Havin a hard time micing this guitar....help!

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Nutdotnet

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Hey all, I am trying to get a good well-balanced sound for fingerpicking. I am using a Rode NT-1 and my Tacoma DR-38 Acoustic. I know the mic isn't the best to use for an acoustic guitar, but the only other mic I own is an SM57.

Anyways, I have tried a few places for mic placement. All around a foot or so away from the guitar. Tried the lower bout of the body. First straight on, and then facing the soundhole a bit.

Next I tried right around the twelfth fret. First aiming it towards the soundhole and then trying facing it towards the fingerboard.

I think the best sound so far is aiming it directly towards the fingerboard. But something still doesn't sound right. I think it is still pretty muddy.

I am also using a Presonus Blue Tube as my Mic Pre.

I can send anyone a sample of the "best" sound if ya just ask. I don't have a way of hosting it so it would have to be me transferring it to you somehow.

Thanks!
 
Dreadnaughts are notorious for producing boominess in the 200hz-500hz range. By placing the mic, a cardioid with proximity effect, as close as you are, these frequencies may be muddying up your sound. I'm sure the Blue Tube isn't helping. Try backing off to about 18-20 inches out from the sound hole. Also try angling the mic slightly toward the neck from this same position. If the Blue Tube allows you to keep the tube gain out of the signal chain that would probably be a good idea. The cleaner the signal the better. I really don't think the NT-1 is the problem.
 
The problem I always face when micing acoustics is that I get all the finger squeek and pick sloppiness when I mic it too close in the front or along the fretboard.

Then when I back the mic away I get all the lovely sounds of my wonderful room, neighbor's toilet flushing, traffic outside, etc.

So...in a fit of wanton experimentation, I discovered that I can get a decent sound the the mic next to the guitar - down by the place where the strap button usually is. I started with the mic about 1.5 feet from the guitar facing directly into the side of it.

Then I just angled myself back and forth a bit until I got a sound I liked in the cans.

Voila! No more bass boom, no more finger squeeks!

YMMV :)

Chris
 
Hey Chris!

Alright, so you are saying that I should have the mic facing the same area where the strap button is? Or should I still have the mic facing the front of the guitar but closer to where the strap button is?

Thanks!
 
make sure you use both mics and use the best of each track for its better qualities......
 
____________________
/--------\{__________} <


The mic goes where the < is and faces the way it does. Figure the guitar radiates sound out in every direction so you can find sweet spots in the wierdest places.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. ;)

(Hmmm...that ASCII art didn't turn out too well...oh, well.)
 
Chris Shaeffer said:
The problem I always face when micing acoustics is that I get all the finger squeek and pick sloppiness when I mic it too close in the front or along the fretboard.

Then when I back the mic away I get all the lovely sounds of my wonderful room, neighbor's toilet flushing, traffic outside, etc.

So...in a fit of wanton experimentation, I discovered that I can get a decent sound the the mic next to the guitar - down by the place where the strap button usually is. I started with the mic about 1.5 feet from the guitar facing directly into the side of it.

Then I just angled myself back and forth a bit until I got a sound I liked in the cans.

Voila! No more bass boom, no more finger squeeks!

YMMV :)

Chris
Click to expand...

That's interesting Chris.
On one of your songs I hear a faint finger squeek, and only heard it once. I wondered why I didn't hear more.
I thought you removed it with your software.
I also thought you were a hell of a good guitarist to lift your fingers everytime to avoid those unpleasentrys. :eek:

Yeah, an interesting tip. I'll have to try that.


Nut, I think the strap button is the target, but he also suggested to move the guit around a bit to find the sweet spot.

I would assume that all this depends on the guitar/mic/strength of playing/the room acoustics and many more details.


Chris, I think this board doesn't see more than one or two spaces, hence your art has been altered.
I tired one time posting a riff for someone in tab. I looked at it after I posted it and couldn't make head or tails out of it myself.
 
Aight cool, I am going to have to try both those techniques.

My first guess would be that if I stereo mic it the SM57 should be near the 12th fret and the rode be near the body.....
 
I can't say, Nut. I'm in the dark about that too.
Till you get an answer, I'd just experiment.
Good luck.
 
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