Help me choose and place high-end microphones
Hi guys, I start by telling you that, despite playing guitars for over 15 years, I've never recorded any song on acoustic guitars, so I'm a noob at recording techniques.
I've a personal studio at home, where I record music videos (mainly for youtube, twitch and instagram) with my electric guitar through the following scheme: Guitar > Amp head > Universal Audio Ox > Audio Interface > Computer. (Clearly, the Universal Audio Ox converts the signal, transmits it to the audio interface, therefore all without the aid of microphones). For acoustics, however, this procedure isn't good: I've unamplified acoustics (I'm literally opposed to acoustic amplification) and therefore Universal Audio Ox becomes useless. EDIT: After several searches I'm oriented to take two Neumann KM184, positioned with the XY position Do you think these go well paired? Opinions? |
First, dozens of threads already on this very topic are available for you to look through. If you just end up looking at
the replies you will get to your new thread you will miss a lot of valuable information. |
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Derek makes a good point about checking out many similar threads on the RECORD section here.
However, I think your approach of where to locate microphones and which microphones to use would work well. I have found that I like to aim the microphone on the neck side of the guitar a little bit more at the body rather than at the neck. I have also found that the mic on the body side of the guitar is going to pick up way more sound, so I tend to move that mic back a little more, maybe about 14-18" distance, while the mic on the neck side is closer, maybe 10". Best of luck to you! I think you have a good plan. - Glenn |
Sweetwater, who is an AGF sponsor, has done several microphone "shootouts" that may be helpful. You might want to check out this page on the Sweetwater site.
I hope this is helpful! - Glenn |
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The same goes for mixing two mics. You'll either like the results or you won't. None of us can tell you what will sound good to you. Stickied to the top of this subforum is a thread called "AGF Members Gear Masterlist and Recommended Tutorial Videos." If you scroll down to the fourth post, you'll find a section called "RECORDING ACOUSTIC GUITARS." There are a bunch of videos there that will discuss techniques. That would be a good place for you to start. |
If you want one large diaphragm and one small diaphragm I would consider a different large diaphragm than the 103 myself. A multi-pattern LDC gives you other options to play around with - figure eight pattern in particular can be very useful. For one thing you could do mid/side recording.. Perhaps an Austrian Audio 818 or similar for example.
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About Neumann which large diaphragm mic would you suggest? |
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Eric is suggesting that if you want an LD mic, you might get one with multiple polar patterns, which provides more flexibility in mic placement techniques. It won't be that they automatically sound better, just that you can use different micing techniques. You may or may not appreciate those techniques until you get more experience - or may never need them. Using a pair of cardioid mics as spaced pairs or in XY is probably how 95% of the recordings you hear have been done. Do you already have some mics? I'd get some practice recording before committing to 2 moderately expensive mics, unless it's not an issue for you if you end up not liking them. They're solid mics and it'd be easy to just say "get them, they're totally professional-quality lifetime mics", but you won't know if they're what you want until you try them and get a lot more experience recording guitar. For most people, mics are not the obstacle, and in fact, gear in general is not the obstacle to recording acoustic guitar - it's room acoustics. I'd watch the videos Jim pointed you to, try some recording with whatever you have, or can borrow - then start figuring out how you can try some of the mics you're interested in. Also, I'm curious what you plan to record - I'm guessing from your description that you're not recording solo guitar, but instead multi-instrument tracks. In that case, it's common to just record acoustic guitar in mono, so you can choose your own sound stage in a mix. If the acoustic is the featured instrument, stereo is probably a better choice. |
Answers can be all over the place (which gets back to my initial post). A lot depends on the sound you want and what you can hope to
get with your guitar, your room, and your playing. Listen to some of the clips of people's recordings that post on the forum and if some of them appeal to you find out their recording setup and environment (likely that info has already been posted or you could ask). |
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So I am guessing English is a second language ?
The reason I ask is some of the terms you are using. As others have said there is no "optimal" placement or mic selection, (as such) There are different personal preferences but not really an optimal one. Your diagram basically shows an often used space pair method, with some variation on that width also being normal Also one LDC and one SDC while certainly a valid option choice , but not necessarily the '"optimal" one. (unless perhaps you are also trying to have dual use with the LDC for vocal use also and don't want to pay for three mics) Because a pair of spaced SDC mic is just as valid a choice . |
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It does seem that a lot of folks are using two small diaphragm condenser mics for a good guitar sound very often these days. It may depend on the guitar that is being recorded. - Glenn |
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@Glennwillow exactly, after numerous researches (on AGF, on TGP and in forums dedicated to professional audio and sound engineers), I realized that there is no basic rule: there are those who record with two large diaphragm, with two small diaphragm, with one large and one small, with 3 different, all in the most different positions. But in general, many people (most of them from what I've read) prefer two small diaphragm. After several searches I'm oriented to take two Neumann KM184, positioned with the XY position. Opinions or Suggestions? |
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