Getting rid of acoustic guitar sqeaks

[Ericlingus]

Hi, I was wondering how you guys would get rid of squeaks from moving fret to fret on an acoustic guitar. Is there a plugin that is made especially for it? I thought I came across something like that before. Or if there is another technique used. Thanks a lot.

 

[Tommy Evans]

First thing I would try is automate that frequency out whenever it happens. Not sure if it'll work 100% but I'd imagine it's make it to where it's not horrible to listen to.

 

[Kita]

Automate it like you're drawing out esses on a vocal.

 

[alan1990]

you can cut it out and time strech stuff to cover in the gaps but the best way would be to just splice in a new chord or take where they are bad.

 

[alan1990]

you can cut it out and time strech stuff to cover in the gaps but the best way would be to just splice in a new chord or take where they are bad.

 

[RedDog]

Or you could hit the guitarist. Repeatedly.

And then again, you could track part by part, or you could leave the ambience in there.

 

[Ericlingus]

lol yeah I guess prevention is the best way to fix it. I tried using a de esser but it didn't really help. Maybe automating it with eq would work better.

 

[Tommy Evans]

Try it and let us know!

 

[Uros]

I thought that the squeaks were actually a desired effect, you know, like it's supposed to happen when a guitar is played by a human.
But, then I remembered that this is the Andy Sneap forum, where plastic is regarded as gold, and slip edit&samples are kings...

j/k

 

[Redline4]

I thought that the squeaks were actually a desired effect, you know, like it's supposed to happen when a guitar is played by a human.
But, then I remembered that this is the Andy Sneap forum, where plastic is regarded as gold, and slip edit&samples are kings...

j/k

+1

But seriously, just try to eq the frequency of the squeaks then there's not much more to do. I hear all the squeaks on profesionnal recordings because it's the way it's meant to be, like if you want your track that clean, write the part in midi then add Realguitar as a vst instrument... Or try to change the strings, or try a different guitar.

 

[Audiosprite]

+1 it being a desired effect and to some minor EQ. Don't worry about it too much. Since you're the engineer, remember that they probably stand out to you more than they will to any listener.

 

[amarshism]

This is what playing guitar sounds like. Imagine how soulless this would be if the human element was removed from the guitar playing.

 

[Melb_shredder]

Apart from any major frequency annoyances I LOVE the string squeak on acoustic guitar. It sounds nice to me :S don't know why you'd want to rid it.

Go listen to any In Flames wit acoustic parts

 

[mstone564]

There are many of these on a few Opeth songs and I love it. It's not overbearing and adds such a nice feel to the part!

 

[Jebe666]

I think automation would do the trick after recording, but before it you could change some coated strings (Elixir?) on your guitar or use GHS Fast Fret on the strings. Those could minimize or at least reduce the squeaks a little.

 

[jangoux]

The Angra guitarists used to put flour on their fretting hands to avoid the sqeaks...never tried and will NEVER try that, tho' ehehehhe

 

[Ericlingus]

thanks a lot for the help. Izotope RX spectral repair is working pretty well. It's a pain to get it right though. I agree about the squeaks not being a big deal. They arn't even that bad on the recording. It's just the recording is part of a film score. I think it's a documentary and the guy making the film didn't like the squeaks.

 

[kev]

Chill out and keep the squeaks

 

[professorlamp]

You could always lube up the strings with some fast fret before recording, I'd imagine that'd solve the problem for 10 minutes or so and then just give it another go over. But yer, keep the squeaks...

 

[Uros]

^^lube up every 10 minutes? Wait, what are we discussing here, recording guitar or anal sex?