Options for direct input of my acoustic guitar into DAW

[Scooterj]

I read some previous posts in search, but still would like your thoughts on this question. I am starting to record my acoustic Taylor 812c guitar and I suspect I will eventually go with mics, but for now I want to try direct input and see what that is like. My guitar is fitted with the K&K mini under bridge area pickups and run through the K&K preamp dedicated to these picups which makes it sound much better than without it which then runs into my Fishman LoudBox acoustic amp with a bit of reverb. It sounds very realistic to me and not like a piezo type pickup which I really do not like the sound of.

For direct input into my DAW I have three choices:

1. Guitar direct to Scarlett 2i2 interface and into DAW
2. Guitar into K&K preamp and then into 2i2 interface and into DAW
3..Guitar into K&K then into Acoustic amp with slight reverb then DI output from the amp into 2i2 and into DAW

It strikes me that option 3 is a bit crazy, and option 2 might be unnecessary due to the Scarlett 2i2 already having a preamp in it

Then of course there is option 1 which is simplest and will give me the sensation of what a direct input sounds like (I suspect not as good as using mics)

I don't need yet to think about amp sims in the DAW but I do have some available and use Guitar Rig 7 mostly for my electric, but don't want to get too complicated yet as I learn the very basics of connection.

Can members give me some perspective about these three choices and how to think about them? Thanks in advance.

 

[gecko zzed]

You can try all three and see what you like best. However, my instinct says just go for the simplest option, i.e. your option 1.

 

[Papanate]

As @gecko zzed says - I would also try all 3 - but I think #2 would be best if you watched your gain closely - #1 is going to be the easiest - #3 would give you a unique sound - don’t know it it’s good or bad - but why not try it as well?

 

[Scooterj]

Options 2 and 3 require me to crawl under my desk and dismantle many connections. UGH. I did just try now plugging direct guitar into 2i2 and into Reaper and was shocked that it sound pretty decent. Dry but not the usual awful acoustic pickup sound. I was really surprised. This was my maiden voyage recording anything. Since this went well I think maybe I should try a LDC mic and then some SDCs I have and see if that beats the direct input. I suspect it will, but heck who knows. Pretty exciting to have started.

 

[DrewPeterson7]

Options 2 and 3 require me to crawl under my desk and dismantle many connections. UGH. I did just try now plugging direct guitar into 2i2 and into Reaper and was shocked that it sound pretty decent. Dry but not the usual awful acoustic pickup sound. I was really surprised. This was my maiden voyage recording anything. Since this went well I think maybe I should try a LDC mic and then some SDCs I have and see if that beats the direct input. I suspect it will, but heck who knows. Pretty exciting to have started.

Since there are a lot of situations where you might want to do this, getting some sort of patch bay going so you can make all these connections at desktop level will probably save you a LOT of hassle down the road.

All of my mic inputs are now backpanel, and for a while I dealt by just leaving cables plugged in, but several years ago I spent $100 on one of these:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/P16--art-p16-16-channel-xlr-balanced-patchbay

...and it has made switching between different preamps while tracking INFINITELY easier. I plug into the front, and have cables on the back running to different inputs behind the scenes. Makes it far easier to swap a mic between a few different preamps while auditioning them.

 

[ecc83]

AFAICT the Taylor 812c has a passive output? This means the pickup should "see" an input impedance of at least 5, better 10 meg Ohms. Surprised to see therefore that the "dedicated to acoustic guitars" K&K pre amp has a specc'ed input of just one meg?
Now, one of two things could be happening there,
1) The figure is wrong. Many manufacturers are bad at decent specification writing!
2) It IS one meg but they use some form of EQ to correct the loss of low frequencies? (but, in the interest of KISS why not just deploy the right input impedance FCS?!).

And yes, some form of 'patch' or 'breakout box' system would make the setup much more versatile.

Dave.

 

[TalismanRich]

The 812c had no pickup system. Taylor designates guitars with a pickup with an e (ie 812ce). The K&K is an aftermarket setup and the Pure Mini is just piezo sensors. I guess they expect you to buy their preamp which converts things to low impedance, which OP has.

Pure Preamp — K&K Sound

www.kksound.com

The correct method of doing this would be to go through the K&K preamp and then probably into the Scarlett. Piezos into the Scarlett would be a horrible mismatch. This can lead to frequency response issues. Going though the Fishman would work. I would just listen for added noise vs the K&K directly. You can always add reverb after the fact.

I guess I don't understand why options 2 and 3 require crawling under a desk. You would go into the front of the interface and press a button!?!