Recording acoustic strummed chords

[Monkey Allen]

Hi, can anyone give me some advice on recording open chord strummed acoustic parts? I can kind of get a passable sound when I record finger picked parts, but I have never really had much success getting a decent sound from strummed chords.

Anyway, though I have read about mic placement and room dynamics and all that, I thought maybe some people could offer some individual type of advice. Maybe even some people started out with a similar challenge and found a way that works for them.

thanks a lot

 

[Monkey Allen]

Scratch that, I searched a really good old thread on this.

I'm so dumb

 

[cusebassman]

Searching is great... Im having similar experiences with recording my acoustic... mind sharing the specific thread you found?

 

[jmorris]

Thin pic's. Little compresson, 2 mics are nice but simpler way is 1 mic kind of between the sound hole and 12th fret but it depends on the guitar abd its sound. What problem are you having?
Jim

 

[danny.guitar]

Over the shoulder technique works best for me on strummed chords.

Coming over the right shoulder, straight down above the soundhole pointing at the top of the low E string. You may have to mess with mic placement a little to get a good sound.

If you posted a clip it would be easier to give advice because it really depends on how your guitar sounds. Mine sounds kind of muddy on strummed chords when just miking from the front.

 

[Monkey Allen]

The thread I found was:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=222852&highlight=acoustic

There's a lot of good advice there.

I have uploaded a test on my soundclick ( http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=355705 ) for anyone willing to give my acoustic a listen. It's just a 30 second clip with 3 different mic placements and settings. I used a single CADm179 for all 3.

The first set of strummed chords is about 12 inches from the guitar aimed front on between the 12th and the soundhole. The gain going into the Presonus Firebox was 7.

Second one I had the mic over my shoulder about 12 to 15 inches directly above the soundhole. Gain on 7 or 8 there.

The last one is the same as the second but I moved the mic about a foot and a half above the guitar.

My recording environment is just a standard 4 wall, square bedroom which is carpetted. To record I basically opened the sliding cupboard where my shirts hang and played into that. I used a .60mm pick and a Taylor 110 acoustic guitar.

Which one do you reckon sounds best as a basic acoustic chords recording?

thanks

 

[guitarboi89]

its hard to tell, mainly due to the volume differences. Personally i like the second, its not too upfront and will not get lost in a mix

 

[Monkey Allen]

Yeah, I liked that too. The 3rd one is irrelevant probably because the mic was so far away. But the first two are same distance but different angle.

 

[danny.guitar]

2nd one sounds best to me. Still doesn't sound that good though. Sounds like you have a good guitar but your recordings aren't doing it justice.

Try miking closer to the guitar.

First, try putting the mic at about the 15th fret, 5-8" away, pointed directly at the middle of the fretboard. See what kind of sound you get with that.


Also, on the over-the-shoulder technique you have to get up close to the strings or there's going to be too much room sound.

I mean about 8" from the top of the low E string and point it up at a very slight angle.

Try these things and post another clip. Hopefully it will help!

I think your main problem is the room you're recording in and poor mic placement choices for that room.

 

[Monkey Allen]

I think you're right Danny. I'll record another test tomorrow and post it again. Thanks for checking it out.

 

[axeman_ukl]

i sometimes use 2 condenser mics one on the fretboard and one around the back of the body that sticks out under your arm and mix the two ,to make one track.