#1
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Why do my recordings sound like this??
Okay so I'm new to recording, my setup is just a Blue Spark cardioid condenser mic, an M-Audio Fast Track Pro USB interface, and Logic Pro 9 on my Macbook Air. I just got this new Blue Spark microphone, have heard amazing demos and songs recorded with them online, but every single time I record with it my guitar sounds so muddy and horrible--no matter what position, angle, distance, you name it, I've tried it all. This recording is untouched, no EQ or any effects. I did clip a few times here, only because the built-in preamp in my M-Audio interface is awful and you have to turn the gain knob up literally 90% of the way to get a decent signal at all, so I got frustrated and just cranked it all the way which you can probably hear a few times. So besides that, how do I fix that muddy kind of bass-heavy unbalanced sound, however you'd describe it? I haven't been satisfied with anything I've recorded so far which is disappointing because I spent $200 on this new microphone expecting crystal clear, well-balanced recordings, and seems every other recording I've heard of acoustic guitar with it sounds great. Help? Last edited by sam-v; 08-18-2014 at 03:55 PM. |
#2
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Does not sound very muddy on my playback system. It is a little boomy perhaps. Back the mike off a ways and don't point it at the soundhole.
What sounds good is subjective, so post a link to a solo guitar recording you would like your recordings to sound like.
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
#3
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Hmm...
FWiW, sounds pretty good to me. Try what Rick said and back the mic up a touch. How close was it? Google 'proximity effect' to get a bit of insight as to why backing the mic off could help a bit. Even the sound you have on tape there can be worked with. Look for a 'close mic acoustic' preset in your EQ. Or, start with a low end roll off around 80-100hz depending on the guitar. The boom or whomp you hear is caused by the resonant frequency of the soundbox of your guitar. If you have FFT software, you can isolate it. Hold the guitar in the air with the strings in your palm to mute them, 6-8 inches from the mic. Hit record and, with your finger, tap a bridge wing. Run your FFT analysis. The lowest freq peak will be the air cavity, likely between 80-100hz. You could put that freq into a notch filter with a fairly narrow Q and see what that does for you. At the end of the day, there are too many factors in the signal chain to put it all on the mic. Also, try using Focus mode to see if you like it... Cheers... |
#4
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Doesn't sound bad to me. I think Rick's suggestions would help.
What monitors or headphones are you listening with?
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"Dreams are the answers to questions that we haven't figured out how to ask." - Mulder |
#5
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Ok, here is your recording after I tweaked it.
http://dcoombsguitar.com/Misc/Forum.wav Some nasty sounds (some clipping) around 200 hz equalized down. Equalized down everthing below around 80 hz. Add some brighter sounding reverb to bring out the highs and add presence. Pretty good sound, especially for a mono recording and for clipping from too hot a signal. Keep the recording level down more. While listening to it in the DAQ you can increase the listening volume, and in the final release you can increase the volume of the recording.
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above Last edited by rick-slo; 08-20-2014 at 10:11 AM. |
#6
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Since you mention occasional clipping because you have your MA gain turned way up - turn it down. There is no reason to be recording at a loud volume. You should be seeing anywhere in the range of -18dB to -12dB on your DAW's meters. Volume gets boosted to 'commercial' level (or near to - if you really need to) during the mastering stage.
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Mike My music: https://mikebirchmusic.bandcamp.com 2020 Taylor 324ceBE 2017 Taylor 114ce-N 2012 Taylor 310ce 2011 Fender CD140SCE Ibanez 12 string a/e 73(?) Epiphone 6830E 6 string 72 Fender Telecaster Epiphone Dot Studio Epiphone LP Jr Chinese Strat clone Kala baritone ukulele Seagull 'Merlin' Washburn Mandolin Luna 'tatoo' a/e ukulele antique banjolin Squire J bass |
#7
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To get rid of boominess, position the mic pointed at the 12th fret, facing towards the sound hole, about 5" away from the neck.
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Warren My website: http://draudio56.wix.com/warren-bendler "It's hard...calming the Beatle inside of me." |
#8
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Quote:
Thanks a lot for all the input here, I have been doing lots of reading on miking for different instruments and this recording was with a position about 5 inches away from the 12th fret--still that boomy sound, and no matter how far/close I am from it it doesn't necessarily make a big difference. If I back up a few more inches from the mic will there be more noticeable background hum/noise? That's really what I'm trying to avoid because in my opinion I think there is a lot of that already, even recording as close as I can to the microphone... Would a different interface help? Like I said the preamps in the one I'm using currently are absolutely awful, and I'm considering replacing it for a Scarlett 2i2 if that will change the overall sound at all for the better? Do interfaces even necessarily affect sound quality? |
#9
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Quote:
Quote:
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Music: Spotify, Bandcamp Videos: You Tube Channel Books: Hymns for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), Christmas Carols for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), A DADGAD Christmas, Alternate Tunings book Online Course: Alternate Tunings for Fingerstyle Guitar |
#10
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I don't think you'll notice a difference in converters or interface pre's when listening back with those headphones. When you have your monitoring situation sorted with better headphones or monitors in a treated room, you'll be able to hear differences in gear or recording techniques.
An example of this is that I listened to your recording at work on cheap PC speakers and found it to sound shrill in the high end. Now that could be the mic/recording but it could very well be the speakers and the fact that I'm in a corner desk with walls everywhere.
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2012 Martin D-28 |
#11
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Doesn't sound bad to me either. Just tweak your EQ.
Decrease the bass & lower mids a little bit. Rick-Slo's tweaks brought some clarity.
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Ceci n'est pas une pipe bebe. Youtube France (Film Musique & Fantomas) --- Guitars: (2007) big Vietnamese archtop; (1997) Guild F65ce, (1988) Guild D60, (1972) Guild D25, two other Vietnamese flat-tops and one classical. |
#12
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You don't say what mic or what monitors you're using or where the monitors are placed. How old are your strings?
How 'bout some more info? Regards, Ty Ford |
#13
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It is a Blue Spark and this is rather odd as that mic is known to be bright and can be made to sound even brighter.
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#14
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Do you have any idea why that could be? I did my research before purchasing this mic, all the reviews/demos were great but I can't seem to get the same sound with it no matter what I try?
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#15
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A mic is just one piece of the recording chain. Everything counts, *especially* your room acoustics, as well as your micing technique.
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Music: Spotify, Bandcamp Videos: You Tube Channel Books: Hymns for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), Christmas Carols for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), A DADGAD Christmas, Alternate Tunings book Online Course: Alternate Tunings for Fingerstyle Guitar |