Please suggest how to improve my acoustic guitar recording

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euler_tj

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I am using an electric acoustic guitar YAMAHA APX500, recorded with an USE Audio technique AT2020. I also have a Roland Microcube for an amplifier for improving bass sounds. However, I still feel like the sound is a bit dark. Here is my sample recorded without an amplifier.



If I want to get a brighter and clearer sound like in this vedio


What should i do? Is it because of my guitar, my mics or my playing?

Thank you so much for your help.
 
I prefer a slightly bright acoustic guitar and, to get that, record with a pair of small diaphragm condensers in stereo, one mic above the 12th fret (roughly) and the other between the bridge and the sound hole. My favourite mic is an AKG C451EB but I also often use a pair of sE1A mics which are much more affordable.
 
First, another mic with an audio interface, rather than a USB mic. Second, I suspect that example you are trying to copy has a stereo pair of SDCs, and/or a mic and the internal pickup of the guitar mixed together. There's reverb added to the mix. You can get some of the brightness by EQing your mix, but it sounds like your room (or maybe it's your guitar) doesn't have the necessary sound. Nice playing, though! :guitar:
 
The Lexicon one is close but it only has one microphone input so couldn't do the stereo recording we've been recommending. The Behringer one has no mic inputs at all.

Something like THIS would be what you're after. There are lots of other manufacturers--think of Focusrite, RME, Tascam etc. as possible suppliers. What you're looking for is a unit with at least 2 microphone inputs/pre amps and the ability to provide phantom power for condenser mics.

The mics I was suggesting are THESE ONES. I don't know where you are in the UK but SE (in Hertfordshire) used to offer a week's free loan to try out their mics. It might be worth ringing to see if you can test a pair.
 
Oh I see. I live in Cambridge though. So I cannot get an interface with USB input. The only choice is to buy 2 more mics and the interface, is that right? I would definitely get ones when my budget is ready :).
 
Right, mics with USB output (only) are limited to only going directly into the computer. The audio interface does the USB a-to-d conversion.
 
I'm afraid you've just come up against the big drawback of a USB microphone. It's a bit of a dead end street. Once you have a proper interface, you can change mics as often as you like.

By the way, I just checked and sE still do the free loan service so, once you have a suitable interface, give them a call and see if you like the sound. They're in Hitchin so not all that far from Cambridge. Details HERE.
 
Thanks you guys a lot. appreciate that:) I should have seen this site long time ago. Once I got them I will post the result here. But first I need to deal with a budget issue first.
 
Hii, I just brought what you said. Here is the result. FANTASTIC!!! Thanks you guys a lot.

 
Thanks for letting us know how things turned out and that you're pleased with the sound! It's always nice to know when we get a good result.

A couple of things you might play with to see if you like them:

First, a hint of light reverb can sound very nice on the acoustic style you have (I like your playing by the way--I have your video playing in the background as I type this just for the entertainment!). Don't go overboard but you might like the effect.

Second, now that you're recording in stereo, check and see if your DAW has a stereo expander effect. It's something I use from time to time on solo acoustic and it can sometimes sound very nice.

Whether you like either of the above will be purely up to your ears but you lose nothing by experimenting!
 
Wow, night and day difference! Your playing is very cool as well!
 
If you have two mics, have one point straight at the twelfth fret (where the neck meets the body) and another pointing at the hole. Mix these guitars together until you have a nice sound.

The further away you move from the hole, the more treble oriented your sound will be.

Here is a link that teach you the fundementals of micing almost any instrument, I hope it helps you
 
It's down to what sounds good, but approach the idea of pointing a mic in the hole with caution. That can give a very "boomy" sound and the OP has already said he's after brightness.
 
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