and mic.


I set up two tracks, one a direct input thru chorus and the other thru the mic. I usually get a nice thick sound. Every now and then, when I have a strumming sequence, I get a waveform that has a "spike" on the bottom, ie the bottom of the spike is longer than the top. Its an ugly "bass boom" that I think happens when I strike the top of the guitar and hit the note. The corresponding mic track has a nice "equalateral" spike at the location in question. This "bottom spike" only happens on the DI track.

What is this type of waveform called?

I know now how to physically prevent this (i.e better guitar technique) , but how can I fix this on my already recorded tracks?

Thanks
Brian

 

[Track Rat]

You can highlite just the individual spikes and apply compression to that. Or you can pop a volume envelope over the offending track and make it "duck" on these transients.

 

[rvdsm]

You should try to not focus on the look of a waveform and more on the sound coming through the monitors. Not trying to be snotty or anything, but waveforms are deceptive in appearance.