I bought a KSM27 for recording an acoustic guitar (Disappointed so far)

[dreamache]

I can't get a loud of enough recording level without hearing a shitload of "air" in the background. I'm basically recording in an open environment in my bedroom next to my computer, perhaps this is the issue?

 

[giraffe]

what's your pre-amp?

 

[dreamache]

what's your pre-amp?

Line6 TonePort UX2

 

[giraffe]

need a pre-amp

try the dmp-3 (it's about 150$)
you will see an improvement.

 

[ido1957]

You would think that the pre-amp you have would work ok - it's reasonable quality. If you're getting an airy sound maybe the upper end eq is too high. Can you eq your signal after it is recorded?

 

[tdukex]

Is the phantom power on?

How loud is your computer?

How close do you have the mic to the guit? Try it about 6"-12" out from the neck joint.

Make sure the 15db pad isn't engaged.

Is the mic facing the computer as well as the guit? Make sure the mic is not pointed in the direction of the computer.

 

[threshhold2]

i am also recording acoustic guitar with KSM 27 and i am very pleased with the results. to my opinion your problem is the ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT in your room rather then the microphone or the pre. check the related threads

 

[dreamache]

Is the phantom power on?

How loud is your computer?

How close do you have the mic to the guit? Try it about 6"-12" out from the neck joint.

Make sure the 15db pad isn't engaged.

Is the mic facing the computer as well as the guit? Make sure the mic is not pointed in the direction of the computer.

my comp isn't that loud...

i tried those distances...

15db pad wasn't engaged (i tried all settings)

mic isn't facing the comp, hehe.

 

[Gilliland]

I encountered this exact problem on a recording just a few weeks ago. The fiddler brought his own KSM27 and set it up for the fiddle. During sound check, i told him I was getting way too much room sound, not enough fiddle. Turned out that he had the mic facing the wrong direction - he had turned the back of the mic to the instrument!

 

[cello_pudding]

yeah, my guess is the position. just gotta find the sweet spot. And yes, it does help to have the logo facing the instrument.

could you give a short clip?

 

[dreamache]

I encountered this exact problem on a recording just a few weeks ago. The fiddler brought his own KSM27 and set it up for the fiddle. During sound check, i told him I was getting way too much room sound, not enough fiddle. Turned out that he had the mic facing the wrong direction - he had turned the back of the mic to the instrument!

omg. that WAS the problem! what's really funny, is earlier this morning I read this post and I was like "yes, yes, I had it pointing the correct direction"... and a lil later i decided to get out the manual again and i re-read the part that says which direction = front, and I read through too quickly the first time and thought the symbol was the front, LOL.

Now that I have it pointing the correct direction, it does sound better... here is a clip:

First Acoustic Recording

A few problems I encountered was that I couldn't get it loud enough without getting a lot of "air" in the recording (if you know what i mean), and then the part in the riff when I hit drop D provided for too much bass (i assume this is a mic placement issue).

So this MP3 is ran through X-Noise, along with compression to get it louder.

The question I have is (very newbish question), should I attempt to record at the loudest level possible without getting any of that "air" in the background? Or should I not mind the air, and try to get the acoustic recorded at a level that is just below clipping range?

Thanks!

 

[mixsit]

That's pretty cute. And yes I've done it too.
Another thing is very often the off axis sound actually has a rise on the very top end relative to the other frequencies.
To your question, you have two basic noise' sources to balance with the primary sound- room noise- a function of the 'voice volume, distance to the mic, and the room's loudness. Second are the electrical -gain settings.
Mic distance will be where it makes the 'voice sound it's best, but maybe closer for a compromise if the room is getting in the way.

Peace.
Wayne

 

[c7sus]

This is the best thread ever.

Got a bigger room in the house??? Something with a vaulted ceiling and preferably wood floors???

Because the next question you're gonna have is 'how come there's all this wierd short echo on my take?"

It's your room.

 

[tkingen]

The question I have is (very newbish question), should I attempt to record at the loudest level possible without getting any of that "air" in the background? Or should I not mind the air, and try to get the acoustic recorded at a level that is just below clipping range?

Thanks!

Since the air is a result of your room sound, that could be good or bad. If it's an untreated spare bedroom you may be better off trying to record as dry as possible and then adding some room sound with your favorite reverb.
For recording levels, somewhere aound -12dbfs (decibels full scale) to -14dbfs on a digital meter is equal to "0" on a VU meter - which was the standard for many, many years. Anything above "0" started to get into tape saturation mode, which was a desirable sound in some cases. Above 0 is absolutely undersirable on a digital scale. And to add to this, a VU meter, which goes into the red above 0 and usually measures to +3 or +6, would be about -9dbfs if you used the math from the above -12dbfs example on a digital meter. Clear as mud? It is for me, too
I've been trying to keep my tracking down to lower levels lately. Recording at -12dbfs at 24bit has improved the sound of my mixes. If you have a few tracks bordering on clipping running through the stereo buss out, the accumulative level of all those hot tracks eats up your headroom and you start turning things down looking for a place for the individual sounds to sit.
Anyway, that's my story today - all that could change by tomorrow if someone smarter jumps in with a different story.