A question for engineers: Acoustic/Electric or Pickup?

[Tampa Recording]

I have a bit of a problem... I love recording with my Martin acoustic and an AKG 414C mic, but the musicians that come to my studio can't sit still so their levels vary from high to low and it's so bad that even the best compressors cannot fix it.

So now I'm debating whether to buy a nice acoustic/electric or install a nice pickup on the Martin. Why would you do? Any engineers here?

[DupleMeter]

it won't sound nearly as good if you move to a pickup system.

Best option is to talk them through the issue and get them to stay still in front of the mic. Much like playing live, there is a learning cure to being good in the studio.

Saving that set up 2 mics to cover the "swing area" or get musicians with studio experience if that's an option.

[Tampa Recording]

Originally Posted by DupleMeter

it won't sound nearly as good if you move to a pickup system.

Best option is to talk them through the issue and get them to stay still in front of the mic. Much like playing live, there is a learning cure to being good in the studio.

Saving that set up 2 mics to cover the "swing area" or get musicians with studio experience if that's an option.

But would you say something like this would be better than adding a pickup? https://www.martinguitar.com/drs2.html

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by Tampa Recording

I have a bit of a problem... I love recording with my Martin acoustic and an AKG 414C mic, but the musicians that come to my studio can't sit still so their levels vary from high to low and it's so bad that even the best compressors cannot fix it.

So now I'm debating whether to buy a nice acoustic/electric or install a nice pickup on the Martin. Why would you do? Any engineers here?

I'm confused as to why your guitar, with you recording it, should be an issue when others come to your studio.

Do you lend your guitar to clients?

I think the best thing would be a clamp on mic as demonstrated by Doug Young, a frequent denizen of AGF:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixdv3mE98j8

HE

[kydave]

Originally Posted by Tampa Recording

I have a bit of a problem... I love recording with my Martin acoustic and an AKG 414C mic, but the musicians that come to my studio can't sit still so their levels vary from high to low and it's so bad that even the best compressors cannot fix it.

So now I'm debating whether to buy a nice acoustic/electric or install a nice pickup on the Martin. Why would you do? Any engineers here?

Tell them to park their butts while recording if they want an acoustic guitar on the record.

No point in recording the pickup particularly, unless that is the sound they want.

[guitarsrawesome]

One way you might resolve this is to install an LR Baggs Lyric in your guitar. It's a mic pickup, and while it's pretty well eq'd to avoid feedback (an eq'ing you may not like), it will keep a constant level which you could blend in with the recording through your mic and get that evenness you're looking for.

I recorded a couple of songs this way:

This one

https://soundcloud.com/guitarsrsoawe...he-time-is-now

And this one:

https://soundcloud.com/guitarsrsoawesome/six-questions

Mind you, I am no professional, an amateur at best, but I think it managed an even tone.

The mic I used was a simple Audio Technica AT2020 through a Presonus interace into garageband.

Hope that helps.

[muscmp]

Originally Posted by kydave

Tell them to park their butts while recording if they want an acoustic guitar on the record.

No point in recording the pickup particularly, unless that is the sound they want.

i would agree with kydave. save the moving around for their gigs but sit still while recording.

play music!

[Psalad]

BTW: I wouldn't have it placed like that... but you get the idea.

More info here: http://exploraudio.com/categories/gi...re-h-clamp/24/

I'm not a customer nor affiliated, but I've often thought it might be good to have one for the purpose you mention.

Let me say one thing about pickups. They suck for recording. The Lyric isn't really much better. Use an external microphone.

[unimogbert]

............

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by unimogbert

If that won't work - try duct taping the player in place.

This will also solve problems with non-payment.

[bbrunskill]

Ditto the guitar mounted mic. I've had similar issues with people new to recording doing stuff such as moving around, breathing loudly, coughing, etc. Usually I just coach them and we can work around the issues.

[Yamaha Man]

I bought the Lyric to record directly into my computer without picking up room noise. Works fine. It works even better with a external mic blended in with it. I use a Marshall MXL V69 ME tube mic and the combination of the two works great.

Distance and double mics will also work well. For me though, eliminating room noise was the biggest advantage of using the Lyric.

[Mobilemike]

Originally Posted by DupleMeter

it won't sound nearly as good if you move to a pickup system.

Best option is to talk them through the issue and get them to stay still in front of the mic. Much like playing live, there is a learning cure to being good in the studio.

Saving that set up 2 mics to cover the "swing area" or get musicians with studio experience if that's an option.

+100

No pickup system or acoustic/electric guitar is going to sound nearly as natural (or as good IMO) as a nice mic in front of a nice guitar.

-Mike

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Tampa Recording

…Why would you do? Any engineers here?

Hi TR…
I put the player in place, set the mic and tell them they cannot move around.

I have a few questions…

• Could you please tell us about your recording rig?
• Are you going Microphone to a preamp to an interface to computer, or just mic to interface to computer?
• Which polar pattern on your 414 are you using?
• How far away is the mic from the guitar?
• Where are you pointing it at the guitar?
• Are you recording each guitar alone, or a group all at once?

[ricdoug]

Selecting wider polar patterns may help, if the issue is lateral movement. Ric