Micing Acoustic Guitar (Stereo)

  • Thread starter Thread starter demensia
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demensia

demensia

www.lukemacneil.com
Im quickly moving up in the world and have purchased a few mics and Mic stands a Dean Markley Promag pickup and a Bluetube Preamp... (I know its all junk but its better than my old computer micropohone and windows sound recorder).

Most of the material that I write is Alice in Chains style acoustic, and id just like some of your suggestions about how I should mic, and pan the tracks...

I am recording through my 4 track to Cool Edit, so the tracks will be mixed as they get to Cooledit and there is no more room to play with the panning... Hard Left and Hard Right sound pretty good sometimes, but Im just wondering how to get the best possible sound.

My monitoring speakers are just Creative 5.1 surround speakers (unbalanced around the room) and a pair of cheap $30 headphones, and the 4 track is a cheap ass Fostex XR-7.

Suprisingly my recordings come out alright, but they could be much better.
 
What mics do you have?

You didn't specify what mics you had. It's a good idea to have two identical mics, though it's not absolutely necessary. Some people like to color their stereo image differently.

If you're going to be panning far left and right, you should try the stereo x/y pattern. Set up both of your mics about 12 inches out from the guitar from a point just above the soundhole and slightly above the guitar so they're pointing down. The capsules should almost but not quite be touching each other. Aim one capsule at the fingerboard at about the place where the neck and body join (the 12th - 14th fret or so), and aim the other towards the saddle. The mics should be at roughly a 45 degree angle.

This setup creates a very "present" guitar sound. Granted, it doesn't give you the widest stereo spread, but you'll end up with few or no phasing problems.

There are lots of different ways to mic an acoustic in stereo. You might do a search on this site for some more detailed info.

Bruce in Korea
 
I didnt mention the mics because they suck.
Im using a peavey PVM22 and an AudioTechnica (cheap model $50)

thanks for the suggestion
 
Thats sweet man. Thanks..

Whats phasing? Like the effect phasing?
 
demensia- check out www.studiocovers.com

Many recording questions can be answered with this wealth of information and all the mysteries of the universe are answered if you look deep enough. :cool:

Try the section called "miking".
 
Alice in Chains also used a slight delay on one side to make the guitar fuller I believe.
 
Speaking of our friend, Jerry . . .

Have you ever listened closely to his accoustic guitar tracks?

Is it just me, or is he punishing those poor guitar strings? Sounds like he's taking out some serious aggression. Someone needs to teach him to play with more fluid technique, or renew his ritalyn prescription or something.

Jerry, it's just a guitar . . . it's not the guy who doinked your wife, okay?
 
ha ha good point chessrock. he does play with conviction though.
 
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