Recording acoustic guitar, vocals and harmonica

[udepost]

Hi

I've searched on google, but I need an opinion on my specific setup.

I wanna do a home recording with acoustic guitar, vocals and harmonica. What I have is: Macbook with garageband, Mbox focusrite (2 channels), MXL 2003a, guitar with LR baggs m1 active soundhole pickup.

My aim is a good simple 60's sound with a live'ish feeling like Neil Young, Bob Dylan etc. Im willing to buy a second condenser mic if required. I have these ideas:

1) Do a live recording with the 2003 somewhere in the middle, to record guitar, vocals and harmonica. The guitars DI pickup could be blended in to give a stereo effect on the guitar, or would that be weird?

2) Buy a second mic, and do a live recording with 2003 on vocals/harmonica and new mic on guitar. Problems with bleeding and phase would occur though. (I would like to try this with the DI Blended in as well, but unfortunately, I only have 2 inputs)

3) Like 2, but with harmonica dubbed instead of live.

4) Do all tracks separate with 2003a on guitar, mixed with the DI signal. (I've read Neil Young sometimes does this). Then vocals dubbed, and then harmonica. I just have an idea that this will loose the live feeling

5) Like 4, but with a second mic instead of the DI to do a better stereo recording on guitar.

What do you think?

Cheers,

/Soren

 

[mixsit]

Best thing is to jump in and see how your options compare. For example the difference of all at once' vs over dubbing is a working style preference- one that certainly varies depending on the person, and could also depending on the song.

With a d/i + mic on the guitar you'll have a bit of time difference (phase depending on the mic distance. But it's done and can work just fine. It's when they're at equal volume mixes and panned together that those effects are the most audible.

 

[mjbphotos]

4 & 5 would be your best options, but as you surmise you may lose that 'live sound' you are going for. Next option would be the 2-mic vocal + guitar first tracking and then harmonica after. Due to the volume of the harmonica compared to vocal + guitar, you will a tough time balancing everything out with a 1-mic 'everything at once' solution.