Problem with low volume when recording acoustic with shure58

[flyinjam]

Hey,

I'm just starting out recording and wondered if anyone could help me? I'm currently using a shure58 mic going into a preamp then mac to record acoustic guitar using protools. However when recording the guitar its never very loud, even with the settings on the preamp at the highest. Would this be the range of the mic or the preamps fault? would you recommend getting a condensor mic and would this make everything louder so it sits just before it hits the red for optimum sound quality?

thanks.

 

[JCH]

You'll probably get better help in the newbies section. Most people here will just tell you to play louder.

First off I'd try a different microphone.

 

[Jayburger]

Hi.

I had am SM57 to start with.. But was recording using an electro acoustic..

When I swapped to a solid body normal acoustic the SM57 didn't do it.. I bought a rode NT-1A Condenser… HUGE difference.. Now I use a pair os stereo condensers one at the body, one at the neck / body joint..
T-Bone SC140's.. Cheap but far better results than the SM57.

One condenser will do you.. but be careful to point it at the BODY… not the Sound hole.. It could be too boomy !!

Hope That Helps ?

 

[mjbphotos]

"Never very loud" - are you trying to track at 0dB? It's not necessary, nor is it necessary to turn the gain all the way up (you will probably get lots of noise that way.)
I use an SM57 and like the results, but found that the SM58 was not as loud -probably due to the ball filter end - although the sound quality was identical.
Look at your technique - how close is the mic to the guitar? Where are you aiming it? How is the sound of the guitar itself - you can't tell too well when playing it yourself, get someone else to play it and stand back and listen to it.

 

[mixsit]

How low are you now (peak)? And why not add some gain in protools?