How to recording an acoustic with only one condenser mic ?
- Thread starter Plendakor
- Start date
abaga129
The Apprentice
Yeah but don't point it straight at the sound hole. Usually putting the mic down towards the end of the neck and pointing to the 12th fret works for me. Or I've also heard pointing it towards the bridge.
ZanetheVocalist
Infamous Procrastinator
Hey man, just stick with one mic. No real need to complicate things cause phase will bite you if you screw up. 1 foot away and pointed at the 12th fret is a good starting place. Be careful where you play at though cause room acoustics come into play alot more when you start using condensers. How dense of an arrangement are you putting it in?
Nimvi
Member
Recording acoustic to me is a balancing act between having a nice sizzly top end, but also having enough bottom to not make it sound harsh. But too much bottom, or too close to the soundhole = muddy jumpy lows and low mids. For some reason, it helps me a lot to imagine a high and low shelving filter in action while aiming the mic.
And I agree aiming for the 12th fret and then turning a bit to the neck or soundhole depending on what you need is a great starting point. Don't be afraid to move the mic a bit further away from the guitar too. Especially if you have a nice room.
Another position I have liked is with the microphone over the strumming-arm-shoulder of the player. Gives you a sound similar to what you hear yourself while playing.
But most importantly: try every point of the room to find out where the guitar sounds best! This can make the difference between a mediocre recording and a great one imo.
And I agree aiming for the 12th fret and then turning a bit to the neck or soundhole depending on what you need is a great starting point. Don't be afraid to move the mic a bit further away from the guitar too. Especially if you have a nice room.
Another position I have liked is with the microphone over the strumming-arm-shoulder of the player. Gives you a sound similar to what you hear yourself while playing.
But most importantly: try every point of the room to find out where the guitar sounds best! This can make the difference between a mediocre recording and a great one imo.
Mikaël-ange
Member
- Nov 7, 2008
- 2,368
- 1
- 36
bryan_kilco
Member
Last time I recorded an acoustic, I had 1 SM57 pointed at the soundhole, 1 condenser for room, and took the preamp out (electric-acoustic deal) and had to flip phase a bit but it came out ok.
mva801
Member
- Nov 18, 2009
- 1,870
- 13
- 38
I love recording acoustic with just one mic. Best sounds I've ever gotten are an awesome guitar played by an awesome player, one km84 about 8 inches back pointed at the 12th fret, API 512. Move it around a tad to change the balance of low to high frequencies if needed.
Uros
Sonic Incision
I like to mic'em with XY, with virtual middle axis line between mic capsules pointing to the 12th fret (so, one capsule is pointing to the sound hole, and the other to the guitar neck). Classic ac. gtr micing method for a reason.
Put your mic on a stand, put some headphones on then play the guitar and listen to what it sounds like in different positions. Like Zane said you should do a test recording with the recorded guitar to see if it fits the arrangement before getting the perfect take.
ZanetheVocalist
Infamous Procrastinator
Yeah this is really important. For example if its just a vocal and acoustic guitar, he can afford to have some bottom end in the guitar. If he's trying to force acoustic guitar into a thick mix with distorted guitars, he'll have to go for a much thinner sound to get them to cut. No acoustic guitar ever went head to head with a wall of distortion and won lol.
abaga129
The Apprentice
LBTM
Proud Behringer User
- Feb 19, 2012
- 897
- 0
- 16
actually try different placements, record and compare.
usually the sweet spot is somewhere in front of the 12th fret.
and remember, without a good performance you're never going to get a good acoustic guitar sound.
waiting for some audio clips!
Last edited by a moderator:
Uros
Sonic Incision
If you only have one mic, use a single SDC 30-40cm in front of the 12th fret, but angled at ~30-45 degrees, so that it's pointing to or around the sound hole.
ZanetheVocalist
Infamous Procrastinator
I bet my dad's martin HD-28 could kick some ass in a mix!
Martin's tend to have a fat bottom so they'll sound nice in a sparse arrangement.... and give you hella mud in something dense.
You could always use a HP and low cut shelf in a pinch but that's less than ideal. Just stay the fuck away from the soundhole!
Ericlingus
Prettiest Hair Around
- Oct 31, 2006
- 1,375
- 2
- 38
I messed around with miking my acoustic the other day with one mic. I liked either placing it at the 12th fret put pointing towars the sound hole or at the sound hole pointed towards the twelve fret. I had the mic about 6 inches out.
Fox Mulder
The Truth Is Out There
12th fret, sdc, off-axis from the sound hole. Move closer to or away from the sound hole according to taste.
Eduardo Apolonia
Member
If it's only 1 mic, I would also say start pointing at the 12th fret and then move the mic closer and farther from the sound hole to find the position it sounds best.
The placement of the guitar (player) in the room also affects the sound so try several positions to find the best one.
The placement of the guitar (player) in the room also affects the sound so try several positions to find the best one.
