Recording Acoustic

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Gsurfman

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Hello all,

Just a quick basic question. I have a sm57 instrument mic (actually it's a GLS copy which works really good) and a condensor MXL 63m vocal mic, to record acoustic what is better, using the 2 mic's or use 1 mic sm57 and direct inject via pickup to 2nd channel? If using both mic's, what is recommended for placement for both mic's? I could use a Digitech RP200A and plug acoustic through it and one mic placed at about 12th fret. My DAW is Reaper with a Alexis 4 channel AI, which works fairly well. Any comments or suggestions?

Thanks in Advanced
 
Just starting out? I'd say spend some time just trying each by themselves at first in some different positions to get some general pictures of what they'll do. Either one can get good tones.
Haven't used the MXL but did a quick look at the specs. You'll probably find the condenser to be more extended on tone at both ends, and for a given distance have a lot more low end. A '57 assuming that copy, will roll off the bottom -unless it's quite close, and have more upper mid tones.

The two together- The combinations are wide open really.
Maybe the condenser around the 12th fret for top and sparkle' and the 57 up near the body side.
Consider that certainly not a hard rule, keeping them a near the same distances will help minimize phase differences if you happen to want to pan them in together.

Oh yeah the D/I, Shure. Either mic one it's own -mono- works. As does mics + D/I for some fun-funky mid range edgy attitude!
Cheers
 
The MXL only at about the 12th fret, 15 to twenty inches or so away, in a nice quiet room. A nice quiet, un-echo-y room. Experiment a little, but the 57 is okay maybe only if you're putting the git into a really busy mix. Simple (one mic) is better.
 
You may want to research mid-side recording as an alternative. When you want the guitar to have a real wide, full sound it can work wonders.

Glen
 
I'm an M/S nut when the acoustic will be featured prominently.

If its an acoustic in a dense mix, the punch of that 57 might be just the ticket, capturing mostly the sounds and more importantly, behaviour, that fits the role needed by that particular guitar track

Think "atmosphere" vs "punch"

But either type of mic will work just fine, a lot of it depends on the placement and whether or not you can get the guitar player to sit still
 
RECORDING ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Should find that ^ helpful.

My son liked the SM57 sound over our two capacitors. AKG P150, Sontronics STC-2. You will need a quiet pre amp/AI tho'. Our rig is an A&H ZED10 into a 2496.

Tip: I laid some hardboard on the floor of our very dead room. Son reckoned it helped a lot.

Dave.
 
TimN said:
The MXL only at about the 12th fret, 15 to twenty inches or so away, in a nice quiet room. A nice quiet, un-echo-y room. Experiment a little, but the 57 is okay maybe only if you're putting the git into a really busy mix. Simple (one mic) is better.
Click to expand...

Just what I was going to say :-D
 
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