recording acoustic guitar ?

hurbet

check out the tune eat moo acoustic and tell me what you think of the recording. if you would be so kind 😆

its 2 tracks. it sounds ok if not a little flat to me

http://www.soundclick.com/hurbyhurbet

any pointers on recording would be great .

ta!

bob

what mic did you use? it sounds like a pc mic

hurbet

shure sm58 😲

it was recorded on a pc thoe

bob

avoid using dynamic mics on acoustics, unless you have a specific reason. almost all the acoustic sounds you hear on record are done with condensors. you can pick one up for the price of a 58. if you buy another mic make it a condensor (consider phantom power if you do decide to do that)

hurbet

oh ok thanks man.

any names / models of condensers you can recommend?

i have a art preamp that has a phantom power switch so that's kool.

also could i use the condensers on my amp?

thanks again.

bob

condensors generally take less spl (sound pressure level) than dynamic mics, but most still take in excess of 100db, which is pretty loud really, and even then they distort before they break.

joe meek jm27's were

bob

by that first paragraph, i meant you can use it on your amp but be careful not to crank a full stack and stick it against the grill, 10 inches back you'll almost definitely be fine.

of course it depends on which you choose tho

hurbet

thanks man great help!

Sloan

I've got a pair of the MXL 603s mics. Very very good. They are my favorite mics that I've owned so far, I use them for almost everything!

I've got a kind of demo made with just those two mics here:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemus ... dID=176832

It's the "MXL 603s Microphone Test".

That's my friend GW playing acoustic and singing with the two mics set up in front. It's two completely raw tracks with nothing added in.

hurbet

that sounds pritty sweet hmmm decisions 😕😕

Sloan

I'm serious about those mics, one of the best purchases I've made.

They're not really that expensive either. Go for the matched pair - you'll eventually want to do stereo recording and having a matched pair helps out - it's worth the extra money!

http://www.music123.com/MXL-MXL-603-Pair-i144710.music

I bought mine of ebay for about $200 for a matched pair.

bob

bollocks to matched pairs, for recording almost anything it means almost nothing.

the one time i can think of that its useful is something like a symphony orchestra where having that kind of symmetry is important. with something like an acoustic guitar its an advantage to have different mics, even if they are the same model and subtley different.

give me a convincing argument for matched pairs in this context and ill give a public apology

superfuzz

i think the first one sounds alright, a little "held back" but it still sounds rather nice.maybe if you played in a corner and put the mic at the corner to catch the acoustics of the room.that always helps me. anyway just some thoughts. i havent heard the second one, but i like the first one, put a band with it, or some lyrics or something, and you have a nice little tune.

Spitfire

I'd say that a matched pair is a very good idea. If you're spending good money on a pair of "identical" mics they should be matched, my Schoeps capsules regularly go in for service and alignment. In any stereo application from drum overheads, through ensemble vocals to full orchestral recording, a matched pair is important. I was recording a trad-jazz quintet on location using a hired pair of Sennheisers a few years back and the band leader could hear the imbalance in mid range pickup between the two, even though it was a dB here and there it was noticeable.

Spitfire

Hey Hurbet, if you only have one mic a technique I use a lot is to position yourself in the room where the guitar sounds best to you. Then put a mic stand behind you with the mic next to your ear nearest the neck pointing down toward the guitar (if it's a cardioid). Try recording a little and playing back. If you need to add warmth move the mic round toward the sound hole, if it is too warm do the opposite toward the neck. You can get some nice results that way, basically if it sounds good to your ear why not put the mic there?

bob

when is he likely to be rcording a jazzensemble though?

i understand fully that theyd be useful for stereo recording in that sense, and if you were going for a balancd stereo picture with drum overheads.

i just think when you're getting a couple of cheap condensors it isnt worth bothering with, especally if its going to add to the cost.

what schoeps mics do you have? ive never had a chance to use any but theyre definitely something i want to try.

Spitfire

I'm just saying that if you are buying a pair of decent quality mics you should definately have them matched because you never know what you are likely to record using them. Say he wanted to overdub some cymbals, or record his band playing live, or his aunt Mary playing the tambourine in the bathroom 😲 . Normally you wouldn't pay to have them matched, it would be done as a matter of course, but even so I'd say it was money well spent.

I use Schoeps MK4, MK5 and MK6 capsules with a pair of preamps for location work, but they are excellent for studio recording acoustic instruments too, especially strings.

johnniespring

given the kind of environment he's likely to be recording in it would be pointless getting expensive mics.

hurbet

okey dokey thanks to everyone .

new mics are off the table for a little bit (untill i get this guitar iam doin all done) .

so i thought i would concentrate on makeing the setup i have work a bit better . i took the advice on recording in the corner and recorded the tune again . its on my soundclick does it sound any better ? i spent a bit trying to mix it better and got sick heheh . also there's vocals on it now , i hate the sound of my voice but theres no one else here to sing it so 😕

tell me if its any better

cheers

http://www.soundclick.com/hurbyhurbet

johnniespring

it sounds brighter. whether or not that is better depends on your preference.