Tutorials
Tracking acoustic guitar
w/ Fab Dupont
Tracking acoustic guitar
11 min • 2010
Deutsch, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese
This tutorial will show you how to record an acoustic guitar.
Fab explores recording a guitarist with several cheap and less cheap microphones and compares the different positions for tone.
This video will help you form your taste and give you guidelines as to which microphones and which position to choose.
Microphones used:
- Studio Project C4
- Neumann 47Fet
- Shure SM57
4.5
18 reviews
BaveBaveBave • Tuesday, January 2, 2024
LICRYNO • Friday, December 29, 2023
One should theoretically have an 'idea' for where the sound will sit in the song/arrangement before recording. THIS by an far is the best way to position a mic. Every type of guitar (or acoustic instrument) speaks differently. Sounds of different freq pour out it all over the place and placing the right mic, like a camera, pointed at the spot is ideal. There are all kinds of give-and-takes with regards to room noise, performer (pic/hand/clothing/breathing/singing) noise, and unwanted things. Phase can be a nightmare when using multiple mics too. Here I am going on about it, but my discovery process of 'how to mic' an acoustic guitar has evolved over the years.
My #1 best trick, is to ask the artist to perform and move your head (human ear mic) around the guitar, noting to yourself what you hear, good and bad. From that point, you can then choose the mic that suits your end goals. If you really wanna learn, set up a bunch of mics and take away what doesn't work (if you have). IDEALLY for a solo performance, you want to be in a controlled studio environment and back off - which is showcased here.
4 stars because I'd like to have seen part 2, 3, 4, 5 , etc of this tutorial. Thanks for the starter kit!
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Daniel1001 • Monday, April 24, 2023
nicola.l • Sunday, May 23, 2021
Hi this is nice.
But what about exploring other positions?
I like also pointing at the two "horns" on the guitar and also to the bridge coming from the back
The position from the bridge is also the most comfortable as it doesn't get in the way
Garrett Riley • Saturday, December 8, 2018
Great video, makes me want explore all the possibilities . I would love to see a sequel to this video that covers stereo recording.
beschornermusic • Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Great Video. It opens my eyes a little bit more and give me something for my know how I had before. Thanks!
Manley • Wednesday, June 1, 2016
I always find strummed acoustic guitar much trickier than picked guitar,strummed guitar seems to produce the unwanted boom unless the mic is placed very carefully,i would luv to see some more in-depth videos regarding recording strummed acoustic guitars
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anxious • Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Hi, a position I always try when I'm recording acoustic guitars is in the area between the bottom of the bridge and the back end of the guitar. I put the mike about 40-50cms away. I find I get a full sound with very low resonance and little pick noise. Sometimes, above the guitar about where the head is and between the ears. As the man says,"check it out". Cheers.
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MicahTHartsock • Tuesday, September 30, 2014
(Cont from below...) But I love the c7fet on acoustic used much like the 47 is here
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LuLuMaster • Sunday, August 10, 2014
I would know more about what u'r calling "Sweet Spot of the converters" and how do you calculate it, if you please Fab :)
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juancopro-flow • Monday, July 29, 2013
hey fab, would you recommend recording acoustic with two mics, or one is enough and if so how would u go about recording it with two mics?
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tdavilio • Friday, November 30, 2012
I agree with Islandcode. When you move the mic to different positions, especially farther away , what are u using to keep the signal consistent? No finger style either is an oversight. I would rather have seen with one mic and what processing techniques u use.
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ALEXISCEDENO • Monday, July 16, 2012
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PoPe • Friday, January 20, 2012
I kinda like what the 57 does. Definitely sounds low-fi to me too. But it is more appropriate for what I do. Do not need all the details that a condenser would yield.
surfz247 • Wednesday, October 12, 2011
What type of acoustic is that?