Micing acoustic guitar

[jasonresno]

What is the best approach for micing an acoustic guitar? this is probably really stupid of a question, but what is the best method?

[Motleyguy]

What is the best approach for micing an acoustic guitar? this is probably really stupid of a question, but what is the best method?

there's alot of ways to do it. I explained a few of them in my Mic and Mic Techniques thread. There's also a few techniques from other peoples. Check it out.

Anyways, it all depends on what resources you have. Two large diaphragm condenser mics in a stereo mic set up have always yielded the best results for me. What mics do you have available to you?

[Moseph]

What is the best approach for micing an acoustic guitar? this is probably really stupid of a question, but what is the best method?

You're right, this is a really stupid question: not because there's a simple and well-known cookie-cutter response, but because there is no "best" solution at all.

Consider the sheer number of acoustic guitar recordings out there. Does a Django Reinhardt recording sound similar to an Eric Clapton recording? It's not just stylistic differences that are relevent, but also the techniques used to capture the performance.

The best advice I can give to you is to think of the acoustic guitar as a complex acoustic source. The sound doesn't all just come from the sound hole, it resonates throughout the body, neck and strings. Generally, you get the lower resonant tones from the body, far from the neck. Similarly, the crispness of the guitar is strongly correlated to the strings themselves. Lastly, distance is a major factor. The guitar sounds very different from varying angles and distances, doesn't it? Adding room ambience can have perhaps the most dramatic effect on the recorded tone.

With all that in mind, what sort of tone are you looking for? Consider how the blending of the instrument happens, and listen around the room (don't forget to listen at close distances to the instrument too). Mic that exact spot. That will get you close. Experiment and tweak to taste.

[Motleyguy]

I find the sweet spot that I like on the acoustic to be around the 12th fret. That's usually a good place to start. Experiment.

[naut]

if you're micing someone else, just walk around them while they're playing. place your head/ears at different spots around the guitar, at different distances. just listen objectively. if you like what you hear, put a mic there and try it out.

[jasonresno]

I find the sweet spot that I like on the acoustic to be around the 12th fret. That's usually a good place to start. Experiment.

This is the kind of thing I was lookin for, thanks!

And thanks for all the advice, I'll try it all out and then post the finished product here I guess.

[kidthatplaysguitar91]

This is the kind of thing I was lookin for, thanks!

And thanks for all the advice, I'll try it all out and then post the finished product here I guess.

Well the Bassiest sound is where the sound hole is, the treblyist further towards the head, the mid is between the strap pin and the bridge. You could fool around with multiple mics and such if you wanted to. I used 1 and it sounded good. Move around to fit it to your style though. 12th fret wont work for EVERYTHING, but I use it for what i generally do with acoustics, I probally have it more like 15th though.

[Motleyguy]

Well the Bassiest sound is where the sound hole is, the treblyist further towards the head, the mid is between the strap pin and the bridge. You could fool around with multiple mics and such if you wanted to. I used 1 and it sounded good. Move around to fit it to your style though. 12th fret wont work for EVERYTHING, but I use it for what i generally do with acoustics, I probally have it more like 15th though.

Yeah, the 12th fret is just a starting point, and what is generally referred to as the "sweet spot". Personally I like to use a stereo technique (blumlein), right around the 12th fret area.