Recording a Martin with a RodeNT2000

[Dread28CW]

I was wondering if anyone has had experience with using the Rode NT2000 to record acoustic guitars. I've just started getting into recording, so I need some advice on which settings might work best for this microphone since it has the variable controls.

 

[lpdeluxe]

Nobody knows but you, and you don't know until you experiment. That's what all those knobs are for. If there was one setting we'd all go buy a "Martin mic".

 

[c7sus]

Have you read Harvey's big thread? I'd start there. Understanding the properties of the various patterns will be a big help.

 

[Lance135]

So true, lpdeluxe. Every guitar has different resonant frequencies, even if they're the same model. It's the "analog" nature of wood ;-).

You can either mike in the nearfield (which is less than two feet away, since the body of an acoustic is around two feet long) or the farfield. Most will point the microphone where the neck meets the body and fine tune the positioning from there. It gets boomier as you approach the sound hole. Try to keep the body faced straight at the microphone for a more present tone.

I would definitely try setting it between omni and cardioid first, especially if you're in the nearfield to capture more the the complexities of the acoustic guitar, then adjust the bass rolloff to suit the amount of low frequency content you require, usually more bass if it's a solo instrument, and less if it needs to sit nicely in a mix. You won't need the pad unless you're doing something crazy like putting the microphone inside the body of the guitar.

Have fun and let us know how it sounds--most likely it will sound amazing once you find the sweet spot.

 

[Lance135]

Yeah, Harvey's thread is really excellent, taking me even beyond my old recording school in some aspects. Say, C7sus, what is the name of that thread?

 

[c7sus]

You can also point the mic behind the bridge.

Or at shoulder-to-ear-height pointing at the floor, and dial in the sweetspot with headphones. That positioning will sound the most like what you're used to hearing as a player.

It's the big sticky at the top of this Forum.

 

[Dread28CW]

I have a D-18GE and a D-28 Clarence White. I have been experimenting, but I am a perfectionist when it comes to getting the perfect sound and it takes me thirty minutes to an hour before I can find a sound that I'm pretty happy with. I was just hoping that someone might be able to recommend some settings and placement for this particular mic. I think the more complex sounding a guitar you have, the harder it is to get a good sound through a mic. The sound I am getting through the mic is better than the sound I am getting through my K&K pickup, but I find that the K&K is giving me more punch and by mixing the two, I am getting a little closer to the ultimate sound I am looking for. I have found that I like the setting between the cardoid and omni..... a little closer toward the cardoid though. One problem I am having with the D-18GE is boominess so I've pointed the mic more towards the neck than the soundhole to alleviate this problem.

 

[c7sus]

I'm sure others have gone for it, but it's also a relatively new offering from Rode.

You've got some damned fine instruments there. Keep fooling around with not only mic positioning, but also try different rooms if you have them available to you, or different positions in your room. The further away you place the mic, the more important the "sound" of the room becomes.

 

[sdelsolray]

I have a D-18GE and a D-28 Clarence White. I have been experimenting, but I am a perfectionist when it comes to getting the perfect sound and it takes me thirty minutes to an hour before I can find a sound that I'm pretty happy with. I was just hoping that someone might be able to recommend some settings and placement for this particular mic. I think the more complex sounding a guitar you have, the harder it is to get a good sound through a mic. The sound I am getting through the mic is better than the sound I am getting through my K&K pickup, but I find that the K&K is giving me more punch and by mixing the two, I am getting a little closer to the ultimate sound I am looking for. I have found that I like the setting between the cardoid and omni..... a little closer toward the cardoid though. One problem I am having with the D-18GE is boominess so I've pointed the mic more towards the neck than the soundhole to alleviate this problem.

From your instruments, it sounds like you might be bluegrassin' those dreads. Flatpickin', hard strumming and/or triple forte leads. I'm just recording solo fingerstyle. I use nice guitars too (and yes they are hard to record well).

I haven't used the Rode mic you have. What works for me is three mics, a pair of SDs and one LD. Since its a solo performance, I use the SD pair either in XY or ORTF. The LD is placed in one of several locations (with the SD pair, at the 12th fret, over the shoulder, out in the room 5' or so). The SD pair is panned in the mix, with just enough of the LD to fill in the center.

I have a K&K SBT in one of my guitars (along with a Baggs M-1 and a Joe Mills mic - triple sourced). If I'm recording that guitar, I'll go ahead and record two more channels with the pickups (K&K is summed with the M-1 to tip, Joe Mills to ring). I've rarely used the pickups, though, in any final mix. The mics sound just too nice.

You mentioned your looking for a sound. All I've been looking for is the sound of the acoustic guitar. Sounds easy, but its not. To my ears, the three mic technique helps to get the sound as close to the original as I can get. Good mics, pres and converters help too.

 

[Dread28CW]

It's incredible the difference that I am getting out of this mic from just changing rooms. I had been trying to record in my carpeted bedroom with heavy curtains that was absorbing much of the sound and now I am getting just enough natural reverb. I prefer the sound of this mic almost totally toward the omni position for recording acoustic guitar and dobro now.