Acoustic Sound, i have a feeling that... Options

[mrben]

nobody really records live instruments on this forum?? r atleast not with garageband. I recently got into garage band which is great and I love all the setting I can make for my guitar... however an nice clean acoustic sound I have not been able to get. It always sounds to quite or something compared to everything else... anyone got any tips how I can get a fuller richer sound? Are there any more plugins I should try. I am using a mic if that makes any difference?
cheers!

[PhilTrueman]

Well mrben, you've chosen one of the hardest instruments to record live. There are whole volumes on how to record acoustic guitar - especially through a microphone.

I think the latest Computer Music magazine gave some tips on how to record acoustic guitar - the microphone can be in any position - but the most favours is a little forward of the sound hole. But you have to experiment. Sometimes a hard surface (eg a wooden floor) under the player helps - but you have to experiment. As always - record as loud as you can (without clipping) then volume down in the mix. Then mess about with EQ, compression, effects etc. Usually you can get somewhere - but, a good recording to start with is invaluable.

I recently put acoustic guitar into a song in LogicPro. It wasn't through a mic - it was from my Yamaha APX4 and it was plugged in through a mixing desk. Even so - to get a decent sound to begin with took some fiddling with the EQ on the guitar and the EQ on the mixing desk. After recording - the track has had compression applied, some further EQ and GuitarAmpPro put on top. It's okay - but I could still spend hours getting it 'just right'.

It's luck, hard work and patience (not necessarily in that order).

Have you thought about using loops???

Sorry - bad joke.

Anyway - good luck

PT

[mrben]

thankyou.. i kinda figured as much.

[ideaslinger]

Hey mrben

I've been doing a ton of testing and stuff in GB with recording of guitars although not, as yet, with a microphone.

I've been taking my stuff from guitar straight in via an M-Audio FW 410 interface into GB. I agree some of the initial sounds are not too full but they can be improved immensely by stacking them up. For instance, I will record a refrain into a track then create several other guitar tracks (sometimes with the same preset start, sometimes not) and then Option-drag your recorded region into these new tracks. Now get to work with mixing the levels and pan...

Stick one track hard left, another hard right, turn off the 'Snap to Grid' feature and nudge one track a FRACTION out of phase with the other one. Then create a third track straight down the middle with a touch of 'verb on it or chorus and you can get some great sounds in GB.

Hope that helps a bit... (of course you can double up tracks from a track you've recorded in on a microphone too)

If you get something like GuitarRig you can also split your incoming signal into A and B and send each through totally separate amp configs to fatten up a sound too...

[mrben]

thanks!... some interesting ideas

[chappy]

Hey Mr. Ben,
I play and record acoustic guitars/mandos etc.... for a living.
It is not a secret science.
You need a decent acoustic guitar, a good microphone/microphones and a great mic pre. What are you using?

For big guitars where the acoustic is the center of the mix, try a large diaphragm
(tube) condenser or a pair. They don't need to be matched. Go light on the comprssion.
I use Neumann m149s, Manley Gold Ref and variety of tube condenser mics.
An unsung hero here would be the Gefell U92s.
For the sparkleing, strummy sound, try a pair of KM184's. They are reasonably priced and have a very 'in your face' sound. You can buy cheaper versions from AKG and some of the Chinese made mics with the fancy cosmetics but they will sound hyped.
For great depth on acoustics (these ain't cheap) try a pair of DPA 4015 or 4011.
Very natural, huge and I usually start with these and change based on the intended final results.
Stay away from the sound hole. Most of the boominess comes from there.
Start with one mic placed a foot away aimed at the 12th fret, the other mic can be aimed just after the bridge or experiment depending on the room and the guitar and player. Sometimes, placing the mic over the right shoulder can make a difference. Strings should be at least an hour old or you will get lot's of fret noise.
Very old strings will sound, wel, wery old.
This cannot be duplicated with any keyboard so it's worth investing some time and folding money into it.
peace,
chap