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Author Topic: Acoustic guitar recording problem  (Read 3447 times)

binary

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Acoustic guitar recording problem
« on: May 02, 2008, 11:14:16 AM »

Hello all..

I've been tracking an album that uses mainly an acoustic guitar as the main instrument.. up until now I've been doing it the same way on each track to keep a nice uniform sound.. But on the last track we're doing, she uses a pic instead of just fingers..
Problem is now I'm getting so much pick noise.. I dunno how to eliminate it.. I've tried softer picks, different mics etc.. but I don't wanna compromise on the overall sound of the guitar!
Any thoughts? Anyone else had similar issues?

Cheers
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MagnetoSound

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Re: Acoustic guitar recording problem
« Reply #1 on: May 02, 2008, 11:30:09 AM »

Where are your mics placed?

If you mic towards the neck or even from behind, rather than the picking area, it will help.

Have you tried soft nylon picks rather than the celluloid type?

Make sure you don't boost too much top (sorry if that's too obvious).

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It can also knock me back and make me sit there and cry like a little baby. This shit is as powerful as any drug!!!
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Barry Hufker

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Re: Acoustic guitar recording problem
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2008, 11:41:57 AM »

Try placing a mic above her right shoulder, pointing down directly at the bridge.
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A.J.

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Re: Acoustic guitar recording problem
« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2008, 03:23:00 PM »

Barry Hufker wrote on Fri, 02 May 2008 11:41

Try placing a mic above her right shoulder, pointing down directly at the bridge.


Great advice. I've had good success with this using an AEA R84.

I suppose if all else fails, try a de-esser?


Daniel Farris

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Re: Acoustic guitar recording problem
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2008, 07:24:24 AM »

Ask the player to pick ever so slightly closer to the neck and not so close to the bridge.

DF
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Tim Halligan

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Re: Acoustic guitar recording problem
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2008, 09:07:48 AM »

Daniel Farris wrote on Sat, 03 May 2008 19:24

Ask the player to pick ever so slightly closer to the neck and not so close to the bridge.

DF


...and don't sweat that the guitar is sounding different.

It should sound different because of the different playing technique.

As long as the artist still sounds like the artist, you'll be fine.


Cheers,
Tim
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Fletcher

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Re: Acoustic guitar recording problem
« Reply #6 on: May 05, 2008, 06:32:11 AM »

The over the shoulder looking down at the bridge is a good one... I usually add the 'second mic' somewhere between the floor and guitar looking up at the brigde... a foot or so in front of the instrument looking back at the bridge.  The main mic is usually somewhere off the 12th fret[ish] about a foot or so in front of the instrument looking back at the soundhole.

With Martins and other somewhat 'dark' sounding instruments I usually point the mic so it's looking more at the bottom of the hole [higher string side] and with brighter instruments [Gibsons, Taylors, etc.] so it's looking more at the bass string side of the hole.

The Empirical Labs "DerrEsser" is brilliant for handling "pick noise" as well as "finger squeaks" so they don't jump out and become offensive.

Peace.
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CN Fletcher

mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33
We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid


"Recording engineers are an arrogant bunch.  
If you've spent most of your life with a few thousand dollars worth of musicians in the studio, making a decision every second and a half... and you and  they are going to have to live with it for the rest of your lives, you'll get pretty arrogant too.  It takes a certain amount of balls to do that... something around three"
Malcolm Chisholm

woodymq

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Re: Acoustic guitar recording problem
« Reply #7 on: May 05, 2008, 04:00:23 PM »

Have you tried simply backing the mics away from the guitar?  I find get a lot of mechanical noise if I put the mics too close to the hands.

PS:  Yes, I love the over-the-shoulder sound too  Very Happy
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binary

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Re: Acoustic guitar recording problem
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2008, 09:02:55 PM »

Well guys, thanks for all your input.

Ater 2 days of fucking around with different mics/positions.. i opted for 2 sdc's.. one pinted toward the bridge over the hand abour half a foot away, and the other around the 12th fret about 1ft away..

I'll post a sample if you fancy?

It got to a point whre I thought.. fuck it. there's gonna be vocals and a string quartet on top of it.. so i should stop crying and being over critical..


Mehhhhhhh
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Fletcher

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Re: Acoustic guitar recording problem
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2008, 07:50:27 AM »

Crying, yes... over critical, never!!
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CN Fletcher

mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33
We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid


"Recording engineers are an arrogant bunch.  
If you've spent most of your life with a few thousand dollars worth of musicians in the studio, making a decision every second and a half... and you and  they are going to have to live with it for the rest of your lives, you'll get pretty arrogant too.  It takes a certain amount of balls to do that... something around three"
Malcolm Chisholm

Senad

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Re: Acoustic guitar recording problem
« Reply #10 on: May 07, 2008, 11:56:23 AM »

binary wrote on Mon, 05 May 2008 20:02

 there's gonna be vocals and a string quartet on top of it.. so i should stop crying and being over critical..


Mehhhhhhh


Seems like the guitar is the main (and only...nearly Smile ) part with the vox here...So why runaway from the string attack (pick) sound.I usually look for more attack in similar situations to have it more in-your-face...but i know, it depends...blsah blah..Wouldn't mind hearing a sample actually
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