Try to change mic position, i use the 12 fret and mic it about 2-3 inches away, and another one at the body of the guitar
Talking about EQ, if you're using both, you can agressive HPF the mic that's on the 12 fret (you're using it more for the strings and high frequencie stuff), find boomy and nasal frequencies, you can cut them a little bit (insist, if you have the other mic too) or use something like C4, maybe compress with a LA2A style plug in AND for the mic at the body, a HPF where you get out the rumble but not the body of the guitar, i would recomend to use a C4 (or something like that) to control boomyness too, compress to taste AND mix both signals to taste.

Always remember to check your phase with both microphones

 

@xcore can you explain the phase issue a little more ( or someone ) , is it mostly about cancellation of frequencies?? and is there an optimal angle for the separation? I struggle with getting a good acoustic guitar recording, .. mostly just do with reducing
the boominess of it by positioning, but want to try the dual mic thing....

also read somewhere that doubling the acoustic guitar is a good production trick to expand the width of sound....

great stuff all, love this thread..

 

You can use WAVES InPhase to check issues with frequency cancellation.

That's true! I do it very often.
A good microphone choice is essential for getting acceptable results.
Well it doesn't has to be a TOP solid product but better than the average.

 

Hey folks,

As promised, here is a small acoustic guitar clip.

Nothing fancy, just a sloppy improvisation over a simple chord change; I had to do this real quick.

I did what I usually do. Some low cut to get rid of the mud, some notches here and there to get rid bad resonances, some parallel compression. There's some reverb and some delay as well (not much).

I used one condenser pointed to the 12th fret, slightly angled towards the sound hole. There also some piezo mixed in as well (not much as well).

https://clyp.it/1k5nwp30

What do you think? What can I do to improve it?

Thanks in advance,

R.

 

I like it,and i think it would be better only with some tricks .It misses a little brightness in my opinion,some resonance,and u could try to achieve it by using brand new strings,possibly phosphore bronze,because this is the typical track that gives its best when it s played with the sparkling sound of freshly mounted strings,tuning a half step down would also add some vibe,then u can decide whether putting a capo to keep the original key or not

 

is it possible to download it ?

 

Here it is @
http://rghost.net/74hL6mZcl
As ogg file.

 

You can do a lot to improve it!
My critics:
- To me the guitar sounds too flat, the bass frequencies are missing
- It sounds harsh, aggressive...not pleasant to the ears
- Listening with headphones gives unpleasant feelings

What you can do:
- Use a better microphone, or you could try with 2: one for the higher frequencies and the other for the bass sounds.
- Use a Plug-In to remove the harshness (like Plugin Alliance bx_refinement).
- Use a pop shield [anti-pop noise protection filter] it will also filter high frequencies.
- Before recording monitor the sound with headphones on.
- Try to avoid left or right only panning, you can record the signal as mono or stereo,
if in mono you could apply a pseudo Stereo-maker effect later on.

 

@Kookaboo @RMorgan
i did send both of you what've done so far ?

 

I cannot download from MEGA-nz.
Why don't you use http://rghost.net/ ?

 

I saw this thread and have been reading with interest so I hope you don't mind my commenting as well - it's an on-going quest with me to obtain a great acoustic recording with relatively modest equipment so I've been reading the comments with interest and downloaded your clip - I really just wanted to say how much I like it - it sounds really good as a piece of guitar playing and as a tune; simple but effective and rather atmospheric chords but very enjoyable to listen to as it is (on a fairly modest system). For what it's worth, I wonder if you're over-analysing the technicalities at the expense of the sound and feel of the piece. My main criticism is that you need to loosen up the strumming to keep a flowing rhythm - it gets noticeable that you're stiffening up when the lead comes in which spoils it somewhat whereas keeping it nice and relaxed would really enhances the musical feel and it IS a good piece. Primarily, just aim to capture the feel properly and don't let technical concerns outweigh the musical objectives - you might find it gives you a better perspective on your creative options. Maybe spend a bit of time considering exactly what the musical objectives are here. Tonally, I'd experiment with enhancing the acoustic using other instrument sounds to fill out the lower register and create more mid-range definition but I'd aim to keep the acoustic as a fairly low key backdrop i.e. don't try and make it sound 'bigger' - it doesn't need it. I think if you keep obsessing over technicalities you might end up losing the musical focus which would be a shame - it really sounds potentially very good.

 

Here we go :



https://soundcloud.com/sergentcaesar/guitar-m/s-IpB5h

i've done this, but i can't really judge my work, as i don't have a good environment to make the right decisions...

anyway Left & Right seemed a bit off to me, so i had to tweak 'em...

What i've done so far,

as i said left & right was a bit off to me, so i separated Left & Right Done some EQ, Compression

had to use delay composition tho for the right track! made it a bit off but it works well i thnk...

i took the same file and added the same EQ & Compression bit a bit heavy Reverb with RC48, and mixed it

and finally some Parallel compression...

and did Master it...

so tell me guys what do you think...


DOWNLOAD IS ON!!!

 

Mate, RMorgan asked here because he's not happy with the results.
The music is really okay. BUT people simply won't enjoy something that sounds unpleasant.
Recording Instruments is an Art, it may require years of experience & the right equipment and tools.
That's something that many people ignore or forget nowadays. Everybody now seems to have DAWs
to record and top Plug-Ins...but when it comes to record real Instruments it's a different story.
For each Instrument there are different ways to record it, it's worth to study...first.

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I really appreciate it.

Since everybody is so helpful, I'll place a link for a rar file containing the raw stems.

So, if anyone feels like giving it a try, please, feel free to do so.

Here's the link:

http://rghost.net/6s8gsrFvF

Cheers,

R.

 

Yep it's all that rap you are listing to. HE HE. Now you have to deal with a real instrument and a real player.

 

I like that slapping and tapping he did totally awesome..

 

OK, I take your point, but let me ask you a question, and I'm not an audio expert or engineering technician so please excuse my lack of professional expertise. I do enjoy good music though and you're right about people not enjoying unpleasant sound, and I'm certainly no different - but - and I mean no offence here - who are you to determine what other people find unpleasant, or not? Good music has been made using far less than the pristine quality equipment available nowadays, and whatever your technical knowhow and expertise, isn't the objective essentially a musical one? That's not to detract in any way from the obvious necessities and sophisticated complexities of engineering audio to a professional level, but having listened to the clip I thought it was worth commenting simply because, as a listener, I really enjoyed it and wanted to convey that to the guy who posted it. If that offends your professional sensibilities, please don't take it personally, but equally, please tell me whether my enjoyment is invalidated simply because the sound quality doesn't meet a particular technical standard as defined by someone else?

 

Here my quick re-work @
http://rghost.net/89yCQpfyK

Used tools:
- bx_refinement
- FabFilter Pro-MB (setting: Harsh Mix Rescue bM)
- MixControl Pro Small
- La Petite Excite
- SONNOX Oxford Inflator

 

We could discuss about it pages & pages...I explain it fast:
- Harsh or too violent sounds are commonly sensed as unpleasant
Well, some people like them, for instance METAL music enthusiasts.
- Distorted, clipping sounds can be unpleasant (to the ears!)
- Too hard played instruments can sound "rude"
- Bad mixed material can sound very unpleasant

I'm more a musician, artist than a Sound Engineer but i try to keep things balanced,
always learning, improving. I don't own a big Studio nor special Pro–Equipment.
All i have is my ears, eyes & hands.

 

My 2 cents
first and foremost like someone else suggested New strings before recording always!
also both Epiphone & Taki's the budget ones are not that great and in the acoustic Guitar world you really do get what you pay for-
but there is hope, take the guitars you like best to a reputable guitar shop or Luthier and have it set up properly- it will make all the difference in the world as your guitar has probably not been set up anyway other then tuned at the shop before being hung on the wall.
from listing to the demo you did it sounds like the room you recorded in is really active IE a lot natural reverb. there are a few cheap ways to deaden the room for acoustic recording. personally i have made a frame out of a portable cloths hanger and draped a comforter over it and play directly into that. Yes sound absorbent material is better but were on the cheap here i guess so using what you have saves money and time. its not the best answer but a functional one if your room is not set up for recording acoustic or live vocals gtr amps etc.