Recording acoustic guitars

[digmudvayne4lif]

Whats the best way to record acoustic guitars? Is it just a mic next to the guitar? thanks

 

[ScreamingHead69]

You actually want to place the mic around the 20th-24th fret (if it goes that far) and point it at the sound hole. I don't know the specific reasoning behiend it but that's a tip that was passed on to me and it's always worked the best.

 

[IronFlippy]

Well, it depends on the guitar. Some acoustics (like Fenders) tend to be really boomy, and that's something you don't want to capture. I usually start with an SDC where the neck meets the body and then rotate it and try to find the sweet spot. Rotating it towards the headstock removes the boominess and rotating it towards the soundhole adds some boominess. You're looking for a nice compromise. Again, it all depends on the guitar, and even the player.

 

[rory]

It depends. What mics do you have? What can you get? What kind of sound are you trying to achieve? Dark? Bright? Percussive? Mellow?

Are you playing and recording or just recording or just playing?

Tell you what. Put on a pair of headphones with the mic in them and have someone play the guitar while you move the mic around and get a feel for what different positions sound like. Find one you like and try it. Otherwise, yeah, just stick it somewhere near the guitar aimed not at the soundhole, unless you like boomy lowend acoustic guitar, but somewhere like the 12th fret, then move it accordingly depending on how much extra noise (good or bad) you want.

I like a small omni, like an Audix TR-40 near the 12th fretish, and a LDC near the bridge. Eh.

 

[Tadpui]

I've always had good luck with 1 SDC at about the 12th fret and 1 SDC around the bridge. Both mics are usually between 8"-12" from the neck or body of the guitar.

If you're going with just 1 mic, the 12th fret mic would be the one to keep. It'll get a good balance of highs and lows.

But I'd have to disagree with putting the mic at the 20th or whatever fret and pointing it at the soundhole...that sounds like you'd be asking for a boomy recording.

The thing that made a big difference for me was using new-ish strings. Old strings make my guitar sound boxy when recorded. Newer strings sound much more alive.

 

[mikeh]

Over the years, most engineers seem to recommend placing the mic about 6" to 10" inches away from the guitar, half way between the 12th fret and the sound hole. With the mic pointed slightly away from the sound hole (to avoid too much of the low end). This is a good place to start and then move the mic or angle the placement slightly to meet your needs.

Naturally, new strings will add more brightness to the guitar sound and choice of pick will also make a differnce. Often strumming with a thinner pick will bring out more "highs" and a thicker pick will "dull" the sound slightlt.

Norammly, a samll diaphram condensor is the mic of choice.

All of the above are general guidelines, subject to personal preference

 

[digmudvayne4lif]

cool thanks for all the help everyone! Ill try to get a clip on here with the suggestions you guys had if wouldnt mind helping me get it good. thanks again.

 

[Monkey Allen]

I just invested in the Behringer C2 pair. Even though the salesman repeatedly called them "Bellringer C2's" for the duration of the sale. I think he was trying to hint something to me. But I just thought he thought he was some kind of audio royalty, so I didn't really listen to him much.

Anyway, acoustic guitar...pair of mics...experiment with placement. It's great fun

 

[treymonfauntre]

You actually want to place the mic around the 20th-24th fret (if it goes that far) and point it at the sound hole. I don't know the specific reasoning behiend it but that's a tip that was passed on to me and it's always worked the best.

where the fuck do these people come from?

 

[jndietz]

I recorded this:

with a Shure SM57. It was placed at about the 7th fret, a foot or 1.5 foot from the neck of the guitar, then pointed in 30-45 degrees towards the hole in the acoustic. I obviously used a light pick, you will notice

 

[digmudvayne4lif]

that sound awsome. did you use any effect plugins or anything on that?

 

[sajs]

I recorded this:

with a Shure SM57. It was placed at about the 7th fret, a foot or 1.5 foot from the neck of the guitar, then pointed in 30-45 degrees towards the hole in the acoustic. I obviously used a light pick, you will notice

I really liked the sound of that acoustic. I would love to hear it again with another type of pick.

 

[TelePaul]

Isn't the SM 57 a dynamic?? Absolutely great sound, loved the intro picking! Man i wish I could get that with my TB 1 condensor and my D 15.

 

[VSpaceBoy]

Just remember that the mic listens to the acoustic from a different place than your ears do.

HERE is a clip of a song I was/am working on (don't mind my playing, its a new song! ) . Its slow picking at the beginning, then harder hit chords at the end. This is the acoustic sound I normally go for. I used a LDC about head high, roughly 16" away pointed at my chest.

 

[TelePaul]

Just remember that the mic listens to the acoustic from a different place than your ears do.

HERE is a clip of a song I was/am working on (don't mind my playing, its a new song! ) . Its slow picking at the beginning, then harder hit chords at the end. This is the acoustic sound I normally go for. I used a LDC about head high, roughly 16" away pointed at my chest.

thats very nice with the panning..when you say head high...you mean actually around 5 ft high

 

[VSpaceBoy]

thats very nice with the panning..when you say head high...you mean actually around 5 ft high

Thanks, I usually don't like to record stereo. The slightest phase issues get under my skin wicked.

Anyhow, yea one mic at head level. As in I'm sitting down in a chair and its even with my face with the guitar on my knee. If you were recording standing up then obviously raise it higher. The thought is that its above where the sound whole is pointing so you don't get "hole mud". And far enough back to hear strings and wood.

 

[cavedog101]

I like to place an SDC at the body/neck joint and move it from there dependant on the playing style. I'll then add another SDC over the players shoulder facing down at the guitar, usually a foot or so above the players ear. This is the 'what-the-player-is-hearing' mic. If I want a bit more size and 'air' I will place an LDC up high somewhere in the room where it sounds good and full. I actually search for this place while the player is warming up. A great set of phones and a ladder will help in a tall room. If its still not right I will change each mic starting with the room mic, though at this point I usually know what is going to work or not.

The mic at the guitar can be an LDC if you want it more open....SDC for a tighter focus of the sound. Hypercardioid if you want just that spot on the guitar.

A fingerpicking style will get a stereo X/Y out in front a foot or more and lots of gain. Strumming will get more of the neck with a single mic, while a flatpicked style lends itself to capturing some of the body.

If I want really intimate, it goes into the vocal booth and is mic'd accordingly, usually an LDC with a SDC set up towards the peghead. If the player doesnt swing the guitar around while doing the tracks, the peghead area is surprisingly accurate.

As always....YMMV.

 

[jndietz]

I really liked the sound of that acoustic. I would love to hear it again with another type of pick.

I could probably re-record that for you. I kind of want to re-do it anyway just so I can hear it I bought some new condensers-- the MXL 990/991 package--and will re-do it. I'm letting my girlfriend borrow my acoustic, so I'll do it this upcoming weekend

 

[jndietz]

that sound awsome. did you use any effect plugins or anything on that?

I bumped up the EQ on the mixer a little bit--that was as far as it goes

Isn't the SM 57 a dynamic?? Absolutely great sound, loved the intro picking! Man i wish I could get that with my TB 1 condensor and my D 15.

Yeah, it's a dynamic You can get any sound you want out of your equipment, just have to play around with it for a long time!

 

[HapiCmpur]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned yet that the room is also going to have a big say in your sound. With so many variables involved in recording acoustic instruments, I think the best piece of advice you've gotten so far is this one from rory:

Put on a pair of headphones with the mic in them and have someone play the guitar while you move the mic around and get a feel for what different positions sound like. Find one you like and try it.

And I would add that you should also try placing the guitarist in different parts of the room and on different floor surfaces.