Music is very entertaining when you choose to use various instruments for mixing. Some people opt to play the piano several times to get what they desire. Those who opt to add the guitar to their music end up getting the best sound combination. Most people find it quite challenging to record an acoustic guitar.
There is a challenge that comes along with the recording, especially the guitar. However, it is not time to get discouraged anymore because we have come up with a solution.
Recording an acoustic guitar is not as easy as it seems. You need to have the right tools and techniques in place for you to get a perfect sound from your instrument.
Most people find the process of recording an acoustic guitar quite challenging, but with this guide, you will learn how to do that easily without having any problem at all. We have come up with a guide to help you have an easy time for your next record with the acoustic guitar.
What recording the guitar involves
Recording a guitar involves coming up with specific instruments. Condenser microphones are the best that you can use because they can eliminate the background sounds. Their frequency also eliminates the sensitive and sharp sounds hence leaving the audios with a lot of clarity.
You can have a temptation to say that other microphones such as the dynamic models are not the best. It is not the case because they also serve well when recording. They are the best for making louder sounds because of their frequency response.
You can choose to use the condenser microphone for the guitar. Dynamic microphones, on the other hand, will serve the other instruments such as drums and amplifiers. They perfectly manage to burst and deafening noise.
The idea behind using condenser microphones comes from their structure. Phantom power is the source behind their powering, which happens to be a minimal electrical charge. Although some microphones allow you to use a rechargeable battery, you need those that get power from a direct energy source.
The best thing about these microphones is that they come on various budgets. You will get very many products that will have a lovely quality that matches multiple needs. For a condenser microphone to work best, it has a good quality depending on budget and taste.
What microphone for which guitar
You will also notice that the condenser microphones will have different properties that bring a completely different dimension. You will get models that have a giant diaphragm and those that have small ones. Large diaphragms will work best to capture the sound of the body.
Small diaphragms, on the other hand, will record the sound from the guitar strings. They also do ambient recording very well. Getting the best microphone that serves the specific role is an essential factor.
The role of an acoustic guitar in recordings
The acoustic guitar plays a considerable role in the music you record and play. It plays several functions, such as creating the rhythm and the leadership role in music. If the guitar is a leader in the song, it has to project its sound to the microphone for simple sound picking.
Another function of the microphone is to offer a supportive part in music. It ensures that the music has an accompaniment that makes it sweeter. In addition, using the various mixing techniques allows the music to bring a completely different dimension to the taste of music.
Microphone placement
The microphone needs a strategic placement that will make the sound picking process quick and effective. Various arrangements allow for the guitar to work as you expect. Doing the recording has some bit of science that makes it work.
The most common method of placement of the microphone is at the fretboard and the body. It then picks the natural sparkle of the strings and its action. However, there is some distance that you must always observe.
The beauty of each guitar is that it has tonal sweetspots that make the sound recording sweeter and of better quality. For instance, if you place the microphone around 6 inches away from the guitar, you will deliver the best sound quality.
Some earphones are essential if you have to understand the cords you play. Using an earphone or headphone when playing helps in making the accuracy get to the next level.
For the best capture, you can play first, then listen before now making the various changes. Then, someone can help you to make the adjustments if you have to be accurate and save time.
Another factor that may affect the placement is the sensitivity of the microphone. You may have to add the distance to improve the quality and eliminate the microphone’s noise.
Placing the diaphragm of the microphone above the 12th fret and a distance of 6 inches away will allow you to review the sound until you have the best position to play the guitar. The process is one that you can repeat severally until you get the optimal placement point.
Acoustic image
Some of the things you need to consider first are the ambiance miking. It captures the room sounds and environment disturbances if you do not have direct management. You need to check on the room so that when recording, you don’t experience unwanted frequencies.
Planning to do the equalization during the mixing stage can become hectic. The acoustic guitar sounds best when you do the balancing at the initial stage. Unfortunately, most people do the balancing during the mixing, which ends up delivering poorly.
Getting the natural sound is simple because you will need to plan everything. If you want to use additional microphones, you will place them at strategic points. The XY coincident pairing is the best as it involves placing the two microphones facing each other.
Preparation for recording
After setting the microphones and the other settings, you will need to proceed with the recording process. Finally, everything is ready and set for recording. Individual tracks should maintain at 0db, of which you can then proceed to adjust the parameters.
One thing you need to look at closely is getting the natural sound when recording. This is because the compression process now has to work to the maximum at this stage. In addition, you can add various instruments such as drums and the amps at this stage to bring about a different perspective on the track.
This stage needs you to look at the microphone you use, and its quality. It should have the ability to maintain the best sound quality and minimize the mixing work. Every time you work with the quality, you minimize the chances of doing corrections during the mixing process.
The recording process
The actual recording process comes after you have set all the requirements in place. Now you have to assess the purpose of the recording. If you are doing it for a band or a mass institution, you have to work on the scales of production. If you have to do it for a single artist, you have to check on the number and the quality of the recording that you will work with.
Before getting into the actual job, you have to ensure that you do some test runs. The purpose of doing some preliminary tests is to ensure that the system is ready for the task. If any challenges come about when doing the tests, you will need to ensure they are in order.
You can consider making slight changes when doing the tests so that you experience some differences. After that, you will choose the one that works best and use it for the recording.
String squeak
Now here comes a real challenge when the strings begin to squeak. This happens when you begin to change cords and guitar positions. First, you have to check if the chords are proper by moving between them. Minimizing the string contacts is the simplest way to remove the squeaks.
Sometimes the squeak happens because of the dirty acoustic guitar strings, and you can maintain the cleanliness by wiping and changing those that seem to be older. Finger lubrication is also a helpful technique if you have to make the quality better. Lubrication makes striking quicker and effective as you can play the quick notes without a hassle.
Putting an equalizer on an acoustic guitar
Resonance balance is the best approach if you have to do some equalization. You need to be sparing when doing the equalization. Cutting some frequencies rather than removing them is also a nice thing as it will promote the sound quality.
Equalization has dependenton the instruments that you use. So you have to use different measures to maintain the frequency. For instance, you have to do away with the frequency if there is a booming sound and the loudness is at its peak.
When there is proper equalization, you can even add other devices and instruments to boost the vocals. The good thing with good balancing is that you will not have conflicting sounds and contradictionsin your play’s music. Adding rhythm to the record is an effortless task so long as you maintain the balance.
Panning acoustic guitar effects
Panning is the process of merging the various tracks you record so that you get a single sound. You will record the sounds and then place them together. Its main intention is to ensure that the record track maintains the best sound quality.
Panning requires you to keep the volume and the tonal quality of the instrument at per during recording. Complex mixes will need you to make some adjustments as a rule does not apply. You can also choose to place the guitar at specific points so that you have some better production.
Panning has the best effect because it makes the effect natural. Each track will have a very slight application of the reverb. You can increase the volume of the reverb, ensuring that there is no sound discord.
Ensuring that the reverb does not dominate the song will enhance its performance and output. However, you can add the volume of the effect is what you are looking for. In addition, a touch ambiance during the recording process will make the song have a better tone.
Ways to record an acoustic guitar
Three significant ways will help you to achieve the recording mission with the acoustic guitar. We have done a highlight of the methods in the section below.
Recording using a single microphone
A single microphone can effectively guide the recording of your music. It is more than an option if you have a single microphone or your interest is in one microphone. You have to look at the kind of microphone you have and then put it to use.
A cardioid pickup microphone will need to be at the fretboard to do the recording. The joint that meets the body is the exact position that you will place the microphone. If there is a need for more bass, then the soundhole makes an ideal point.
If it needs to have a brighter sound, then you have to place it facing the fretboard. The placement will need some distance away from the guitar. A distance of 8 to 12 inches is the most convenient in this case. Now you can adjust the position depending on the sound you want to get.
If it is closer to the guitar, then the sound will have an extra bass instead of having it a short distance away. Dynamic mics operate best when they are closer to the guitar. It works differently compared to the condenser microphones.
The more the sound is direct, the more the quality. Elimination of the background noise and the room echo happens when you take the microphone closer to the guitar. Recording each part twice is essential as it improves the quality and the stability of the sound.
Using two microphones
There are more options to take control of the sound when you have two microphones. For example, the XY technique works effectively for the acoustic guitar. You will put the small diaphragm condenser microphones and ensure that they align 90 degrees from each other.
Phasing issues are likely to occur if you do not observe the placement of the microphones. The diaphragms should be one on top of the other so that you don’t experience phasing problems. Observing the 12th fret as the point of axis is the most convenient thing.
One microphone gets the lower volume, and the other captures the sound at the higher end. So mixing the two makes you have a balanced sound because of the sound combination. Another technique is the AB technique which is also the spaced pair technique.
The AB technique is excellent as it captures the bass and the bright sound elements. A small microphone does this job conveniently, especially if it is a condenser model.
You will place it at the 12th fret so that it gets the brightness of the strings. Now the second microphone has to point to the bridge and the butt of the guitar as it will pick the heavy sounds. Once you do the recording, you will have to pan the tracks to produce a balanced sound.
You will need a larger model if you choose to use the condenser mic. However, one that has a broad base will pick high-quality sound.
Direct in
This is another method you can use to record an acoustic guitar, but it is not convenient. We do not recommend using this method not unless it is the only existing option. The process sounds unprofessional, and even the sound becomes unnatural.
If you cannot afford a microphone and you have to do the recording, then you have to use the direct method. This process will need some complexity because you may have to repeat the processes more and more. In addition, you have to take good care of the natural environment so that you still have the best sound quality.
The work can be tedious when using the direct connection method. You have to record each piece at least two times so that it gets better quality. A lot of practice session is needed to have the task done successfully.
Constant elements during acoustic guitar recording
Even though you have to make various changes during the guitar recording process at home or while traveling, specific things must always remain constant. The constants remain despite the number of microphones you use for the recording process.
Get it right at first
You have to get it right at first and not during the mixing process. Most people usually want to get the process and the quality record after mixing. However, the case is different with the acoustic guitar, as you have to get it right initially.
You have to record more than once to ensure that you redo the same process. By doing it, again and again, you get the best sound quality. When you pair the sounds you record, you get a guarantee that the sound you get is the best.
Managing the record session
You have to manage the recording session and all the additional works at the design stage. Therefore, setting the parameters before starting the recording session is the most effective way of doing things.
Having the settings ready before you start to record the acoustic guitar will make you have high-quality records. Never attempt to fix anything at the mixing stage because the sound becomes terrible and not natural.
Quick process of recording an acoustic guitar
Once you have settles all the requirements for recording, you have to do a quick process to have everything in order. Below is a quick process to quickly achieve the mission.
- Connect the accessories that you need for recording
- Set the microphones at strategic points in readiness for recording
- Balance the parameters so that you get the best quality
- Do a test recording and check if everything is in order
- If everything is in order, do the first recording
- Repeat the recording one more time and as much as you wish so that you have a solid sound
FAQs
It is common for most musicians to record their music in stereo. This makes it easy for them to get the best sound combination that they can use as a guide when they are playing the guitar. One of the main reasons why most people opt not to use this method is because of time constraint. This will make you work harder and faster so that you can get what you need before your song runs out of time or space on your computer. You should consider recording your acoustic guitar in stereo if you want to have an easier way of getting good music sounds without using too much effort and time doing it over again just like other musicians do with their piano instrument which requires more than one person playing at the same time.
If you’re an acoustic guitar player, you probably want to play and record your music digitally. You don’t want to buy a bunch of expensive equipment that will just sit in the corner collecting dust. Therefore you can plug the acoustic guitar into an audio interface. This audio interface will allow you to plug in your acoustic guitar and capture the sound without needing additional equipment. But there were some issues with this setup. The most obvious is that it doesn’t sound as good as when playing through an amplifier or PA system because the microphone can only pick up so much detail from the strings. Also, if any feedback occurs (which happens more often than not) then it will be picked up by the mic and amplified even further causing a lot of problems for everyone involved. It also requires a bit more effort on your part such as setting up mics correctly and adjusting levels during recording sessions (especially if multiple people are playing).
These are the steps to transition from acoustic to electric guitars: 1. Learn To Play In Tune – This is a key step because you want to make sure that when your fingers leave the strings, they’re in tune with each other and sound good together; 2. Keep Your Calluses built-Up – It’s also important not to be too soft so as long as callouses are still there this will help give a better grip for sustaining longer periods of time on guitar chords or notes without getting tired out quickly 3. Start Clean– Spend some practice hours playing around quieter settings while gradually increasing volume levels 4 . Create An Exercise Regimen 5. Approach The Whammy Bar With Caution 6. For the best electric guitar sound, you should use a heavier pick 7. Finally, you need to invest in a better Amp.
Starting off clean by only using lighter picks or fingers while getting used to new tools like whammy bars slowly helps build confidence before adding effects such as distortion which should be cut lower than what we often hear at live shows so it doesn’t mask anything important happening beneath those notes – just enough vibrato added during solo sections might give my tone some extra life again
Conclusion
Recording an acoustic guitar is an effortless task when you have all the requirements in place. Our guide is comprehensive and will help you to manage the various activities without hassle. Ensuring that you use the right equipment at the right stage is essential for your recording sessions.
The process is quite simple when done in the right manner. You will need to ensure that you have a good microphone and other necessary equipment before recording your instrument.
The best way to record an acoustic guitar is by using a condenser mic, which will pick up all frequencies from your recording. Here are some tips on how to record an acoustic guitar with a condenser microphone and other necessary things like preamps, cables, stands etc.
