the BEST soundoff

pjbelsch · #1 04-17-2018, 05:59 PM

Seriously want to know what each of you think is THE BEST mic for recording acoustic guitar. please give me some details. i am looking to record and want the PERFECT acoustic guitar mic.

jim1960 · #2 04-17-2018, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjbelsch

Seriously want to know what each of you think is THE BEST mic for recording acoustic guitar. please give me some details. i am looking to record and want the PERFECT acoustic guitar mic.

There's no such thing. There are mics that will work better in one situation over another, but there's no "perfect" mic. On top of that, even the best mics in the world won't sound their best if the rest of the recording chain isn't the best or if the room in which the recording is being done is poorly suited for the task. The skill of the person setting up the mic and doing the recording also matter. A great mic can sound like a poor mic in the wrong hands.

midwinter · #3 04-17-2018, 06:18 PM

It might be better to provide a sense of what you want to spend and how you’re recording the guitar (e.g. preamps, interface, etc)

Gordon Currie · #4 04-17-2018, 06:24 PM

Please define a perfect guitar sound.

pjbelsch · #5 04-17-2018, 06:33 PM

I am recording a pretty dead room as far as echo and bass build up. I am using a mac into pro-tools or logic from a focusrite scarlett. i would say budget is below 1000 quid. perfect guitar sound is something that jumps out, great bass response not overpowering, responsive mid range and a high end that colors the done but doesnt take it over.

jim1960 · #6 04-17-2018, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjbelsch

I am recording a pretty dead room as far as echo and bass build up.

Why is the room dead?

hotroad · #7 04-17-2018, 09:00 PM

I was at a concert the other night and the acoustic player was using a mic that cost around $10,000 for his guitar. Not sure the brand. So, please let us know what your tastes are like, a little more about the tone you are after and how willing you are to settle for a good mic but far from the 'best' mic since there is no such thing. To each his own. I use a DPA for my live shows and sometimes for recording. With a mic like that though you had better not make mistakes or play sloppily since the mic picks up every little touch of the string or guitar. The higher end the mic, the more it does that. Condensers are more prone to that than dynamic mics. So much to know, so much fun to have.

Brent Hahn · #8 04-17-2018, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjbelsch

Perfect guitar sound is something that jumps out, great bass response not overpowering, responsive mid range and a high end that colors the done but doesnt take it over.

Does your guitar sound like that?

Ty Ford · #9 04-18-2018, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

Does your guitar sound like that?

Ha! Nice!

Regards,

Ty Ford

Rudy4 · #10 04-18-2018, 08:05 AM

I thought the whole idea now was to plug your piezo-saddled Esteban into a "Tonedexter" and walla!... it sounds EXACTLY like a high-end Ryan in front of a pair of top end Neumanns.

It's nice that we no longer need good microphones.

Ty Ford · #11 04-18-2018, 08:29 AM

Rudy,

What are you smokin'?

ChuckS · #12 04-18-2018, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjbelsch

Seriously want to know what each of you think is THE BEST mic for recording acoustic guitar. please give me some details. i am looking to record and want the PERFECT acoustic guitar mic.

So, you've gotten feedback about there is no one "best" mic for recording acoustic guitar and feedback about lots of other factors that affect the recorded sound. Maybe you'd get some suggestions a bit more specific if you told us more about your needs/goals for your recordings. What are you planning to use the recordings for? Is this for solo acoustic guitar, or ??? Do you know if you want mono or stereo recordings? If stereo, have you worked with various micing techniques and do you have a preference? Do you have some experience recording, and if so what needs to change? Are you trying to record your guitar as it sounds in "real life" or are you trying to "color" its sound in some way to achieve a sound you are trying to replicate? What are your expectations for your recordings and how much time/effort/funds are you willing to put into this effort?

Brent Hahn · #13 04-18-2018, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty Ford

Ha! Nice!

Didn't mean it as a dig. Just wondering what the expectations were based on.

KevWind · #14 04-18-2018, 10:58 AM

I have to agree . Perhaps a bit more detail would be helpful

Like does 1000 quid equal $1000 USD ? being in Albany NY as per your location. UDS will be the medium of exchange.

Are looking for only a guitar mic ? Many prefer SDC but LDC can a be good also and double as a vocal mic as well

If only a guitar are you looking to record:

Solo acoustic guitar (in which case a stereo pair ) might be preferable

Acoustic featured in sparse mix (perhaps still stereo or mono depending )

Acoustic guitar as an element among a complex mix (might want to consider a single mic)

While there is no best and with the limited info provided so far, and while there are a number of pretty good mics from $500 to $1000
I use a Schoeps CMC6-4 but its at about $1400

Gefell M300 is a very good SDC for acoustic and hard to imagine you could go wrong with this mic for a sub $1000 price Around $760 at Vintage King

Johnny K · #15 04-18-2018, 11:53 AM

I get good results from an AKG P120 and a 600 dollar Seagull. Nothing special. You might hear my wife in the background washing dishes. LOL