Vocals AND Guitar (together)

[vagabond]

When I pose the question how do I record vocals and guitar simultaneously I get the response...'separate them, it leads to too many phase problems'.

However, I know of many artists that record vocals and guitar simultaneously and it sounds great. How were Cat Stevens, Simon and Garfunkel, Nick Drake, Bert Jansch, Don McLean, Van Morrison, James Taylor, etc. recorded? How is it done? How do the pros go about this? What formation is most often used with what mics?

Take your pick of any mics and any formation and set up a strategy for recording guitar in stereo and vocals separate but simultaneously. I would be very appreciative and attentive of your response. In addition are there some books you would recommend reading?

 

[vagabond]

...

I forgot to say that I am concerned with acoustic guitar and not electric.

I have found many interesting and useful articles on the net about recording acoustic guitar, but never have found one on recording guitar and vocals simultaneously.

Here is an example:

http://www.humbuckermusic.com/acguitrectec.html

What modifications if any do you make when adding a vocal mic to the setup? I would suppose you leave the guitar mic's as they are and just stick a vocal mic close to the performer's mouth and then adjust the position of the tracks to correct the phase problems. Am I wrong?

 

[Track Rat]

The few times I tracked guitar and vocal at the same time I ended up using one large diaphram condensor. Out about 18" or so, just move it around and listen for the best spot..

 

[DigitMus]

One thing to try is using mics with figure 8 patterns, since they have the best off axis rejection at the null point. Position the vocal mic so its null is toward the guitar and vice versa. You'll never completely eliminate bleed, but if both voice and guitar are keeper tracks, you'll have enough separation to treat each track individually with regard to EQ, compression, effects etc.

Scott

 

[tmix]

2 Figure 8 mics

I totally agree with DigitMus.
If you can afford 2 mics that have figure 8 capabilities (or 3 if you want stereo guitar) that is the way to go . Many, many recordings are made this way with AKG 414s (or Studio projects B3s would probably be great). The biggest challange is pointing the null point of the guitar mics toward the mouth of the singer, and the null point of the vocal mic toward the guitar. The better the microphone is the better (more complete) the null rejection will be.
tmix