First effort

[big_rob_cooper]

I read and listened to the post Full bodied acoustic guitar..... from elmagoo and decided to try recording my ibanez in a similar manor while I don't consider my playing to be of stella standard I am heartened by the result.
I am posting three tracks
1. the ibanez pick and built in pre amp
2. A Rode m3 about 6 inches from the sound hole, preamped on my soundcraft desk
3 The two together.

I think its a bit boomy but would be delighted to hear what you think and how I can improve it. I really am a complete novice at recording.

[jdaug]

All sounded good to me, it just depends on the sound you are going for.

The pickup version sounded obviously like a plugged in electric/acoustic.

The miked version sounded like a real acoustic guitar.

If I am trying to record a real live acoustic guitar sound, I like using the mic. You get better transients (fingers moving on fretboard, plucking and pick sounds, etc). I would actually like to hear more transients in your miked version. you might achieve that by placing the mic in front of the 12th fret or thereabouts. that may remove some of the boominess as well.

the blended version sounded good. If I were mixing it, I would mix heavy on the mic track with just a bit of pickup track to smooth it out.

[awath]

well, Im not sure what other people think, but I never record my acoustic with the pickup, not because I dont like the pickup or anything, but it seems to my ears that it always sounds more natural and real when you mic it rather than using the pickup, Im not sure if you used any Eq on those tracks, but the second track seemed to sound the best to me, it didnt have that "electric" sound to it that you hear when you run acoustic guitars direct. Thats my opinion on that!

[big_rob_cooper]

Originally Posted by awath

well, Im not sure what other people think, but I never record my acoustic with the pickup, not because I dont like the pickup or anything, but it seems to my ears that it always sounds more natural and real when you mic it rather than using the pickup, Im not sure if you used any Eq on those tracks, but the second track seemed to sound the best to me, it didnt have that "electric" sound to it that you hear when you run acoustic guitars direct. Thats my opinion on that!

I did use a bit of EQ on my desk pushing up the bass some which might account for my percieved boomyness. Thanks for your comments much apprciated.

[big_rob_cooper]

Originally Posted by jdaug

I would actually like to hear more transients in your miked version. you might achieve that by placing the mic in front of the 12th fret or thereabouts. that may remove some of the boominess as well.

I have a second M3 I can use at the 12th fret but this is going to sound stupid I don't have a second mic stand at home at the moment, i left it at my mates house last Sunday, guess i will have to get round there quick.

This does raise the question when using two mic's of phase cancelation which I have read about but haven't heard, don't seemed to have suffered from or know what it sounds like if I did. I will search for it and see if I am completely down a blind turning on this one.

Thanks for your comments and help

[Ken Bennett]

Big Rob,

That mic'ed version sounded pretty good. It depends on the guitar but mine always sounds better with mic placed about 3" over the 12th fret like jdaug says.

I usually put a second mic 3 or 4 feet away in front of and slightly above the guitar. Phase problems aren't as bad when 2 mics are at very different distances. To check it pan both tracks to center. Listen to the tracks separately and set the levels so they sound about the same volume. Then listen to both tracks together. Listen again with the phase reversed on one of the tracks. Pick the phase that sounds best, then pan the 2 tracks apart slightly to get a bigger sound.

Try cutting at 200Hz to kill the boom, then boost a little around 60Hz to fill in the bass.