Accoustic Guitar Recording Mic Question
Home > Home Recording Forum > Recording Techniques > Accoustic Guitar Recording Mic Question
Posted on Apr 17, 2009 05:11 am
Yeshuah
Member Since: Dec 25, 2007
Hi, this is my first post, or at least my first for several years.
I've got back into music and I've recorded a cover version of a Kinks song which I'm really pleased with.
I recorded DI into my computer for that with a little bit of reverb from Reaper(I LOVE Reaper by the way) and it sounded very good.
I'm wanting to record some accoustic guitar though - and I'm wondering about using two mics. I have an SM57 and some other older mic(not sure what sort, can take a picture if necessary) that has a 1/4inch jack on the end. Will using different mics cause any problems? Do I have to put them at right angles? Does using different mics cause phasing issues that wouldn't be there if you used two of the same?
Hope the questions clear!
[ Back to Top ]
cruxTypo SzarMember
Since: Jul 04, 2002
Apr 17, 2009 11:17 am Most ppl will recommend the SM57, im not a big fan though.. or a fan at all. Maybe some condensors if you're looking to spring the cash, large diaphragm or small diaphragm its all about the flavor u want.
getting the right angles is more about getting the sound that you want since the position of ur mics will dictate wat sound they are capturing. as for phase issues that is also about positioning, not so much about matching mics.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Apr 17, 2009 11:21 am The SM57 will do an adequate job of capturing the acoustic guitar. I used one for a while with satisfactory results. It won't pick up those crisp high frequencies or subtle details like a condensor will, but the main body of the acoustic's tone should be intact. A condensor mic would be preferred though. If the acoustic guitar is going to be mixed in with other instruments, then it won't make a huge difference. If its going to be a featured instrument (like on a guitar/vocal song) then getting the acoustic guitar in a good sounding room and getting a couple of well-positioned mics on it will do wonders.
The traditional placement for micing acoustic guitar is to point it somewhere near the 12th or 14th fret, and put it at least 8" away from the fretboard. Any closer and it tends to get boomy. The further away you move it, the more room ambience you'll pick up. Move it towards the headstock to get less bass, move it towards the body to get more bass.
If you're going to use a 2nd mic, the traditional place for it is pointed just behind the bridge, and the same distance away from the body as your other mic is from the fretboard. Be sure to keep the mic's distance from the soundboard...too close and it'll be boomy. Don't mic the soundhole either, it'll almost certainly be too boomy.
Another good mic position is over the player's right shoulder. This puts the mic in a similar position to the player's ear, and comes closer to replicating what the performer hears while he plays.
Using two different mics won't pose any phasing issues that using two of the same mics will pose. The same issues apply. Get a good sound out of the 12th fret mic, get a good sound out of the body or shoulder mic, then blend them together and make small adjustments until they're in a phasing sweet spot. Or just record them both and phase-align them post-recording.
Apr 18, 2009 06:11 am OK, thank you very much guys!
I'll have a go at this...
Had a quick go last night, and sounded quite good - need to move the mic closer to the hole I think, as wasn't quite bassy enough. Thanks
