Single mic or stereo pair for solo guitar?

[Thomas Rein]

Most of the guys I have spoken with who know a lot more about recording than I do have advised me that a stereo pair of SDC mics fairly close to the guitar is the way to go. Lately I have been seeing some videos of solo guitar with really good sound that appear to be a single LDC mic set up a few feet away from the guitar. Here's one example (of the stellar Julian Lage)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A2a4d0IK9I
When the video opens you can see a pair of mics way back and a single mic much closer. Possibly the pair is more of a visual prop than contributing to the recording?
The lowdown is I'm looking to up my recording game for demo videos on YouTube and Vimeo. It seems unnecessary to purchase reference-quality mics for the compressed formats used on the web. I'd be most appreciative of any thoughts you recording experts might have on this question.

[rick-slo]

Plenty of prior threads on this topic. The recording in the clip was a stereo, multi-mike recording. My advice, record stereo for solo guitar. Usually record individual instruments mono (single mike) when to be later combined into a multi instrument mix.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Thomas Rein

Most of the guys I have spoken with who know a lot more about recording than I do have advised me that a stereo pair of SDC mics fairly close to the guitar is the way to go. Lately I have been seeing some videos of solo guitar with really good sound that appear to be a single LDC mic set up a few feet away from the guitar. Here's one example (of the stellar Julian Lage)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A2a4d0IK9I
When the video opens you can see a pair of mics way back and a single mic much closer. Possibly the pair is more of a visual prop than contributing to the recording?
The lowdown is I'm looking to up my recording game for demo videos on YouTube and Vimeo. It seems unnecessary to purchase reference-quality mics for the compressed formats used on the web. I'd be most appreciative of any thoughts you recording experts might have on this question.

Ha! I always laugh when ever the term "expert" is used. I tend to think of recording as a life long learning experience . So consider this the view from a student of the recording arts with some experience, who would not consider themselves an "expert" ,,, BUT I am going to throw my 2 cents in anyway .

First I agree with Rick it is a multi track recording and for solo acoustic Gtr I think stereo is th way to go, also I am guessing the pair of SDC are actually tracking I think what is going on is the LDC is panned center and is pretty loud in the mix highlighting the close up intimate feel. And the SDC's are left and right and pretty low just to fill in the center a bit more.

And IMO this statement ( " It seems unnecessary to purchase reference-quality mics for the compressed formats used on the web") is one of the prototypical mistaken notions and Myths in recording today . In fact I think the total opposite is likely the more salient and accurate . The more compressed the file is going to become the better it should start out.

For example I (think) the LDC being used in the video is a Bock Audio 251 which is a $ 6000.00 mic
Any way that's my thought's for what they are worth.

[ChuckS]

I like the sound of stereo micing of solo acoustic guitar for my home recording, but I think it's really about your purpose. If it's primarily for demos I'd assume a serious potential buyer would appreciate higher resolution wav files, even if the most used file for less serious istening is compressed. Are you trying to get a highly accurate capture of your guitar or is a really nice recording, even if not so accurate, desired?

If you want something accurate you may to consider recording at least 2' - 4' from the guitar, if your recording space will support that, and use a very clean and natural sounding set of gear.

Do you have thoughts on gear/budget?

If I was in the market for a guitar such as you build (and that thought does keep entering my mind) I'd appreciate a recording that gives an accurate representation (hopefully followed up by playing one or more of your guitars). What I'd find most believable in a demo recording is a mono recording using an omni sdc mic with a flat frequency response located about 5' back using a transparent preamp in a very dead recording space with no added effects or EQ.