Please comment on my recording tests

[Cue Zephyr]

Howdy everybody,

I decided to do some recording tests with my two microphones and some different set-ups.
I would like to have your opinion on the recordings in general, and one or more in particular if necessary.

I'm playing my (sort of) arrangement of Taylor Swift's 'Love Story', no capo, key of C, standard tuning.
Recordings:
(mics are 20-25 cm away from the guitar in every recording)
2 mics, MK-012 at the 5th fret, MK-319 at the soundhole-bridge area
Direct input
MK-012 at the 12th fret
MK-319 at the 12th fret
MK-012 at the bridge, pointing at the 12th fret
MK-319 at the bridge, pointing to the 12th fret
Updates:
MK-012 at 12th fret + direct input (with effects)
2 mics, MK-012 at the 12th fret, MK-319 at just below bridge, 45° angle towards soundhole (thanks Kurt, loving it!)
I used the following:
Guitar: 2008 Taylor 110ce (sitka/lam. sapele dread w/ cutaway)
Strings: Elixir 16102 (phosphor bronze, 13-56 medium, w/ Nanoweb coating)
Pre-amp/audio interface: E-MU 0404 | USB
Small-diaphragm condenser mic: Oktava MK-012 w/ cardioid capsule
Large-diaphragm condenser mic: Oktava MK-319
Pick-up element: standard Taylor ES-T (UST)
Effects: (are equal on every recording)
Waves Q1 Paragraphic EQ (to drop off some bottom-end
Sonnox Oxford Dynamics (compressor)
Artsacoustic Reverb (small chamber preset, dry volume @ full - wet volume @ ~-14.5 dB)
Waves L2 (limiter)

All rendered with 192pt sinc resample mode.
Rendered to MP3, VBR @ 100

Hope I didn't miss any info!
CZ

[nanango2000]

I like the direct output one best......Gary

[rick-slo]

I will go for the MK-012 at the 12th fret

[wgmiller]

I like the 2 mic version...

So how do you like your Emu 0404? I just got one to try my hand at recording but haven't used it yet (still need a condenser mic).

Will

[Cue Zephyr]

I like the MK-012 at the 12th fret and the 2 mic version too, actually.
The 0404 is an excellent piece of kit. Although I think I need more inputs at the moment. All the sound runs through the thing, I've got the mics, my headphones and my monitors hooked up to it. Works brilliantly.

[Bob1131]

On headphones, I like the sound of the 2-mic setup over any of the others.

[Kurt]

I, too, like the two-mic setup, though the 012 at the fifth fret works pretty well, too; do not like the direct input (though there's arguably some bias at play in this observation, simply 'cause I've never seen it work well).

Humor me: Put the 012 at the 12th fret and the 319 a bit farther off the lower bout, angled into the lower bout about 45 degrees, just below the bridge. I'd be curious if you find this an improvement. It's something that tends to work well for me with an SDC/LDC setup.

[Cue Zephyr]

Hey there Kurt, thanks for the tip, gonna try that just now.

[Kira]

i like them all! i wanna learn to fingerpick love story xD

[Cue Zephyr]

Originally Posted by Kira

i like them all! i wanna learn to fingerpick love story xD

Thanks!
I could try to teach you that.
It's all in stnadard tuning, so shoudln't be too hard on ya.

[moon]

Have you tried any "over the shoulder" positions - somewhere around head height and near your head? That seems to work best for me (only got one mic to play with).

[Cue Zephyr]

No I have not, do you have a large or small diaphragm microphone?

[moon]

Large diaphragm, an inexpensive Samson C01 (cardioid). I haven't had it for too long and it's my first "decent" mic so I can't offer any expert opinions. Initially I was quite frustrated because I couldn't seem to get a good, balanced sound using various standard, from-the-front positions. Then I tried positioning the mic around my right ear, or slightly forward, aimed downwards at the guitar and that just seemed to click (1.7mb sample: http://ccgi.mcgruff.plus.com/music/ogg/head-mic-1.ogg).

Probably a multiple-mic option will be better but I'd be interested to hear how this compares to your other tests.

PS: there's some delay and reverb on the guitars in the sample but no other effects like EQ or compression.