Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

Rhode M5 matches pair. One at the bridge, one at the 12th fret. Killer on drums too.

I know that one of the more common ways to mic an acoustic guitar, but I really cannot stand the sound of that setup!

 

[everdrone]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

cool man if I ever get omni I would be testing it that way

AudioTechnica AT2020... good bang for the buck.

wow that one is sick!!! I love the price and realistically I just need the cardioid only and thats what I need and to save that $$$
http://www.zzounds.com/item--AUTAT2020?siid=47303

 

[jtougas]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

Read the SoundOnSound review... http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/audio-technica-at2020

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

The smaller the diaphragm, the more transient detail. The larger the diaphragm, the string to string details can get smeared and the bass can get boomy.

I missed what budget we are talking, but my knowledge of standards for acoustic would be
Neumann KM-84 (or KM-184 now)
AKG C-451
Shure SM81
Shure KSM137
The Earthworks suggestion was an excellent choice.

You can use large diaphragms also.
AKG 414 is very accurate for a large diaphragm
I don't have an AKG 214, but should be in the same ballpark.

A U87 or U47 will sound good, but have the smeared detail problem.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

I would suggest a ribbon, but a good one will set you back $1000+.

Honestly, I think you'll get great tone from the 57.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

There was some mention of it up-thread, but before deciding on mic, just get something workaday - SM57, etc - and experiment with placement on the guitar, so you get used to what you're hearing and trying to capture. Engineers who know the guitar can capture beautiful takes with a $10 pzm, and those who don't can capture crap with a Neumann.


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[everdrone]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

There was some mention of it up-thread, but before deciding on mic, just get something workaday - SM57, etc - and experiment with placement on the guitar, so you get used to what you're hearing and trying to capture. Engineers who know the guitar can capture beautiful takes with a $10 pzm, and those who don't can capture crap with a Neumann.


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ya I have been using my sm58s with the grills off (same thing as 57) and not happy with the acoustic guitar results. I think I need to work more on placement and mix.

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

I've been (ab)using a Rode M3 condenser for a couple of years. It is a somewhat cheaper roboust redneck brother of the multipurpose AKG C1000 but it has a warmer sound. It is a similar I-can-do-everything-but-none-perfectly attitude mic like the SHURE SM57, and similarly, at the end of the day I ended up using it more than I'd like to admit. It is especially brill for acoustic guitar. It is less than $100 new guess.

 

[wahwah]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

For a SDC, you would be hard pressed to find a better bargain than the Line Audio CM-3. They are hand made in Sweden and are surprisingly affordable. I'm not sure about availability worldwide, but I managed to find a distributor here and picked one up. Stunning little microphone for acoustic and percussive instruments.

http://www.lineaudio.se/CM3.html



Cheers................................ wahwah

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

Never heard of Line Audio, but the clips I heard online sound very promising!

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

I have been using my sm58s with the grills off (same thing as 57)

This is something that circles around the internet but is simply not true.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

I am definitely going to get a pair of the OM1's; curious how it will stack up to my Earthworks.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

This is something that circles around the internet but is simply not true.

Might wanna tell them that:

http://shure.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1118/~/sm57-vs-sm58

QUESTION:
What are the real reasons an SM58 should be used for vocals, and an SM57 be used for instruments? Of course, everybody seems to use these mics as mentioned. No one has given me a convincing reason for this, other than 'That's just what you do- everyone does it this way'. Please ease my anxious mind!

ANSWER:
The SM57 and SM58 microphones are based on the same cartridge design. The main difference is in the grille design. The SM58 was designed for vocal application and it uses a ball grille that acts as an effective pop filter. The SM57 was designed as an instrument microphone where a smaller grille size is preferred. In this application, pop and wind are not usually a concern.

The SM57 uses an integral resonator/grille assembly, where grille is actually a part of the cartridge. These two grille designs place the diaphragm of each microphone in a different acoustical environment. The distance from the top of the grille to the diaphragm is shorter on the SM57 compared to that of the SM58. This allows for a closer miking position with a more pronounced proximity effect. The different resonator/grille assembly design of the SM57 is also responsible for its slightly higher output above 5 kHz.

But I do agree that simply pulling the ball grille off a 58 does not make a 57 (due to the absence of the bar grill).

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

Similar, yes absolutely! I have thrown a 58 without the grille on guitar many times before getting my 57's and UIIIs... But many mics share the same capsule and sound completely different. All you need to do is try both to hear the differences.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

Shure's response up there states unequivocally that the two mics share the same capsule, but that the grill design is responsible for the difference in frequency response.

If that difference in frequency response is what you need for your guitar, there is no reason not to use it.

 

[El Dunco]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

What if you get an instrument grille and replace the ball grille for it such as the interchangeable vocal/instrument grilles that come with the Samson CS mic?

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

What if you get an instrument grille and replace the ball grille for it such as the interchangeable vocal/instrument grilles that come with the Samson CS mic?

Or (gasp, horror), experiment with mic placement to tune the proximity effect?

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

^^ C'mon MOVE a mic? pffft. Just EQ it later :crazy:

 

[jtougas]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

The different resonator/grille assembly design of the SM57 is also responsible for its slightly higher output above 5 kHz.

Proximity effect isn't going to nudge anything over 5khz... It's usually, like... 600hz and below, give or take... *waggles hand*

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Mic Recommendations For Acoustic Guitar

AudioTechnica AT2020... good bang for the buck.

I've got one, and a few Rodes, and a few others you can sample, next time you're over.


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Sorry, just saw this–most definitely! We should plan it after I get my Martin next month

Thank you everyone for the suggestions so far–interesting direction it took here.