Mic for live recording of acoustic guitar

Beech · 16th July 2002, 06:06 PM

Hi,

I'm recording a band and orchestra soon and I'm looking for suggestions as to how to capture the guitars. Obviously I will take the pickup but if I could find some really small mic to place in the guitar it would give me options in the mix. Last year I tried an Earthworks omni but I just could no get the players to stay close enough to the mic. Any help greatfully received.

Tubelover · 16th July 2002, 06:46 PM

One of the miniature DPAs would do a great job if placed on the instrument itself.

http://www.dpamicrophones.com/eng_pub/

How many guitars are you trying to mic individually though ?

Beech · 16th July 2002, 08:15 PM

Thanks Tubelover, I'm dealing with two acoustic players but now that I've seen these DPA 4021s I might consider hiring a bunch of them. I didn't mention it but there is also a small matter of a 20 piece string section. I wonder who might have that many in stock in the UK?

Tubelover · 16th July 2002, 08:59 PM

Quote:

I wonder who might have that many in stock in the UK?

I know the top US rep for DPA. I'll send him an email and see if he can provide any info on who might have the mics available in the UK.

Tubelover · 17th July 2002, 03:47 PM

Daire I just emailed you from your studio's site with the UK DPA rep's email address and the contact info for the guy in Dublin who will have the mics available for hire.

Let me know if it works out.

Blake Long · 18th July 2002, 05:08 AM

AKG 451s always sound good on acoustics.

Tubelover · 18th July 2002, 07:05 AM

Quote:

AKG 451s always sound good on acoustics.

Very true, as do Senn 441s which are great because their pattern is very tight so you get good isolation in a live situation.

Dave Martin · 18th July 2002, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blake Long
AKG 451s always sound good on acoustics.

Except. of course, when you don't want that sound, and then something else is in order. For me that's pretty much all the time. I'd rather use THE mics, Shure KSM 44's, Neumann KM84's, 184's, or M582's - even AKG's 480's.

Tubelover · 19th July 2002, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Except. of course, when you don't want that sound,...

True as well, but that just brings us back to all the other variables as well, like what the guitar is and how it's being played.

As for 'THE' mic, for me that would be my DPA 4012s. They give you what's there, about as unembellished a sound as I've ever heard and a standard in orchestral recording for that reason.

RMJAZZ · 8th November 2005, 03:30 PM

I don't know if this mic would transfer well to a live environment, but the Royer SF122 has been my favorite to record acoustic guitar. It is a lot smoother than other mic choices since it is a ribbon mic.

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16th July 2002, 06:06 PM	#1
Beech Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dublin Posts: 636	Mic for live recording of acoustic guitar Hi, I'm recording a band and orchestra soon and I'm looking for suggestions as to how to capture the guitars. Obviously I will take the pickup but if I could find some really small mic to place in the guitar it would give me options in the mix. Last year I tried an Earthworks omni but I just could no get the players to stay close enough to the mic. Any help greatfully received.

18th July 2002, 05:08 AM	#6
Blake Long Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 7	AKG 451s always sound good on acoustics. __________________ longblake@yahoo.com

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16th July 2002, 06:46 PM	#2
Tubelover Gear maniac Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: So Cal Posts: 169	One of the miniature DPAs would do a great job if placed on the instrument itself. http://www.dpamicrophones.com/eng_pub/ How many guitars are you trying to mic individually though ?

16th July 2002, 08:15 PM	#3
Beech Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Dublin Posts: 636	Thanks Tubelover, I'm dealing with two acoustic players but now that I've seen these DPA 4021s I might consider hiring a bunch of them. I didn't mention it but there is also a small matter of a 20 piece string section. I wonder who might have that many in stock in the UK?

17th July 2002, 03:47 PM	#5
Tubelover Gear maniac Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: So Cal Posts: 169	Daire I just emailed you from your studio's site with the UK DPA rep's email address and the contact info for the guy in Dublin who will have the mics available for hire. Let me know if it works out.

8th November 2005, 03:30 PM	#10
RMJAZZ Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Washington D.C. Posts: 83	I don't know if this mic would transfer well to a live environment, but the Royer SF122 has been my favorite to record acoustic guitar. It is a lot smoother than other mic choices since it is a ribbon mic.