Recording acoustic guitar nightmare

[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by pshih1979

Tried that route already

I have my meters up preamp dial at 70 %
In Reaper recording comes in real quiet -30 db
And I mean real quiet like you have to boost track volume to +7db
And put a limiter on the track
But that creates another problem clipping
So what I thought sounded ok on my computer sounds like garbage
On other media

This doesn't make a lot of sense. Something's wrong with your setup if you can't get more than -30 db. And if you are at -30, +7 only takes you to -23. Still pretty quiet. A limiter should not cause clipping if used right. A limiter's job is to *prevent* clipping.

So the then there’s adding effects to track
Reverb. Tried adding to a different track
Result very artificial and thin sounding
Tried delay. Never could figure out the timing on it
I just adjust to if it sounds nice
Compression. Ughh
All it does is squash the loud parts makes background noise louder
Total headache

You can't fix a bad sound by piling on effects. As you are seeing, it only makes things worse. Get a good sound to start with and everything will be easier.

Do you have a local community college? The one near me not only offers recording classes, but when you take a class, even just a simple online course, you have access to their recording studio. At least at our local school, it's a *very* well equipped studio with good mics, good preamps, most popular DAWs, and perhaps most important, other students and teachers who know how to use it and that could help you learn the basics, which is all you need to record solo guitar.

[pshih1979]

Yeah the sound is crystal clear
Really nice low end and midrange sound

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-f_nQd-omVA

One more link
This would a dream to get this type sound

I tried magnetic pickups and never got a good sound from them
Boosting the sound on them just squashed and made it bad

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by pshih1979

Here’s the other thing about recording with interfaces
The recording level is incredibly low -30db low
So low I can’t even tell if the sound is good or bad
So everything you guys are talking about mic placement room acoustics
While it’s very insightful. It’s also irrelevant
Because the sound levels are so low I’ve read this on many posts
I have to put a limiter on track and push it to -12 to hear it

With portable recorders at least I don’t have to worry about if levels will be enough.
But the problem remains. Even with all that said
Yeah recordings result is : boxy shrill high end , low end is so bad
And the only part sounds ok is mid range
Yeah room acoustics play role but I’ve seen so many people on YouTube
Record in almost same setting as me and came out much better

Sorry but the statement "with interfaces the recording level is incredibly low -30db low " --- is a patently mistaken sweeping and false generality .. Even with inexpensive entry level interfaces with most them you are getting at least +40 or +50 db of Gain.... Agin that's + 40 or +50 db of gain
So if minus 30 was all you were getting using an interface (if there was not something faulty with the interface ),, then something was fundamentally WRONG with your specific system or your gain staging or your DAW routing and has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with "interfaces" vs "portable recorders" ability to produce level.

With as much experience as you express to have with all kinds of gear you keep making statements that make no logical sense.

The reality is with even a modest entry level interface, and mic, and when using a DAW like Reaper you should be able to drive the mic's signals to well above 0 db and into digital clipping. And have plenty of audible level without any Gain boosting plugins like limiters or compressors etc. That is just the Reality of most of todays interfaces, mics, and DAW recording ..
As has been stated, it very much sounds like the problem is not in the equipment (agin unless it was actually faulty) and it sounds like it is probably simply more in something you are doing or not doing correctly

And just so you don't labor under more misconception. Mic placement and room acoustics are arguably one of the most relevant aspects of getting a good present 3D depth like sound into your recordings.
And bad placement and bad room acoustics are arguably on of the most prevalent reasons for flat lifeless 2D sounding recordings

Perhaps you might consider gathering the funds and going to a professional recording studio for a few hours to record a couple songs and see if they will tell you exactly what they are doing ,,,,,, just a thought...

[pshih1979]

Ok well that's what im seeing and dealing with when I use an interface
I setup and open preferences to make sure input and output is the interface
and it detects it and the readings on meter matches the one on the interface

when I record with reaper the signal just drops to in audible signal hence -30db
ok so recorded 2 different songs today at guitar center studio room used the DR40 internal xy mic instead of the AKG P170 single mic
recorded with a Taylor 214 CE deluxe
mic placed at chest level didn't have a stand to put recorder on
not perfect covers made lots of finger mistakes

https://soundcloud.com/user-52521886...stephen-reaper
-----------------------------------------
RX elements 8 maximizer set to -8db
and Voice de noise


https://soundcloud.com/user-52521886...to-quero-estar

RX elements 8 maximizer set to -5

[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by pshih1979

O
when I record with reaper the signal just drops to in audible signal hence -30db

Could be a reaper problem, I don't know. I've never used reaper. Are you on a Mac or PC? If on a Mac, I'd try GarageBand to see if you have the same issue. On Windows, I don't know what's available, but trying anything else, Audacity, maybe (I also have never used that) to see if you have the same problem might help chase it down.

On your tracks, they're better in some ways, I don't hear "room sound" so much, tho it's still a bit distant for lack of a better word. The sound is pretty thin - what guitar are you playing? Where are the mics placed? What is the tuning, and what gauge strings are you using? How does this sound compared to what you hear in the room when you are playing?

On the 1st track, the left-right balance is way off, it's better on the 2nd. I would not use Voice De-Noise. Why? There's no voice, and all that stuff tends to do is damage your track. I'd like to hear your raw tracks with *nothing* done to them at all.

[Chipotle]

Originally Posted by pshih1979

I setup and open preferences to make sure input and output is the interface
and it detects it and the readings on meter matches the one on the interface

when I record with reaper the signal just drops to in audible signal hence -30db

Reaper user here. Which meter are you referring to that matches the interface? If it's the meter in Reaper, what you are saying doesn't make sense. Reaper records at whatever level you are sending it, so if the Reaper meters register (for example) -12, then your recording will be at -12. Are the faders set to 0 at playback?

[pshih1979]

No interface
Tascam dr 40 portable recorder
Recorded at guitar center
Then at home upload it to reaper
Add maximizer
Export and upload to SoundCloud

[slooky]

delete please

[slooky]

Originally Posted by pshih1979

Ok well that's what im seeing and dealing with when I use an interface
I setup and open preferences to make sure input and output is the interface
and it detects it and the readings on meter matches the one on the interface


RX elements 8 maximizer set to -5

Your last post says No interface

Are you using your Tascam as an interface?

[pshih1979]

recorded song with RoDE NTK tube mic >>>> Tascam DR 40

upload to audacity not reaper
mic placed sideways 2 feet away

[pshih1979]

https://soundcloud.com/user-525218869/rode-ntk-r

[Doug Young]

Originally Posted by pshih1979

recorded song with RoDE NTK tube mic >>>> Tascam DR 40

upload to audacity not reaper
mic placed sideways 2 feet away

To get that in-your-face sound of the tracks you want to sound like, 2 feet away isn't going to work, especially in poor room acoustics. I'd try 8 inches. And ideally 2 mics in stereo.

This is an extremely thin, stringy sound, probably not what you want. Moving closer will give you a bigger sound with more body. Just avoid the soundhole. With just 1 mic, I'd put it above the soundhole, about even with the top of the guitar waist.