Acoustic guitar can be a challenging instrument to record and mix, especially in the home recording studio. Every music producer and engineer has their own preference for microphone placement, mic choice, and mixing technique. Getting the right acoustic guitar sound recording take loads of set up time.
Sometimes we need to quickly lay down our acoustic guitar recording, without spending hours or days experimenting with mic placement. In these situations, we need a “go-to” set up to quickly get things up and rolling. I described my preferred method in the previous post, how to record an acoustic guitar.
Today I’m providing a video demonstration of this technique. In this video/screencast, I’ll show you how to mic an acoustic guitar for a clear and full-bodied recording and set up your tracks in Pro Tools 8. Check it out:
Acoustic Guitar Mic Placement
As I demonstrate in the video, I used a XY configuration for the microphones. The XY configuration is achieved with a matched pair of microphones, placed at a 90 degree angle from each other. The diaphragms are set as close together as possible, without touching. This provides a very wide stereo image for your recording.
I then place the mics roughly 6 inches away from the 12th fret of the acoustic guitar, and level with the mid and high strings.
Stereo Recording in Pro Tools 8
I recorded the same guitar part twice, otherwise known as “doubling” the guitar part. That means playing and strumming exactly the same pattern twice.
The doubled guitar part is recorded on two stereo audio tracks in Pro Tools 8. The tracks are panned hard left and hard right, which makes for a very “big” sound, surrounding the listener in the wide range of tones that the acoustic guitar brings.
Placement in Your Song
Of course, there are many ways to go about recording and mixing the acoustic guitar. It all depends on how you are using the acoustic guitar in your song. Perhaps it holds it’s own place somewhere in the background arrangement, or it might be right up front engulfing the listener.
This video should provide a good starting point for you to develop your own “go-to” technique for micing and recording acoustic guitar.
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05/1/2009
6:56 pm
Geshem Audio
I don’t get why you recorded stereo and panned both channels hard. I doesn’t make sense.
This way you get only 2 channels when you actually recorded 4.
?
Geshem Audio.
05/1/2009
7:32 pm
Brian Casel
I used the XY (stereo) micing technique because that gives me a nice balance between the sound of the body and the fret/finger action. That position has consistently produced the most natural balance.
Since I doubled the guitar part (recorded the same part twice), I panned each left and right. I personally like hearing two distinct guitars mixed in the left and right sides.
So the panning is more about the doubling effect. The stereo micing was to capture all the sounds coming from the guitar and the room.
05/9/2009
5:12 am
Tony
I thought the same as Geshem… I would have thought that the technique you used, with an 80%(ish) pan might have been good, as it would allow some ambiance where the two parts bleed into each other slightly, to give a greater feel of presence, although this still sounds great, and let’s face it… you’re the pro :o) it’s just my 2 cents
Cheers
T.
05/9/2009
8:13 am
Brian Casel
I think the panning can really go any way you want it to. It depends on the song, the other instruments, your personal taste etc. It all starts with a great sounding recording, of a great sounding guitar in a great sounding room. Without that, it doesn’t matter what you do in the mix. Thx for comments : )
06/14/2009
9:18 am
Lou
Yo, Brian. Love this site and the tutorial. One of the main issues I have in Pro Tools is getting a decent volume level. My volume reads are great, no peaks, nice and loud, yet the mix never seems loud enough. This is THE reason I revert back to Garage Band — I’ve got a better control over levels. I’ve been told that compression will boost my overall volume, but I’m still finding it difficult to find a balance — getting optimal levels without compressing the hell out of my tracks. Looking forward to your “Mixing/Compression” tutorial. Great job.
Lou