Solved Stereo guitar (clip)

[danny.guitar]

Haven't recorded my guitar in stereo in awhile and thought I could use some more practice with it.

This was recorded with a spaced pair setup. For some odd reason X/Y config was giving me serious phase problems. I have no idea why.

Anyway, tell me what you think. It's a track that's going to be in a song I'm working on. It's not a complete song yet so I thought I'd post it here instead of the MP3 clinic, and also since this is more about recording (miking) techniques.

Any suggestions for a better sound? Also listen to it in mono. I was going for good mono compatibility. Didn't use any EQ on this (yet).

Download is 5MB cause it's the whole track. If you want a shorter sample let me know and I'll upload one.

 

[David Katauskas]

I don't have the capability to listen at work, but my guess is that if you're having phase problems that you are overlapping the signals.

I could be wrong, but in an x/y config, doesn't each mic get their own side (left and right)? If true, then a phase issue doesn't necessarily exist.

 

[Farview]

There is nothing wrong with theguitar sound on that clip. I like it.

All you will have to do is brighten it up a bit (just a bit), maybe (maybe!) take away some of the 200 - 400hz if it seems to muddy in the mix.

If this was solo guitar and voice, I would just give it some high shelf and let it fly.

 

[danny.guitar]

I don't have the capability to listen at work, but my guess is that if you're having phase problems that you are overlapping the signals.

I could be wrong, but in an x/y config, doesn't each mic get their own side (left and right)? If true, then a phase issue doesn't necessarily exist.

I recorded with an X/Y config, panned each 100% L and R. Sounded really thin and brittle, when collapsing to mono it sounded even worse. If I inverted the phase on one of the tracks then it sounded okay (how could they be almost 180° out of phase? ), but didn't have any kind of stereo image.

There is nothing wrong with theguitar sound on that clip. I like it.

All you will have to do is brighten it up a bit (just a bit), maybe (maybe!) take away some of the 200 - 400hz if it seems to muddy in the mix.

If this was solo guitar and voice, I would just give it some high shelf and let it fly.

Thanks Farview. It will probably just have vocals and maybe another guitar. My guitar naturally has some mud in the 200-400Hz range which I usually have to fix with a little EQ.

 

[TheHunter]

I listened and downloaded some of the sample clips in the net and it turns out that X/Y is less wider than the other stereo techniques. I normally use spaced pair if I need wider stereo sounds.

 

[travelin travis]

as a solo guitar it lacks low end and detail. i don't think that would matter within a mix.

 

[up-fiddler]

There is nothing wrong with theguitar sound on that clip. I like it.

All you will have to do is brighten it up a bit (just a bit), maybe (maybe!) take away some of the 200 - 400hz if it seems to muddy in the mix.

If this was solo guitar and voice, I would just give it some high shelf and let it fly.

What Far said is right on. It sounds fine. Sometimes "thicker" gives less definition. The single notes that are being flat picked carry well and don't sound too thin in my opinion. A touch of eq and you're ready to go. jmho Let us hear the song when you are done.

 

[danny.guitar]

as a solo guitar it lacks low end and detail. i don't think that would matter within a mix.

My guitar naturally lacks low end, it's even worse than how it sounds in the recording. I tried to mic closer to the soundhole with one of the mics to get more bass. Guess that didn't work out too well. I think one reason it lacks detail is cause the strings are past dead. I've had them on for over a month now.

What Far said is right on. It sounds fine. Sometimes "thicker" gives less definition. The single notes that are being flat picked carry well and don't sound too thin in my opinion. A touch of eq and you're ready to go. jmho Let us hear the song when you are done.

Thanks fiddler. I think the single notes would sound better if the strings weren't quite as dead but I'm broke. Gonna do some EQ once I get some other tracks in there then maybe post in the MP3 clinic.

 

[travelin travis]

i ran your clip thru a eq and didn't hear much low end to play with at all. i find that hard to believe for any acoustic guitar, even a cheap ovation.

what mikes are you using? have you tried any others?

 

[danny.guitar]

Maybe I'm just hearing things but the low end seems fine to me. Might be lacking a little but there's definitely a low end.

 

[Erockrazor]

Maybe I'm just hearing things but the low end seems fine to me. Might be lacking a little but there's definitely a low end.

I agree. I hear enough low end for my taste. On the strums I feel like some more high end would help a little bit. I think your playing sounds very nice by the way.

 

[danny.guitar]

I agree. I hear enough low end for my taste. On the strums I feel like some more high end would help a little bit. I think your playing sounds very nice by the way.

Thanks Erock.

I think a treated room would help with this a lot. Setting up omni mics for a stereo recording in an untreated room is a bitch.

 

[fishkarma]

i ran your clip thru a eq and didn't hear much low end to play with at all. i find that hard to believe for any acoustic guitar, even a cheap ovation.

what mikes are you using? have you tried any others?

thats probably due to the clip being an mp3
it would probably show up if it was .aif or .wav

 

[TragikRemix]

i really like your guitar playing

im getting into acoustic more and more lately.

also, your bron yr aur cover is great

i know i've asked you before, but what kinda guitar is that?

 

[danny.guitar]

i really like your guitar playing

im getting into acoustic more and more lately.

also, your bron yr aur cover is great

i know i've asked you before, but what kinda guitar is that?

Still using the first acoustic I ever got about 6 years ago.

It's a Cort Earth-50E NS acoustic/electric. Made in China.

Cort doesn't seem to be a very popular brand, but I think this one sounds okay.

 

[travelin travis]

thats probably due to the clip being an mp3
it would probably show up if it was .aif or .wav

you lost me. are you saying mp3's lack low frequencies?

 

[warble2]

you lost me. are you saying mp3's lack low frequencies?

I'm curious what was meant myself...

 

[danny.guitar]

Not really sure what that means either. I don't think MP3s remove a lot of low end. It's usually the higher frequencies that sound like shit. And the vocal range is usually left alone for the most part.

Anyway come to find out, there's not going to be any vocals in this song unless someone from the MP3 clinic wants to add some. I posted a thread there but I'm pretty sure no one will want to.

I think it could be a decent song with some vocals and maybe harmonica or something like that in there.

I wish I could sing.