recording nylon-stringed accoustic

[chessrock]

Any suggestions on mic techniques and the like?

This is my first time trying to do it, and all I'm getting is mud mud mud. Very little definition. Had my best luck micing the 12th fret with the v93 and it's bass rolloff engaged, but I'm at a loss as to how I'm going to get any stereo imaging -- kind of tough to fit a stereo pair XY-ed at the 12th fret if you know what I'm saying.

Thanks in advance for the suggestions!

 

[Track Rat]

Will the guitar be solo or with a band?

 

[Joe E]

I just recorded a version of the old Nat King Cole song Unforgetable, and used a nylon string for all the fills and instrumentals.

I found that a tranducer tapped on the guitar top just in front of the bridge on the treble side of the box worked real well. I also had a mic about 18" away (CAD E200 with the roll off on) about centered on the sound hole. Then mix the two stereo. Got a real nice full blend. THe transducer really sound like crap alone but was the big key to not getting the mush or mud. This helped cut through the mix.

If you don't have a transducer, you will need a small dia. condencer pointed near the bridge to help clean up the sound. Try backing off the other mic from the neck a little and see if that helps as well.

Joe

 

[Track Rat]

I just recorded a nylon string guitar for a latin/jazz tune. I used a Nuemann KM-184 about 9" behind the bridge and 9" from the face and a AT4033 out about 18" pointed at the neck/bodu joint. If you want you can hear it here.
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/8/1331/?1019824755

It's the Test Jam.

 

[Aaron Cheney]

Here's another sample to listen to:

http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/213/aaron_cheney.html

The song is: "If You Say We're Through".

The nylon string was a Yamaha APX 10-NA. I used an AKG C3000-B pointed placed at the 12th fret and pointed towards the body on on track. On a second track I went direct from the guitar's transducers. Then I panned them hard L and R, and slid on track back in time a few ticks for a really cool chorus effect.

For the lead stuff a the end of the song, I went with straight micing.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Aaron
Voodoo Vibe Productions
http://www.voodoovibe.com

 

[LI Slim]

An eq cut somewhere between 300 and 700hz (poke around) can also be helpful, I have found.