Guide To Recording [Acoustic Guitars Part 1]

1
Guide To Recording Acoustic Guitars Part 1

• http//homerecordinghome.com/guide-to-recording-ac
  oustic-guitars-part-1/

2
As a home producer, youll probably record a few
acoustic guitars. More precisely, its highly
unlikely that you wont record acoustic guitars.
Theyre bread and butter for amateur and
professional musicians and are one of the most
frequently featured instruments on home
recordings. Recording acoustic guitars is no
mysterious science. You can do it with just about
any microphone. You just need some knowledge. And
you need a guitar.
3
The Instrument

• Most acoustic string instruments. The quality of
  these sounds depends on a few things
• The Player  A good guitarist can make a crap
  guitar sing
• The Instrument  Different guitars project in
  their own ways
• Proximity  Distant micing is going to pick up
  some room sound and can give a fuller picture of
  the guitar sound

4

• Direction  Moving around the guitar with a mic
  to find the best spot
• Guitar Anatomy  The guitar is emanating
• a variety of different sound waves from
• different parts of the instrument

Image   Joshua Hoffman via Compfight
5
The Source
Your best acoustic guitar track generally starts
with the best acoustic guitar. The better the
instrument, the better the track. However
though, regardless of guitar quality, you can
shift the tables in your favor by putting new
strings on it.
6
Another concern is intonation, or the pitch of
the guitar at different frets. Any tuning issues
will be magically pronounced in the
recording. The material, shape, and size of the
pick can all make drastic changes to the sound of
the guitar. Play around with a few different
kinds to get the sound youre after.
7
Customizing the Guitar for the Song
When choosing picks or putting on strings, think
about the role of the guitar in the song. You
have to weigh these concerns against the actual
guitar part and style of the player. The
important thing is to make the guitar sound its
absolute best before recording.
8
Guide To Recording Acoustic Guitars Part 1

• http//homerecordinghome.com/guide-to-recording-ac
  oustic-guitars-part-1/