|
|
Post by mrholmes on Feb 10, 2017 9:11:08 GMT -6
Dear RGOs.
Its a nice song ready for tracking the first harmony instrument.
I have a picture in mind and I ask myself what would be the best way to get the picture I have in mind.
Imagine you have drums, dreadnought acc guitar, base, lead vocal and some keys for the verse.
It should make the impression that the rest of the band is framed by the acoustic guitar.
The band plays right out of the guitars sound hole - in your face.
How would you track the dreadnought to get a big image on the sides?
AB Stereo?
XY
ORTF
Mono doing fake stereo in the mix?
Any suggestion is welcome; the guitar should sound larger than life in the end.
Cheers
Holmes
|
|
|
|
Post by swurveman on Feb 10, 2017 10:13:59 GMT -6
This dreadnaught guitar sound from Ragan is pretty big and based on a song that has the AG as the main framing instrument. |
|
|
|
Post by wiz on Feb 10, 2017 17:18:48 GMT -6
Double Track it...
If that is no option, I would spaced pair mic it... I would throw up a third mic in the traditional spot.. just in case though...
cheers
Wiz
|
|
|
|
Post by bowie on Feb 10, 2017 20:39:43 GMT -6
Depends on the instrument and the part that's being played. The player really has to be playing a big sounding part or the arrangement has to allow for you to layer them in a way that's big. It's really hard to force an acoustic to do something if it's not already doing. They get boxy, or harsh, quick
I personally tune my instruments half a step down for the deeper sound with a more relaxed top end that often stays out of the way of the vocal a little better. That in itself makes them sound really big, even when you capo them. If it's something you think might help for that application, you might be able to talk the player into down tuning and capo-ing the necessary fret.
I personally position my mics based on what I'm hearing in the room. It might be XY, spaced, or any number of things but I never know until I actually hear it, and how it's being played. I couldn't recommend a specific technique as it might sound big on some guitars, annoying on others.
|
|
|
|
Post by mrholmes on Feb 11, 2017 9:26:56 GMT -6
Thanks for the sugestions I think double tracking may makes the most sense.... lets see / hear how this works out with a balad song...
|
|
|
|
Post by Ward on Feb 11, 2017 10:20:03 GMT -6
The absolute biggest acoustic guitar recording I have achieved is using two U87s in Blumlein stereo (figure 8 in XY) with the center point (the center line, I would allow) aimed directly at the 16th fret. The opposing ends of the the microphones (the back sides of the figure 8s) should be aimed at some sort of damping or a lot of diffusion. Into a pair of Neve 1073s and LA2a.s It can sound gigantic. Or, there's always this.  |
|
|
|
Post by tyford on Mar 7, 2017 20:36:38 GMT -6
This big enough?
Regards,
Ty Ford
|
|
|
|
Post by chasmanian on Mar 7, 2017 20:57:31 GMT -6
love it.
beautiful, Ty.
|
|
|
|
Post by tyford on Mar 7, 2017 21:12:26 GMT -6
Thanks Chas,
1969 D-28s. Bought it new. It's always sounded big by itself. One mic on the sofa arm. Schoeps CMC641. Stereo reverb (and a little skanky phaser) on the C part.
Regards,
Ty Ford
|
|
|
|
Post by Ward on Mar 7, 2017 21:41:42 GMT -6
Knock it off Ty... now I need to go and practice. You're like the guy who liked homework and made th great of us look bad. LOL!!
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,961 
|
Post by ericn on Mar 7, 2017 22:19:08 GMT -6
Knock it off Ty... now I need to go and practice. You're like the guy who liked homework and made th great of us look bad. LOL!! Yeah but that guitar is a year younger than me and Ty's got all his fingers so at least I have an excuse, as for the rest of you .... Great playing Ty ! |
|
|
|
Post by tyford on Mar 7, 2017 22:35:27 GMT -6
Geeze Ward, I think something's wrong with the Beaver.....and you're doing just fine.
The short cut capo's doing all the work. That and the acoustics of the room. I'm just along for the ride. Actually it's a "modified" Dropped D capo. The pad on the real short cut is too narrow to hold down the 543 strings. I had to get the dropped D and (measuring twice) cut the end of it off.
Thanks for the flowers,
Ty
|
|
ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,961
|
Post by ericn on Mar 8, 2017 7:24:58 GMT -6
Geeze Ward, I think something's wrong with the Beaver.....and you're doing just fine. The short cut capo's doing all the work. That and the acoustics of the room. I'm just along for the ride. Actually it's a "modified" Dropped D capo. The pad on the real short cut is too narrow to hold down the 543 strings. I had to get the dropped D and (measuring twice) cut the end of it off. Thanks for the flowers, Ty Ha I think you got it backwards Ty , they were along for the ride, put me in the same place and we all be laughing ! |
|
|
|
Post by tyford on Mar 8, 2017 10:24:37 GMT -6
 Laughter is the best medicine. Seriously, someone here can help, but I think ladder braced guitars are supposed to sound bigger. My D28s is such a guitar. Also, Last year I put new strings on my Harmony 12-string. Due to a brain fart, I bought all metal strings; phosphor bronze or something. The I got the beast restrung, I cold barely fret it. I recalled that Silk and Steel were my previous preference, but what to do about my recent purchase? I tuned down two semi-tones to D and found that worked and the guitar became bigger sounding. Just a thought. Regards, Ty Ford |
|
|
|
Post by Johnkenn on Mar 8, 2017 14:11:32 GMT -6
No kidding, man...that sounds amazing.
|
|
|
|
Post by tyford on Mar 8, 2017 15:06:15 GMT -6
Thank you, John..... Also in my clutches is a baritone Martin, tuned four semi-tones below where most people tune their guitars, and with thicker string gauges. I asked friend, John Seay to play while I moved the mics to what sounded right. I ended up with three mics (two Schoeps cmc641 and a Neumann U 89i) and the guitar's direct out. I recorded all four tracks and then created this one stereo track. There's a lot of blah, blah, blah up front, but then I have John play and I explain what we're hearing. The low end of the baritone is hypnotic and very sexy. And VERY BIG! Enjoy! soundcloud.com/tyford/ty-ford-grand-j-28lse-micing |
|
Laughter is the best medicine. Seriously, someone here can help, but I think ladder braced guitars are supposed to sound bigger. My D28s is such a guitar. 
