Poor acoustic results

[ryan79]

Hi im recording a 12 string guitar by plugging guitar into an AER acoustic amp which has a single SM57 in front running to a Tascam and then to PC.

Ive recorded a few songs and was dissapointed when someone thought it was an electric guitar.

Why not just plug my guitar directly into tascam to eliminate travel or do I need to buy expensive acoustic microphones. Or am I missing something here?

And yes I have read the Tweakheadz guide and didnt get anything useful. Seem to be getting rubbish results with Cubase and recording are always thin/clipped. Rgds

 

[bouldersoundguy]

You're using an electric guitar recording technique on an acoustic guitar. Of course it sounds like an electric. Try eliminating the amp and just micing the guitar with the SM57. Be aware that mic placement and quality of the guitar will strongly affect the results.

 

[WhiteStrat]

If you don't want it to sound like an electric, just record the guitar itself--and with the mic. An SM57 isn't your best bet for recording an acoustic guitar, but it will sound more like an acoustic than micing the amp.

 

[WhiteStrat]

You're using an electric guitar recording technique on an acoustic guitar. Of course it sounds like an electric. Try eliminating the amp and just micing the guitar with the SM57. Be aware that mic placement and quality of the guitar will strongly affect the results.

If you don't want it to sound like an electric, just record the guitar itself--and with the mic. An SM57 isn't your best bet for recording an acoustic guitar, but it will sound more like an acoustic than micing the amp.

We must've been typing at the same time...

 

[grimtraveller]

You're using an electric guitar recording technique on an acoustic guitar. Of course it sounds like an electric. Try eliminating the amp and just micing the guitar with the SM57. Be aware that mic placement and quality of the guitar will strongly affect the results.

If you don't want it to sound like an electric, just record the guitar itself--and with the mic. An SM57 isn't your best bet for recording an acoustic guitar, but it will sound more like an acoustic than micing the amp.

We must've been typing at the same time...

Known in scientific circles as 'Morphic resonance'.

But to echo Boulder and Strat, if you're recording an acoustic, going through an amp, unless you want that effect is going to sound like you've gone through an amp, as will plugging your 12 string directly into your recorder. I record the 12 string electro acoustic alot and I find different methods yield different sounds. If you want a purely acoustic sound, miking the guitar alone is your best bet. I sometimes use dynamics and plonk it in front of the sound hole for a bassier fuller sound. Interestingly, I used to have the opposite problem to you. My sounds weren't thin which is what I wanted them to be ! They were thick and full. Now I put a couple of condensers at various points and play lighter {I'm afraid I'm a heavy handed amateur. I used to break strings all the time which is how my friend came to buy me a 12 string in the first place but that's another story}.
For a little edge and almost imperceptible electric 'Zing', the amp or DI is cool, as long as when you're mixing that with your main sound, you well back off. Imperceptible is the aim there.

 

[bassbrad]

A lot depends on the pickup in your guitar, some of the new stuff sounds pretty good plugged in and mixed with a mic.

 

[friesenman]

Whoever said it sounded like an electric guitar doesn't play real guitar or have much experience listening to them, it seems. I could've told you that was an amped acoustic from the first listen without your post. To the untrained ear I'm sure it will sound like an electric (especially with the way 12 strings always sound like natural chorus) but there's only one way to change that perception... read more posts! SM57s are able to record anything, but try to find yourself a decent little condenser mic for acoustics if you can. I know everyone hates the 990/991 MXL bundles, but for the price and the fact that that little 991 does something special to acoustics that no other $50 mic will, it's definitely worth checking in to.

Good luck in future recordings, and smack the "sounds like an electric" guy across the head!

 

[suprstar]

*I* dont hate 990/991's! That'd be a hell of a lot better than a 57 for recording an acoustic. Yeah they're kinda cheapish but I think they're a great deal, good bang for the buck.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

To the untrained ear I'm sure it will sound like an electric

In other words, to almost all listeners it will "sound like an electric", which I translate to mean "doesn't sound like an acoustic". Who cares if they got the terminology wrong? They gave some good feedback on the sound of the guitar.

 

[ryan79]

Thanks everyone who replied. Ive recorded just the guitar and it sounds 100% better. Sticking with my trusty SM57 until i get more experience and money !

New attachment posted:

 

[drstawl]

You can get very satisfactory results with that SM-57 with a little experimentation regarding mic placement.

Sure- a more sensitive mic will do a better job.

 

[studiosound]

I prefer acoustic guitars that are captured by microphones. If you don’t have access to a tuned room than doing whatever is necessary to get the sound of the guitar the way you want it in the room is a great start. Finding the right position in the room or using something as a baffle, such as, blankets or whatever is around will help tremendously. Additionally, I enjoy recording acoustic guitars in stereo. One positioned 1.5-2’ from, and pointed at bridge, and one 1.5-2 from, pointed just inside the nut; then adjust to taste. If you want mono you can always just choose the one you feel compliments the song best or setup an additional microphone that captures the mono balance you’re looking for and choose between them in the mix. Acoustically, there’s a lot going on inside a guitar, especially a 12 string, so capturing the sound of the guitar is usually suited best using a pair of condensers. If you don’t have access to a professional set, it would be best to borrow a pair, or you can always get an inexpensive pair that will do a good job.

 

[NYMorningstar]

Now I put a couple of condensers at various points and play lighter {I'm afraid I'm a heavy handed amateur. I used to break strings all the time which is how my friend came to buy me a 12 string in the first place but that's another story}.
For a little edge and almost imperceptible electric 'Zing', the amp or DI is cool, as long as when you're mixing that with your main sound, you well back off. Imperceptible is the aim there.

+1 ~ I just had a D/I heavy handed 12 stringer playing at my house last night and he was amazed at how much better he sounded when he played softer through a SD condensor.

We tried a few different arrangements but the best sound arrangement seemed to be a 12 and 6 string acoustic miced with Rode NT5 SD condensors mixed in with another 6 string going D/I. Both 6 string guitarist traded leads and it sounded awesome. The vocals went through 58's.

I'm an advocate of getting the sound right before you hit that record button and keeping the recording process transparent.