Best Mic for acoustic

[osharan]

Helloo all,

I've been micing my seagull acoustic with an m-audio nova straight into a soundcraft mixer but I don't find the recordings to be very good. I was considering purchasing a mic strictly for my acoustic. Can anyone recommend one that I can get for under $200 that will do the job?

thanks

[Herman Munster]

Look for a used Oktava MK-012. I like it on acoustic. If you can swing a matched pair they're not bad for overheads as well....

[feyshay]

Under $200. Hmm...
If you save up a little more you can get SDC's-- Shure SM81 or AT 4051.
I don't know of anything decent under $200.
A little higher yet Oktava MK012 or if you want a better versatile LDC--AT 4050.
Have you tried a Shure SM57?
Of course, the mic change may not do the trick--think of mic placement, room, preamp.

[GordZilla]

+1 for the Oktava 012!
and ++1 for the Shure SM81 (if you can find a used one under $200)

IMHO...Some other mics worth considering in this $200 budget range...(We're talking singles here and not pairs).

- Kel Audio HM-1 (SDC)
- Audio Technica AT3035 (LDC)
- Audio Technica AT3031 (SDC)
- Studio Projects B-1 (LDC)

Just to name a few.

Something to keep in mind amigo... careful mic placement is probably 75%-85% of your sound, regardless of what mic you use. Don't be afraid to put the cans on and move your mic around until you HEAR a nice sweet spot.

Regards

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by osharan

Helloo all,

I've been micing my seagull acoustic with an m-audio nova straight into a soundcraft mixer but I don't find the recordings to be very good. I was considering purchasing a mic strictly for my acoustic. Can anyone recommend one that I can get for under $200 that will do the job?

thanks

You'll should use two (2) SDCs for mic'ing an acoustic guitar (place one around the soundhole/bridge area & the other near the 12th fret...move them around until you get the sound you hear in your head).

With a $200 budget, you have two choices:

A. MXL 603s (or 604)

B. Behringer ECM8000

There are cheap mods for both of these mics (google search) that modders claim can get them to Schoeps and Earthworks specs.

Good luck...

Steve

[Acoustic Cloud]

Originally Posted by DamnYankee

You'll should use two (2) SDCs for mic'ing an acoustic guitar (place one around the soundhole/bridge area & the other near the 12th fret...move them around until you get the sound you hear in your head).

With a $200 budget, you have two choices:

A. MXL 603s (or 604)

B. Behringer ECM8000

There are cheap mods for both of these mics (google search) that modders claim can get them to Schoeps and Earthworks specs.

Good luck...

Steve

ecm8000 is a 1/4 in omni mic.

[camerondye]

If you have a seagull I imagine you are going for the James Taylor sound, and I heard at 1 time he used SM81 mics for acoustic so you might want to find a used one of those. I use them on OH's & HiHats also, they work great.
Good Luck,
Cameron

[osharan]

great advice! Thanks guys.

[Herman Munster]

Originally Posted by DamnYankee

You'll should use two (2) SDCs for mic'ing an acoustic guitar (place one around the soundhole/bridge area & the other near the 12th fret...move them around until you get the sound you hear in your head).

With a $200 budget, you have two choices:

A. MXL 603s (or 604)

B. Behringer ECM8000

There are cheap mods for both of these mics (google search) that modders claim can get them to Schoeps and Earthworks specs.

Good luck...

Steve

I'm not sure I totally agree with this statement. I've gotten great acoustic tracks using a single SDC at 6 inches from the 12th fret. I don't doubt that using 2 is effective, but it's not the only way. You also have to be careful around the soundhole so you don't get boom. In my experience a boomy guitar can be difficult to work with. There's not a right and wrong, but perhaps a better and best. The question here is would he be better to track the guitar with one SM81 or Oktava MK-012 or 2 MXL 604's. I'd probably take the SM81 or Oktava.....

[conguero]

AT 4033 all the way!

[ghetto3jon]

i like the AT4047 on solo acoustic, and SM81 on acoustic guitar in a mix. on ebay, they may be in that price range. you can check out some samples of each i made here:

SM81 / AT4047 Comparison (Audio Links) - Home Recording dot com BBS

but mic placement is just as important as the mic itself. if you don't like your sound, maybe your technique could be tweaked.

[warhead]

MK-012 all the way. I pick it over my KM84's quite often on acoustic guitar.

War

[kcmoonshine]

Originally Posted by conguero

AT 4033 all the way!

2nd that. Great on acoustics.

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by Acoustic Cloud

ecm8000 is a 1/4 in omni mic.

yes...it is omni pattern, but it is an electret condensor.

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by Herman Munster

I'm not sure I totally agree with this statement. I've gotten great acoustic tracks using a single SDC at 6 inches from the 12th fret. I don't doubt that using 2 is effective, but it's not the only way. You also have to be careful around the soundhole so you don't get boom. In my experience a boomy guitar can be difficult to work with. There's not a right and wrong, but perhaps a better and best. The question here is would he be better to track the guitar with one SM81 or Oktava MK-012 or 2 MXL 604's. I'd probably take the SM81 or Oktava.....

Doesn't matter if you or I totally agree or not; the two mic technique is the standard to record full bodied, accurate acoustic guitars. And given his $200 budget, the MXL 603s are going to be his best option.

I just remembered...Jon @ Naiant makes outstanding omni condensor mics that are under $50 (Naiant Studio Store - Microphones).
If you order two, he'll match them free of charge. He also has audio samples of acoustics: Naiant Studio

DY

[feyshay]

Originally Posted by DamnYankee

Doesn't matter if you or I totally agree or not; the two mic technique is the standard to record full bodied, accurate acoustic guitars. And given his $200 budget, the MXL 603s are going to be his best option.

I just remembered...Jon @ Naiant makes outstanding omni condensor mics that are under $50 (Naiant Studio Store - Microphones).
If you order two, he'll match them free of charge. He also has audio samples of acoustics: Naiant Studio

DY

The technique of at 12 fret and bridge. Are you using this in a stereo configuration. If so, are you not getting more bass/boominess on the bridge side of the stereo field? How far from the guitar are the mics? I find it less noticeable when in X-Y configuration at the 12th fret. The one pointing more toward the hole is more booming but not as noticeably.

[DamnYankee]

Originally Posted by feyshay

The technique of at 12 fret and bridge. Are you using this in a stereo configuration. If so, are you not getting more bass/boominess on the bridge side of the stereo field? How far from the guitar are the mics? I find it less noticeable when in X-Y configuration at the 12th fret. The one pointing more toward the hole is more booming but not as noticeably.

Depends on several factors: type of guitar, player technique, aggressiveness of the player, etc. I personally use the over the shoulder method - very similar to this pic:

[YRLK]

MK-012 has bigger bass (not always a good thing, btw) and more crisp highs than the SM-81. For most dreadnoughts, which typically have a slightly scooped mid-range, I prefer the SM-81 over the MK-012. You can always bump the EQ from the 81 to give it just a touch of high end - IF you need it. Of course, the 81 also has two low cuts built into the mic, which can also be very useful in creating a just-right shelving right into your record.

Just a thought. But make no mistake, both mics are great - ESPECIALLY, for the money.

[Janesaid2me]

Mk-012....just bought a used one at a store for 50 bucks...thats right only 50 bucks...and honestly it sounds phenomenal on acoustic. I also have a mxl 603 and thats not to shabby either. The two blended together sounded perfect!

[osharan]

I'm leaning towards the at3035. What do you all think? Also, I listened to the samples that were posted(great playing). I didn't notice too much difference between the audio technica mic and the sm81 which led me to look at the at3035.

Anyway, what are your opinions on the M-audio nova? I've even tried using an AKG c9000 (i think that's more of a vocal mic) and still have no success. The recordings always come out sounding so brittle.

[88fingerz]

MXL 603's...fantastic pair for the price!

[rdc333]

AT 4047, very reliable, hard to make it sound bad.
Maybe used at that price ?

[Tom Hakala]

AT4040 works well on many things. Ain't too pricey either. Easily the best LDC under $300 that I have used.

[feyshay]

Originally Posted by osharan

I'm leaning towards the at3035. What do you all think? Also, I listened to the samples that were posted(great playing). I didn't notice too much difference between the audio technica mic and the sm81 which led me to look at the at3035.

Anyway, what are your opinions on the M-audio nova? I've even tried using an AKG c9000 (i think that's more of a vocal mic) and still have no success. The recordings always come out sounding so brittle.

I have the Nova in my locker. I never bring it out.
If your looking at vocals, then an AT 4050 would be a consideration for its versatility. I think it works well on acoustic guitar and vocals and is about the best you could do in the $350 price range.

[HH2]

AT4033, SM81 thumbsup

[teachingking]

FYI - I'm about to put a pair of MXL 603s on Ebay. If you're interested, I'll sell them to you for $85 shipped. Hard to beat for the price.

[tINY]

As you can see there are a lot of preferences and opinions. You need to find one that works for you.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is your acoustic space that you record in. Even in good rooms, one mic will be a little better than another - then it reverses in the next room you try it in....

Another mic to look at is the AT u873r - it's a little less sensitive to the room (which means that it picks up less ambience too).



-tINY

[Acoustic Cloud]

Originally Posted by tINY

As you can see there are a lot of preferences and opinions. You need to find one that works for you.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is your acoustic space that you record in. Even in good rooms, one mic will be a little better than another - then it reverses in the next room you try it in....

Another mic to look at is the AT u873r - it's a little less sensitive to the room (which means that it picks up less ambience too).



-tINY

Amen, room= biggest factor.

[fova]

Oktavas that were mentioned or some other good stereo pair of "pencils" such as SE Electronics SE3.
SE3 have little hyped heights but works well on acoustic instruments.

[Thierry]

I did record some with real cheap MXL 991
I was not disappointed with it...

Peace
Thierry