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Recording my acoustic guitar I always record my acoustic guitar in stereo. Even if I'm going use a mono track in the mix, I still record in stereo--this lets me pick between the two sources, or mix them down to a single mono track. This page shows two of the methods I commonly use: a wider array in front of the guitar, and an over the shoulder set up. Painfully missing from this little explanation is the comon XY method. The fact is, I don't use it much--and it's so common, you can find it all over the 'net. (Just for reference, when I do use it, the XY arranged mics go about the same place as the left mic in both of these approaches.) The audio samples for each of the methods include a single tracked sample and a double tracked sample. These are both in stereo, but in the single tracked files, it's one take with the two mics. In the double tracked samples, I played it twice (to a click track, of course). When I double track, I still record in stereo (which means I'll end up with 4 tracks--but I'm just going to use two). That's partly because my mics are just usually set up for it, but also because I like to use the left mic from one take, and the right mic from the other take. This way I get the natural playing differences of the two takes, but also the tonal difference of the two mics. You'll notice I'm playing into a couple of broadband sound absorbing panels. It just sounds better if the guitar's not reflecting back off of wall into the mics again. You can get creative and try different things here. (I used to use a mattress). Details: Seagull Artist Mosaic, cedar top; Rode NT5 mics into an ART MPA Gold with stock tubes; TASCAM 1804 interface; Cubase SX3. Strings and pick really make a difference. These strings were just changed yesterday, and I use a 2mm thick "Big Chubby" pick (fast on the electric and quiet on the acoustic). No processing after the tracking--these are the raw tracks. If I did need to EQ--I'd move the mics and re-tracks if at all possible. I can get most of the EQ tweaking I need by mic placement, and it leaves my tracks more natural sounding. Hope this helps! See you back on the forum! |
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