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-   -   How to get rid of pick strum noise when recording with a mic? (http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=555558)

ironmanx 04-17-2008 12:45 PM

How to get rid of pick strum noise when recording with a mic?
 
So I just got a condenser mic to test out from my local music shop. I love the way my acoustic sounds on it, however I got one problem. The pick sound =/ Is there a way to get rid of the pick strumming sound? I tried strumming with my hand but it just doesnt give the same ringing effect on this song that I want. Any help would be appreciated.

Here is the recording below:

[url]http://media.putfile.com/Opeth---Harvest-76[/url]

je suis un beau chapeau 04-17-2008 12:59 PM

idk different mic position use a thicker pick

Wang_Mite 04-17-2008 01:47 PM

yeah... that pick sounds skinny. go for a 1.5

Moto I 04-17-2008 01:50 PM

work on your picking technique also
but yeah, thicker picks will help you too

mnemonic 04-17-2008 01:52 PM

try using a parametric eq.

put a like 5 or 6 decibel spike with a Q of about 10 or 15, and sweep it back and fourth until you find the spot where the pick is the loudest, then cut that down until it sounds tolerable.

i've not done this with acoustic recordings, but i've done it with electric recordings and it works fine.

thicker picks will also help. also where is your mic.

Sammy_L_D 04-17-2008 02:22 PM

^ You [I]really[/I] don't want to colour the tone too much with an EQ when recording acoustic. I wouldn't recommend doing that.

A much thicker pick will help. If I had to guess, you're using approximately .5 - .6 right now. Minimum 1.0mm, preferably 1.5mm+ would be ideal.

Material will effect sound as well so you know. Try a few different materials.

mnemonic 04-17-2008 02:23 PM

i dont really see why, as long as it sounds good.

dont forget that mic position, position in the room, strings and pick etc all affect the eq (among other things)

Sammy_L_D 04-17-2008 02:29 PM

[QUOTE=mnemonic;16241907]i dont really see why, as long as it sounds good.

dont forget that mic position, position in the room, strings and pick etc all affect the eq (among other things)[/QUOTE]

Eliminates the natural overtones and qualities present in a good acoustic recording.

A bit of EQing in post-production won't harm, but the goal is to get the sound as perfect as possible without resorting to cutting frequencies BEFORE recording.

The same goes for electric as well. You want it to sound as good as possible before playing with it.

mnemonic 04-17-2008 02:30 PM

true, a good input signal is always really important

Sammy_L_D 04-17-2008 02:30 PM

Indeed.

Understanding 04-17-2008 02:41 PM

i'll just repeat what everyone else said, and just go with a thicker pick.

Linkinbassist 04-17-2008 03:39 PM

Or reposition your mic.

Vanwarp 04-19-2008 03:53 AM

Another thing you might want to try is to focus on the pick noise while playing your guitar and without making any specific changes in technique, simply concentrate on making it go away. If you hate pick noise enough, your hand will make some small adjustments which at some point will help reduce pick noise.

ironmanx 04-19-2008 05:12 AM

Ok I recorded it again using a 2mm pick. A bit heavy, but the pick strumming isn't as noticeable. Although it is much more bright sounding.

Sound any better?

[url]http://media.putfile.com/Opeth---Harvest-32[/url]

I also noticed, I can't hear it on my winamp nearly as much because I use an EQ on it. Through regular windows media player it is much more noticeable. So maybe it didn't help at all? =/

The Black Fist 04-19-2008 08:37 AM

2mm version sounds much better

Akira 04-19-2008 08:52 AM

This^

Of course, if you really want to get rid of the pick sound, just strum with your fingers. I understand you probably wouldn't want to do that though, since it would cut out some of the high end.

purple_hazer 04-19-2008 10:54 AM

in the second recording, are you angling your pick?

ironmanx 04-19-2008 11:13 AM

nope i held it the same way

your_mum 04-19-2008 11:29 AM

Ill reiterate material.
Use a softer material.

faithinfire 04-20-2008 03:58 PM

sounds like you are strumming really really close to the bridge. try struming further away form the bridge.

p.s. the second recording sounds much better.

Wang_Mite 04-20-2008 07:25 PM

new version sounds much better

cadencethefire 04-21-2008 11:47 AM

position the mic differently, no matter what the size of the pick you'll still get pick noise, maybe less with a thicker pick but put the mic just above your guitars HOLE you might like the tone of it up there more anyways


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