hongteck
New member
Can anyone share with me some techniques to get a good acoustic sound with my folk based songs with only acoustic guitars and vocals ?
T
Tucci
New member
I am still trying to get a good guitar sound myself. One thing is to keep the levels high (0db average). I think a good mic is the important thing for acoustic.
I like to layer my vocals. I'll sing one track and then sing another identical track. Then I experiment with panning the two tracks and adjusting the volume and eq to get a sound I like. Singing harmony with yourself is fun too.
TUcci
I like to layer my vocals. I'll sing one track and then sing another identical track. Then I experiment with panning the two tracks and adjusting the volume and eq to get a sound I like. Singing harmony with yourself is fun too.
TUcci
R
Recording Engineer
Moderator
Make sure you're using a condenser (large or small diaphragm depending on the mic); actually, I prefer recording acoustic guitar in stereo (preferably in matched-pair) if it's just guitar and vocals. What mics do you own? Or are you planning to purchase some mics? If so, what's your budget? As far as vocals go, I really recommend a large diaphragm consenser.
After I know that, I can help with techniques.
After I know that, I can help with techniques.
Buck62
噛んでくれ
Layering the vocals is an excellent idea. Using an acoustic pickup AND a good condenser mic (each one on a seperate track) and then panning them out a bit also sounds great. The combination of the two tracks gives your guitar the widest range of sound.... some very sweet tones.
T
Top Jimmy
New member
I've been recording with my Strat threw a Boss VF-1. Its has several acoutic simulator settings. I go direct to my FD-8 and I've been really suprised with the sound.
Tapehead
Member
Glad to hear someone else likes recording guitar and vocals. If there's any way you can record with a mic rather than pickup, in most cases that will sound much better. I agree that if you record both on separate tracks you can do great things with that. But if it's only one track, the acoustic sound of the guitar will usually sound better. Also, play with the eq. Usually acoustic guitars record boomy at the lower end--try some mild cutting at various frequencies until it sounds well balanced. A little extra at the high end gives it a sparkle.
hongteck
New member
Recording Enginner: I'm using an SM57 with ART Tube MP and Joemeek preamp. I'm using one of those AKG lavalier mic on the soundboard of my acoustic guitar on top of micing with my SM57.
I've been doing layering as well. But I've no idea how to pan effectively. I've tried panning extreme left and right my stereo acoustic guitar tracks with one volume set much lower than the other. That is as nice as I can get. Any other ideas ?
I've been doing layering as well. But I've no idea how to pan effectively. I've tried panning extreme left and right my stereo acoustic guitar tracks with one volume set much lower than the other. That is as nice as I can get. Any other ideas ?
R
Recording Engineer
Moderator
The 57 on the acoustic is the weakest part in the chain; if you had an AKG C1000s, an Oktava MC012, or an Oktava MC319, I think you'd be a lot me pleased with the sound you're getting.
If you have a nice stereo EQ and can route a mono signal to another channel while mixing, I can help you with adding space to a mono signal; which I like to do when I find a mic that I love on an acoustic, but don't have a matched-pair.
If you have a nice stereo EQ and can route a mono signal to another channel while mixing, I can help you with adding space to a mono signal; which I like to do when I find a mic that I love on an acoustic, but don't have a matched-pair.
D
dmac1
New member
I have only been recording for a short period of time, but have been playing acoustic for a long time. A technique I have used in recording is something i learned playing about ten years ago. Position your mic near a corner of the room you are playing in. Play your guitar a couple feet away from the mic. The room acoustics often catch the acoustic sound better. In the middle of the room the sound of the guitar escapes more, and the closer the guitar to the mic, the muddier the sound. I beleive, but may be talking out my keister, that the heavy strings drone out the higher end sounds the nearer to the guitar you get. Try the same thing with the bare ear. Have someone else play and get closer and farther away from the guitar and judge for yourself.
Denis
Denis
DaveO
New member
Hongteck,
I use an SM58 and run that into a guitar multieffects pedal and then into one channel on my 4-track. I point it at about the 15th fret, angled toward the bridge. I then put an AT 4033 1 to 2 feet from the bridge, angled toward the nut. The 4033 goes into a Tube MP and then into another channel of the 4-track. It's sort of low-end but it sounds pretty good considering what I'm working with.
Everyone else:
I've heard from a few other people, as well as the Sweetwater page c7sus suggested, that you should put a condenser at the guitarist's ear. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but it sounds interesting. Which way would you orient the mic? Would that depend heavily on the mic and/or room?
I use an SM58 and run that into a guitar multieffects pedal and then into one channel on my 4-track. I point it at about the 15th fret, angled toward the bridge. I then put an AT 4033 1 to 2 feet from the bridge, angled toward the nut. The 4033 goes into a Tube MP and then into another channel of the 4-track. It's sort of low-end but it sounds pretty good considering what I'm working with.
Everyone else:
I've heard from a few other people, as well as the Sweetwater page c7sus suggested, that you should put a condenser at the guitarist's ear. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but it sounds interesting. Which way would you orient the mic? Would that depend heavily on the mic and/or room?
GT
New member
Hi,
Check out headphone intonation in this post. I get a pretty good sound recording binaurlly, with two dynamic mics.
Check out headphone intonation in this post. I get a pretty good sound recording binaurlly, with two dynamic mics.
dobro
Well-known member
Hongteck, Recording Engineer's right - the biggest improvement I've enjoyed has come from using much better mics, by using two mics when recording, and by using quality mic cables.
Analyze the above: two parts equipment, one part technique.
If you can't afford better gear, then layering tracks and playing with effects will help you move toward an interesting sound.
Analyze the above: two parts equipment, one part technique.
If you can't afford better gear, then layering tracks and playing with effects will help you move toward an interesting sound.
E
eddie57
New member
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by hongteck:
Can anyone share with me some techniques to get a good acoustic sound with my folk based songs with only acoustic guitars and vocals ? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I am just getting starting recording my own material myself, but as far as getting a good sound from an acoustic guitar, you need a good mic. A popular choice is a Shure SM57 which is a good all around mic for acoustic instruments as well as vocals. I am using a Teac A-3340 reel to reel machine. It records great, but at the moment I don't have a good way to mix-down the tracks. I'd like to use my pc, but i don't have a line-in jack on my sound card.
Can anyone share with me some techniques to get a good acoustic sound with my folk based songs with only acoustic guitars and vocals ? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I am just getting starting recording my own material myself, but as far as getting a good sound from an acoustic guitar, you need a good mic. A popular choice is a Shure SM57 which is a good all around mic for acoustic instruments as well as vocals. I am using a Teac A-3340 reel to reel machine. It records great, but at the moment I don't have a good way to mix-down the tracks. I'd like to use my pc, but i don't have a line-in jack on my sound card.