[ddots-l] Re: recording acoustic guitars
- From: "Data" <data@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:31:17 -0600
By the way, this belongs as a blog to the ddots and MENVI service. You
should refine this into a blog and submit it.
Love, Andy
-----Original Message-----
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of Shawn Brock
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 3:06 PM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: recording acoustic guitars
Hi Guys,
Okay, this may get a little long and scattered here, but these are some of
my thoughts. I have also got some links to here examples of what I'm
talking about.
First I'll cover both acoustic and nylon string miking. I will misspell
some here, so Jaws doesn't go on and on with micing and miced...
Nylon:
I mostly use 2 small diaphragm mikes or a small diaphragm by the bridge,
and a large diaphragm by the soundhole. It all depends on the guitar, and
how much punch it has, and how much I want to get. For more classical, or
solo which requires a good bass presents, I will go with the small and large
combo. For flamenco, jazz and most pop, I stick with the 2 small
diaphragms. Either way I start with the same placements regardless of which
mike combo being used, and I go from there.
Where to start:
I place a small diaphragm mike 6 to 10 inches in front of the players
picking hand. You want the mike slightly above the hand and pointing
downward. Lets say the mike is pointing down at a 20/ 30 degree angle.
You also want to angle the mike relative to the guitar. The mike should be
at a 30 to 45 degree angle relative to the body of the guitar. Make sure
that you are closer to the bridge than the soundhole, but not behind the
bridge, and the height of the bottom of the diaphragm is around the middle
of the players hand. The mike should be even with the middle 2 strings, (G
and D), with the diaphragm facing the soundhole.
Fretboard mike:
Get this one a little closer to the player, or even with the bridge mic.
I normally go 5 to 8 inches for a small diaphragm, and 6 to 10 for the large
diaphragm. You will want this mike a little more straight, and not angled
downward as much. Start with the mike parallel to the fretboard, and adjust
from the chord end of the mike, (if we are talking small diaphragm). Angle
the mike to be level with the bottom 3 strings, (G, B and E). Try to have
the diaphragm even with the 13th, 14th and or 15th frets. You have always
heard about miking a guitar at the 16th fret, but we want to go a little
wider on our spread here. As stated, this mike will almost be parallel to
the fretboard... Slowly adjust it until the diaphragm is 30 to 50 degrees
relative to the body of the guitar. To hear the full affect, pan the bridge
mike 100 right, and the fretboard mike 100 left. If you have any fazing
problems, you will notice quickly, and they can be resolved easily by
angling the fretboard mike more in the direction of the guitar, and
capturing it at a 20/ 40 angle.
I use those placements for any acoustic or nylon guitar, when I stereo
mike. Here's an example of a large and small diaphragm combo on a classical
guitar.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13037545/08-Shawn%20Brock%20_%20Andecy.mp3
Here's a pare of small diaphragms on a flamenco guitar. Keep in mind
though, these are 2 completely different instruments, with the flamenco
being more raspy, punchy, and not having the bass response of a classical
guitar. You will also notice that the mikes aren't panned as hard. Its
also worth noting that this guitar was miked more in the 6/ 7 inch range,
where the classical was miked in more of the 10 inch range. All in all the
instrument and miking here are more in your face. You'll also notice that
there is more than one track of guitar here, but you will hear that both
guitars don't play all of the time.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13037545/Shawn%20Brock-%20Pluma%20%28Tangos%29.mp
3
Stepping away from nylon for a while. Here is some bluegrass with an
acoustic miked in this fashion.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13037545/02%20Your%20Selfish%20Heart.m4a
And finely, something that took me about 20 minutes to do for a church
here in town. This is acoustic miked the same, and nylon the same...
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13037545/Shawn%20Brock-%20Noel.mp3
As far as mikeing congas and bongos. I normally use small diaphragm
mikes, and will either double mike each drum, or will single mike each drum
and put up an overhead for the set. When double miking, I place the top
mike about 5 inches above the head, and about 3 inches from the outside rim.
This gives room for the hands, and if you angle the mike at about 30
degrees, you will pick up the full head of the drum, and a good attack on
the slap. If the congas are carrying the tune, (heavy latin), I will double
mike, with a mike low on the outside of the drum, and about 3 inches from
the side. It works well to pan the drums hard, and leave the overhead mike
in the center, if you don't want to double mike each drum. With an
overhead, I put it about 3 feet above the center of the kit.
Hope this offers something new for someone to try. Love it or hate it, at
least its something that you may have not tried yet.
I'll leave these files up for a few days.
Best,
Shawn Brock
----- Original Message -----
From: Erik Bryndahl
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 1:03 PM
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: recording acoustic guitars
Hi Shawn!
I would be very interested in your experience and thought's on this
matter aswell.
Regards, Erik
From: D!J!X!
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 8:44 PM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: recording acoustic guitars
Hi Sean, just in case you send the Email privately, I'd sure be
interested to hear your thoughts on mic selection and positioning at least
for guitars, and if you've got something to say regarding mics or mic
placement for percussion such as congas and such, even better. In the next
few months I'm going to be doing some work with these instruments (recording
some salsa and bossa and such latin styles), so would like to hear your
thoughts, you know we can never learn enough :)
THX, D!J!X!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ddots-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Shawn Brock
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 2:37 PM
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ddots-l] Re: recording acoustic guitars
Hi Manny,
Yes it does make a big difference.
Most times I mic an acoustic and stay away from using the pickup on
sessions. Key words here are most times...
You will have to consider what genre of music your recording, and how
much the song is carried by the acoustic. If the acoustic plays a big part
in the song, and the genre of music is folk or country for example, you will
be better off using microphones. If you are recording hard rock or
something, where the acoustic just lends a little color to the song, then
you may want to think about recording from the pickup, or taking a track of
the pickup and microphone.
Most times I stereo mic acoustics, and pan each mic hard right and left,
but maybe that's more than you want to get into at this point?
Mic selection and placement on acoustic instruments is an area which I
have explored heavily for many years, and I can offer some worthwhile
thoughts on this subject if need be. And I'll try to do so without just
sending one word emails which don't contain any substance...
Shawn Brock
----- Original Message -----
From: Manny
To: ddots-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 10:05 AM
Subject: [ddots-l] recording acoustic guitars
Hi all,
Many over here with a quick question. When recording
an acoustic guitar, is it better to use a microphone or the pickup on it.
Does it make a difference when recording an acoustic strum compared to lead
rifts.
Thanks,
manny
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