please help:Classic guitar

[Aviel]

Hey all
I would like to know if someone can help me recording a classic guitar,
i get a very low mid, bass, little high mid sound, it just sounds vague, and not bright enough, like missing that "air"

I use a AKG c400B condenser connected to a focusrite penta preamp into audiophile 192.
I placed the mic like 15 cms from the guitar, somewhere between the sound hole and the 12 fret.

Maybe its a problem of EQ, but it sounds like the guitar just cant fulll up the mix's spectrum.

( i dont have an option of 2 mics or somehting, i have the condenser, and one audio technica dynamic mic)

Sample here (old mix, too much bass, and bad drums- but you can hear the classic guitar)
http://firstva.xoompages.com/midsun.zip


Would appreciate any help!
Thanks
Aviel

 

[cello_pudding]

it sounds pretty good right now.

possibly try to be at the sound hole, but off axis the mic to point to the 12th. i don't know the pattern of the mic, but it should get a good bass sound but a little less, and the off axis should grab more highs, but without another sdc at the neck (my typical mic technique) it'll be harder to get those highs.

is the guitar out of end towards the end? just that top string

 

[Aviel]

Thanks! i will try this,
i can scan the mic patterns if it might help?

is the guitar out of end towards the end? just that top string

Didnt understand what you mean hear.. sorry

Thanks
Aviel

 

[cello_pudding]

crap...out of tune towards the end

 

[cello_pudding]

i just recorded my classical with two mics and with one.

i did slight eq'ing to bring out the highs on the one mic.

i did nothing with the two mics.

the two mic one just has a little more of that high sound.

and sorry..i played spanish instead of classical...and now i'm too lazy to re record and upload

1 mic
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=3932
2 mic
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=3933

 

[XLR]

i get a very low mid, bass, little high mid sound, it just sounds vague, and not bright enough, like missing that "air"

I use a AKG c400B condenser connected to a focusrite penta preamp into audiophile 192.
I placed the mic like 15 cms from the guitar, somewhere between the sound hole and the 12 fret.

Maybe its a problem of EQ, but it sounds like the guitar just cant fulll up the mix's spectrum.

The mix is pretty dense in the low-mids. A classical guitar that's well recorded will be by its nature strong also in the low mids. I'd suggest thinning the mix a bit in the 300-400 Hz range to let the guitar come through more, if you want a natural classical guitar sound and have it be clear.

As far as mic position, for classical guitar I prefer a position between the soundhole and bridge, sometimes directly out from the bridge. At one foot distance it should sound very rich, larger than life. At 2-3 feet it should sound natural, like the guitar in the room. Lots of variables though, with room reflections, guitar tone, mic and pre. I'd stay away from the soundhole.

This thread in the mp3 clinic has a solo clip done with fairly close mic'ing.
http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=202340

Tim

 

[cello_pudding]

really? i would imagine that would get tinny

 

[XLR]

Quite the opposite.

Tim

 

[rayc]

Go to the MP3 mixing clinic & give Timothy Lawler's most recent additions a listen. then follow his directions if you hink they are what you're after.
Mind, if you aren't after that sound you're out of the park.

 

[cello_pudding]

here's a clip of micing it between the bridge and soundhole.

it does have a nice mellow sound, and doesn't get too nail sounding.


this clip has first the position over bridge sound hole, the second has off axis towards the 12th.

it seems a bit brighter, but i think i do prefer the other position.

http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=3941

 

[Aviel]

here's a clip of micing it between the bridge and soundhole.

it does have a nice mellow sound, and doesn't get too nail sounding.


this clip has first the position over bridge sound hole, the second has off axis towards the 12th.

it seems a bit brighter, but i think i do prefer the other position.

http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=3941

Its sounds good, less bass indeed, i will have to give it a try too,
But there is something there that still distrurbs me, i think still no bright enough

Where you listen to classic guitars on mixes (with singing etc) it has much larger and ghigher spectrum i think.

 

[cello_pudding]

2 mics....its the only way you'll get that sound

 

[XLR]

Aviel, what's the make/model of the guitar you're recording? That's the biggest part of the equation... for a bright track use a bright guitar with fresh strings.

Tim

 

[TelePaul]

Room..

I had a similar probem, and still kinda do! 'Vague' erfectly sums up my sound and i was using a condenser in pretty much the same way. I talked to a guy in a music shop, whwo basically tod me to forget about EQ for a while, considering my classical is a nice enough little guitar (Godin). But i ws recording in a conservatory with wooden floors; recording suicide! So basically ya need to be aware of where you're recording. You can hang blankets to kill the dead air around your mic or make a 3-walled booth..theres a ton of great plans on the net. hope this helps.

 

[Aviel]

Well i dont have lany idea what is the type of guitat. my siste bought it like 7 years ago.
I guess its a quiter cheap guitar.

The problem is that i dont have an acoustic room, so i tried to record just next to a wall like i saw someone saying, while i am sitting next to the wall and facing away from it