Oktava MK219 and SM57 to record acoustic...

gutsofgold · 20th February 2007

Oddly enough, I haven't done much acoustic guitar recording yet. My 57 and MK219 both get lots of use on drums but other than some quick demo tracks for my own acoustic songs, I havent recorded anybody else.

Before I go about setting up both mics or just one of them, is there any personal recommendations? I'm doing this for a friend and he needs them next week so tracking is limited to one night for a few songs

. I'm thinking of putting the 57 out front pointed at the sound hole and the MK219 a little further back to get some distant sounds.

Also, he will most likely be playing to a click. Would regular isolation phones be enough to keep the click from leaking into the mics or should I get some real isolated phones such as the kind you wear when shooting guns or construction?

Thanks.

Acoustic Cloud · 20th February 2007

Guts

You almost have to use the 57 close in front, because of the low output. I would try the 219 OH somewhere, like pointing down towards the bridge area, close to the players right ear. Spaced pair may not work too well with those mics, but try it anyway. Try alot of placements!

gutsofgold · 20th February 2007

Would there be a phase issue with 57 up close and 219 as an overhead?

BOWIE · 20th February 2007

I used to do this same set-up when i first started out and all I had was a 219 and a 57. I find that the 219 is great when you put it wherever your ear is (especially the older 219s). So, try it near the player's head looking down toward the fretboard around the 12th fret. The 57 is great by the hole though you should try to get it at an angle (still aimed at the hole) to reduce the boominess.

uncle duncan · 21st February 2007

Gotta watch out for that hole. Way too much bass there. Move the mics around with your headphones on. It's the only way you'll find the sweet spot, and it's always different for each instrument.
Phase could be an issue. If you can't flip phase on your pres or a digital mixer, and you have to do it destructively in your DAW, copy a 10 second piece of the 2 tracks to a new location and try it to see if it sounds better.
Those isolation phones are a good idea - for you so you can set the mics in the right spot, and then for the player, to eliminate the click track bleed. Also, if it's an inexperienced player, don't let him strum in that circular motion. If the pick isn't going directly up and down across the strings, you'll get this awful scraping sound, which is the pick running across the windings on the low strings, and it sucks.

20th February 2007	#1
gutsofgold Gear nut Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 142 Thread Starter	Oktava MK219 and SM57 to record acoustic... Oddly enough, I haven't done much acoustic guitar recording yet. My 57 and MK219 both get lots of use on drums but other than some quick demo tracks for my own acoustic songs, I havent recorded anybody else. Before I go about setting up both mics or just one of them, is there any personal recommendations? I'm doing this for a friend and he needs them next week so tracking is limited to one night for a few songs . I'm thinking of putting the 57 out front pointed at the sound hole and the MK219 a little further back to get some distant sounds. Also, he will most likely be playing to a click. Would regular isolation phones be enough to keep the click from leaking into the mics or should I get some real isolated phones such as the kind you wear when shooting guns or construction? Thanks.

20th February 2007	#2
Acoustic Cloud Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: around the corner Posts: 1,990	Guts You almost have to use the 57 close in front, because of the low output. I would try the 219 OH somewhere, like pointing down towards the bridge area, close to the players right ear. Spaced pair may not work too well with those mics, but try it anyway. Try alot of placements! __________________ If the Earth wasnt created, where'd all the dirt come from?

21st February 2007	#5
uncle duncan Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,585	Gotta watch out for that hole. Way too much bass there. Move the mics around with your headphones on. It's the only way you'll find the sweet spot, and it's always different for each instrument. Phase could be an issue. If you can't flip phase on your pres or a digital mixer, and you have to do it destructively in your DAW, copy a 10 second piece of the 2 tracks to a new location and try it to see if it sounds better. Those isolation phones are a good idea - for you so you can set the mics in the right spot, and then for the player, to eliminate the click track bleed. Also, if it's an inexperienced player, don't let him strum in that circular motion. If the pick isn't going directly up and down across the strings, you'll get this awful scraping sound, which is the pick running across the windings on the low strings, and it sucks. __________________ "You're either with a native DAW, or you're with the terrorists." G.W. Busch Lite

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20th February 2007	#4
BOWIE Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ. Posts: 3,231	I used to do this same set-up when i first started out and all I had was a 219 and a 57. I find that the 219 is great when you put it wherever your ear is (especially the older 219s). So, try it near the player's head looking down toward the fretboard around the 12th fret. The 57 is great by the hole though you should try to get it at an angle (still aimed at the hole) to reduce the boominess.