Techniques for recording acoustic guitar
From N-Track Wiki
How to record an acoustic guitar
When I first installed NTrack Studio, I couldn't wait to create a masterpiece, so I sat down with my acoustic guitar, plonked the stick mike in front, hit RECORD and played my heart out.
The results were, to say the least, a little disappointing.
So I did what I should have done in the first place, I joined the NTRACK FORUM and learned from those far wiser than I.
In common with many other technical hobbies, Home Recording is surrounded by much myth and folklore. Do not be fooled by those who tell you that you MUST use a specific microphone, soundcard, or even a certain brand of recording software in order to get a decent sound. Above all, remember that WHATEVER WORKS FOR YOU IS CORRECT!
Getting a reasonable sound out of an acoustic guitar is quite simple and I will describe a method I use as a starting point.
In general, large diameter Condenser microphones will perform better than Dynamic microphones for guitar. Having said that, I used to record with a dynamic mic because it was all that I had. Much better to record with whatever you have than not record at all!
Whatever type of microphone you use, you will probably not get good results by doing the logical thing and pointing it directly at the guitar's soundhole. It will most likely sound too "boomy".
A good starting point is to place the mic directly in front, about 30cm (1 foot) away, pointing at the 12th fret. Angle the microphone towards the guitar body for more "attack" from the picking hand, or towards the headstock for a gentler sound.
By all means experiment with different placements in order to find your particular "sweet spot"
The actual results you will achieve, regardless of type of microphone and Microphone placement, will be heavily affected by the acoustic properties of the recording room. Room acoustics and the treatment of them is a huge subject and I do not propose to go into that here, except to say that it is usually not good to place the mic in the centre of a room, particularly if the room is square. Again, experimentation is your friend.
Once you have your recording "in the can" you will probably want to add some processing and effects.
Compression will almost certainly be required, as the acoustic guitar is an instrument with great variations in loudness. Equalizer will help to blend your track into the mix, and Reverb will give it added dimension.
These subjects (hopefully) will be covered in other pages. Learn them well.
--Beefy Steve 17:46, 19 March 2006 (CST)
