Tracking acoustic guitar this morning

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 2:21 am

Hi everyone. I have a client/friend coming over today to record acoustic guitar and then some vocals. I want to get the best tracks possible obviously and I have made some recordings in the past with acoustic that arent too bad. Let me just tell you what I've got and maybe you can tell me my best options. I have a Tascam DM-4800 and a single UA LA-610 for pres. Then I have a AT-4047, 2 AT-2020s, and an SM-57. I also have a Radial DI. I usually just use the 2020s at the sound hole and 12-14th fret with the DM. It's not too bad. The guitar this guy has is a really nice Martin with active electronics so I'll definitely take his direct signal too. But should I use his direct into my LA-610 or use a mic into the LA-610? I know there are a lot of possibilities and in the end, I'll make whatever I track work in a mix but I am also very intersted in your advice if you see a sure-fire winning combonation here. Thanks a bunch.

Eric

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 6:04 am

I will give you advice based on my experience. Studying this issue as I had all of my equipment in storage before setting up here in beautiful California, I had a chance to read, read and read some more. I am going from learned and hands-on experience here. A microphone delivers its best signal when it is applied the best gain source. That, in my opinion from your setup would be through the LA610. The onboard preamp on the acoustic will take care of, hopefully, adequate gain from the guitar. So I suggest your best LDC at the best angle you find with your ear from the acoustic and the DI or onboard signal from the Acoustic, based again, on your ear. And switch them around for another pair of tracks to play with as well, its your studio time, spend some time getting some different signals. Others may agree or disagree based on how they were trained or how they have grown. Hope I was of help.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 12:47 am

in my experience, i have never heard a pick-up sound half as good as the actual guitar (unless it's an Ovation, in which case both sound equally bad to me...), so i would put the mic thru the best signal chain.

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:08 am

lol- never a big fan of the ovation sound either.

I agree with antoniosolo for the most part, however keep in mind the slew rate on the 610 is so so....so some of the fast transient info will get smeared. However this may be good thing, I am not sure what sound your going for...

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:43 am

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I ended up using the pair of AT2020s into the Tascam and then took the direct line into the 610 as a DI. I'll post some results when I get some mixes going. I didnt get a chance to read any of your responses until after the session was over which is my fault for not posting the question sooner. I knew that I wanted a matched pair for stereo imaging and that I wanted a direct line too. I guess I could have used the AT4047 with the 610 and went direct to the board with the line out of the Guitar. I personally think the AT4047, despite all the rave reviews, is a bit picky about what it sounds good on. I thought it was kind of tanky or honky in a certain mid range on a female singer I recently recorded but I thought it did really well on this male singer I was recording this day. Anyway, I was thinking it might not be what I wanted in an acoustic guitar sound. I will post some mixes when it get's done but that will be a while. Thanks guys.

E

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