Second comparison of mics and recording location

[TBman]

Ok, I see (hear) the difference.

I turned around and I'm now facing the room, the mic is about 12" from the 12 fret. This is the Rode NT-5, test #2



Here's yesterdays, facing the corner, Rodes NT-5, test #1



Ok and now here is the MXL 991,

Test #2, facing the room, not the corner, mic same as test 2 of Rodes:



Yesterday's test #1 with the MXL, facing the corner:



Yep, a little better, but yes my technique is noisy. I will also move the mic around also just to see where it sounds best. I'll try the lower bout as well.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I can move forward now from here.

[SunnyDee]

Better. Did you try turning the gain down a tad?

[sdelsolray]

Move out into the room a few feet more.

Use both mics, one at the 12 fret and one at the lower bout, perhaps 18"+- out or so for each mic, maybe 30"+- apart.

Records two separate tracks.

Experiment with mixing the two tracks.

Post a result you like.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by SunnyDee

Better. Did you try turning the gain down a tad?

No Sunny, I'll try that.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by sdelsolray

Move out into the room a few feet more.

Use both mics, one at the 12 fret and one at the lower bout, perhaps 18"+- out or so for each mic, maybe 30"+- apart.

Records two separate tracks.

Experiment with mixing the two tracks.

Post a result you like.

I'm centered now in the room, it's not that big. I'll have to get a couple more mic cords to do two mics, maybe this weekend. Thanks!

[islandguitar]

My ears and headphones say HUGE difference already, Barry!

[TBman]

Originally Posted by islandguitar

My ears and headphones say HUGE difference already, Barry!

Thanks Fred. So now on the agenda is learning how to get a little more air between my hand and the neck in those positions that cause noise.

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by TBman

I'm centered now in the room, it's not that big. I'll have to get a couple more mic cords to do two mics, maybe this weekend. Thanks!

Believe it or not, the center of the room is, like the corners, not the best place to record a source. Perhaps back up towards the short wall a bit (at about 35% of the length of the room) with your chair equidistant between the long walls and face the opposite short wall. Mic placement as previously suggested.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by sdelsolray

Believe it or not, the center of the room is, like the corners, not the best place to record a source. Perhaps back up towards the short wall a bit (at about 35% of the length of the room) with your chair equidistant between the long walls and face the opposite short wall. Mic placement as previously suggested.

Yes much better I think th edrastic difference in level makes it very difficult
To clarify further as sdelsolray states the exact center of the room length wise is not a good position as you will be in position where the reflected waves will definitely collide with equal energy ( not good) ... Also the aprox. 1/3 ...position in a rectangular room is good basic rule of thumb, but depending in the exact particular room dimensions may need to be adjusted slightly for optimum sound (just listen to the guitar without recording to get a feel,hear for this)

Here is a diagram I posted in another thread it is about the mixing position but the basic idea applies to recording positioning . This or move to the 1/3 ish... spot from the back wall

[TBman]

Originally Posted by sdelsolray

Believe it or not, the center of the room is, like the corners, not the best place to record a source. Perhaps back up towards the short wall a bit (at about 35% of the length of the room) with your chair equidistant between the long walls and face the opposite short wall. Mic placement as previously suggested.

I'll try that, thanks.

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by TBman

I'll try that, thanks.

One experiment you can do (and it doesn't cost a penny):

1. Download a free tone generator. One capable of generating pure sine waves at your choice of frequency (e.g., 100Hz pure sign wave).

2. Play it as a long loop though your monitor speakers.

3. Walk around your room a listen. At many different locations, you will hear the pitch will be louder or softer than in other places ("node anomalies"). This is due to room reflections interacting with the direct sound and adding or subtracting amplitudes depending on phase and other factors.

4. Change the pitch of the sine wave. Repeat the test. You will notice that the node anomalies are likely in different places

5. Repeat # 4 many times.

This will give you insight into your room acoustics.

You can refine the experiment by putting just one of your monitor speaks on your chair and placing that chair in a potential location for sitting when recording. Turn off the other speaker. This will give you an idea of node anomalies from that playing position (the same position your guitar will physically be when you are recording). Put your head (and ears) in the location(s) when your microphones might be placed. Say, with that setup you hear a volumes decrease at 200Hz and an increase at 700Hz and 1100Hz, etc. Your mics will "hear" the same node anomalies when you are recording with those same placements (i.e., you on the chair playing guitar and your mic(s) where your ears perceived the boosts or cuts at certain sine wave frequencies).

Nearly every untreated room has node anomalies. Room treatment mitigates and (sometimes) eliminates them.