Over the shoulder + Center Mic Attempt

[dcn]

Hi all - I gave the over the shoulder + center mic attempt another go and wanted to share with the recording fiends here at AGF for your always valuable input. Even added some reverb (I don't dare use the term "mixed"...).

The song is an original I wrote for my 2-year old nephew, title means "Kitty and Crab" - two animals he is currently very interested in.

[min7b5]

Top notch writing and playing sir I like the recording a lot. I guess if pressed -since you asked for input- just my opinion, but it's a hair bright to me personally. I might roll off the highs a bit and/or add a tape saturation or other such plugin to soften the transients and bit. But again just opinions.. Great stuff

[b1j]

Wonderful. I thought I’d be sitting here until Tuesday for that fade-out. A fine testament to both your guitar and your room treatment. I hope I can come close to that when I have my gobos.

No aspersions to min7b5, but to my taste, I like the crispness and sparkle of the highs.

To your central question: your mic placement adds lushness without trying to emulate some close listener’s stereo image. Big and full. It’s inspiring.

I have to ask, is it me or are you getting some clipping?

[dcn]

Originally Posted by min7b5

Top notch writing and playing sir I like the recording a lot. I guess if pressed -since you asked for input- just my opinion, but it's a hair bright to me personally. I might roll off the highs a bit and/or add a tape saturation or other such plugin to soften the transients and bit. But again just opinions.. Great stuff

Thanks for the reply and kind words, Eric! I will definitely give that a try.

Originally Posted by b1j

Wonderful. I thought I’d be sitting here until Tuesday for that fade-out. A fine testament to both your guitar and your room treatment. I hope I can come close to that when I have my gobos.

No aspersions to min7b5, but to my taste, I like the crispness and sparkle of the highs.

To your central question: your mic placement adds lushness without trying to emulate some close listener’s stereo image. Big and full. It’s inspiring.

I have to ask, is it me or are you getting some clipping?

Thanks, b1j, I'm glad you liked it! Re: the gobos I just moved them around in about 10 different configurations before landing on this one

And last but not least... now that you mentioned it I do hear a clip towards the end... uh-oh. All is fair in love and amateurism, will need to watch the gain staging better next time.

[mixsit]

Sounds nicely balanced and natural.
'Over the shoulder + Center I was expecting you meant two mics, looks like a pair in front + the over the shoulder? (Perhaps the front on your left is not in use?
Thanks

[dcn]

Ah good point - there are three mics in play: left (fretboard), over the shoulder, and the center LDC.

[b1j]

Oh, so 3 mics after all. If I were trying over the shoulder, I’d want the foundation of spaced pair in front, too. Alas, I have only two preamps!

Re: the clipping. I often wish I had someone handling the gain staging while I played. It can be hard to lean into the performance while I’m also the live recording engineer.

What can you share about giving placement?

Anyway, that was lovely. I’ve just listened again. Good work.

[j3ffr0]

I like everything about that. Great tune.... Kitty and Crab!

Often the stereo image is more interesting when there is a mic in the over the shoulder position. Been a hot minute since I've used that technique, but I think I'm going back to that well for the next solo piece I record.

[dcn]

Originally Posted by b1j

Oh, so 3 mics after all. If I were trying over the shoulder, I’d want the foundation of spaced pair in front, too. Alas, I have only two preamps!

Re: the clipping. I often wish I had someone handling the gain staging while I played. It can be hard to lean into the performance while I’m also the live recording engineer.

What can you share about giving placement?

Anyway, that was lovely. I’ve just listened again. Good work.

Thanks b1j! With respect to the gobo placements, i put the two behind me as you saw, plus one to the left (out of shot) and one in front of me - so I'm using 4 of them in total. Furthermore, there are some 4 inch panels on 2 of the walls. These were bought over the course of 3 years or so, and definitely make a huge difference.

Over on Gearspace there's a really experienced audio engineer who talks about the biggest differences in recorded sound. From most to least important: player, instrument, hall (recording space), mic, preamp, DA. Often mentioned in response to people's understandable lust for the recording gear over on that forum. Investing in the space pays off hugely.

Originally Posted by j3ffr0

I like everything about that. Great tune.... Kitty and Crab!

Often the stereo image is more interesting when there is a mic in the over the shoulder position. Been a hot minute since I've used that technique, but I think I'm going back to that well for the next solo piece I record.

Thanks, j3ffr0! Let us know what you think about the technique when you have a chance to try it out again.

[dnf777]

Beautiful, in all regards!
Sounds like a much bigger, deeper guitar than whats in your lap.
Very professional audio, too. That clip is easily fixed.

[b1j]

Originally Posted by dcn

Over on Gearspace there's a really experienced audio engineer who talks about the biggest differences in recorded sound. From most to least important: player, instrument, hall (recording space), mic, preamp, DA. Often mentioned in response to people's understandable lust for the recording gear over on that forum. Investing in the space pays off hugely.

Thanks for the gobo insights, and for interpreting what I meant with that autocorrect mishap! Your configuration sounds simple and doable.

Yes, I think I am finally coming around to understanding the importance of absorbing reflections. I’ve taken the first couple of steps in making panels.

[b1j]

dcn, I’ve been listening to a few of your YouTube videos. It strikes me that your latest recording is in another orbit than those from just a few months ago. It’s warmer and more enveloping, richer and fuller across the audible spectrum and stereo field. It sounds remarkable through full-room speakers and headphones alike.

First, do you agree, and second, how have you brought that about? I suppose the addition of the over the shoulder mic contributed, but what else do you think has made the difference? Have you just dialed in the sweet spot of mic placement and preamp gain?

[dcn]

Originally Posted by dnf777

Beautiful, in all regards!
Sounds like a much bigger, deeper guitar than whats in your lap.
Very professional audio, too. That clip is easily fixed.

Thank you, Dave! I appreciate your taking the time to listen and comment.

Originally Posted by b1j

dcn, I’ve been listening to a few of your YouTube videos. It strikes me that your latest recording is in another orbit than those from just a few months ago. It’s warmer and more enveloping, richer and fuller across the audible spectrum and stereo field. It sounds remarkable through full-room speakers and headphones alike.

First, do you agree, and second, how have you brought that about? I suppose the addition of the over the shoulder mic contributed, but what else do you think has made the difference? Have you just dialed in the sweet spot of mic placement and preamp gain?

b1j, very nice of you to dip into the channel and recognize the changes, even though some of the might just be dumb luck. What I do know is different in the song shared here vs those from a few months back:

- took about 1 hour trying out different mic positions until I felt something sounded good to my ears when put together (Left / Center / Right)
- changed the SDC mics for this particular recording (Gefell M295)
- added an LDC mic in the center to "ground" the image and hopefully add some heft / warmth
- did not record as "hot" (and still clipped! ha!)
- was not as aggressive with the high pass filter post recording which previously took away some of the fullness
- actually "slept on" the recording and listening to it again a few days in the following days to try and get the volume balance right between the three mics and choose reverb that sounded nice (and was at a reasonable volume)

Not terribly scientific, I realize, but all things that are "attemptable".

Again, I appreciate the comments.

All the best,

Diogo

[b1j]

Originally Posted by dcn

Thank you, Dave! I appreciate your taking the time to listen and comment.



b1j, very nice of you to dip into the channel and recognize the changes, even though some of the might just be dumb luck. What I do know is different in the song shared here vs those from a few months back:

- took about 1 hour trying out different mic positions until I felt something sounded good to my ears when put together (Left / Center / Right)
- changed the SDC mics for this particular recording (Gefell M295)
- added an LDC mic in the center to "ground" the image and hopefully add some heft / warmth
- did not record as "hot" (and still clipped! ha!)
- was not as aggressive with the high pass filter post recording which previously took away some of the fullness
- actually "slept on" the recording and listening to it again a few days in the following days to try and get the volume balance right between the three mics and choose reverb that sounded nice (and was at a reasonable volume)

Not terribly scientific, I realize, but all things that are "attemptable".

Again, I appreciate the comments.

All the best,

Diogo

Very helpful descriptions of your process. I'm not sure how low you went with the hi-pass, but your low D is 73 Hz, so maybe you rolled off around 50 Hz? The recording benefits from the gravitas. I know it can be risky with only gobos, but it works. Did you record after dark?

Congratulations on breaking through to your current level of success, and best wishes for your continuing ascension up the learning curve.

[SprintBob]

Fantastic, loved the song and the quality of the recording. What guitar are you playing?