distance in x/y guitar miking

[badhorsie777]

I've just started tracking for a new project, at my home studio, and I've got a technique question... is there a preferred distance from, say, 2 sd condensors set up in x/y with acoustic guitars? Do you find that the stereo spread is BETTER further away, and does that outweigh the closer, fuller sound of being close?

Last night after futzing for a while, my favorite sounds were around 90degrees on the xy and I had the capsules around 6-10 inches from the body/neck joint. This morning I think it sounds too dang close... but further out lost that impact. Suggestions? Verbal slaps, i.e. you idiot, don't you know that blah blah blah...?

My equipment is mid-grade, but it's more of a technique question, so I posted it here for you expert types. In the past, my AT4050 about 12-18 inches out from the guitar gave a great tone, so I've got that to fall back on (guitar is a Larrivee 9-series *beautiful* guitar). Just wanting to get a more realistic (stereo) representation of the instrument.


Thanks,
-Matt

[Karloff70]

Would totally depend on where it needs to go in the mix. Is it the main thing? Is it not? If it is, and it wants to sound no frills real I prefer M/S personally, as that gives some size without losing simplicity and intimacy. Depends though. Both x/y and neck/shoulder can sound great. On x/y I always prefer the mics vertically pointing somehow towards the neck joint from over and under at 90 degrees (as opposed to from left/right).

Sounds like you need to fix the sound you're going for in your head still. And then you'll know how far is perfect when you hear it. Have fun.

[badhorsie777]

hmmmm... orienting them on the vertical axis is intriguing... that's one thing I'm SURE I didn't try. As for m/s - is this a good representation of the technique?

http://*****************************...hone_Technique

I have a sd condensor and a fig.8 capable LD condensor... thanks a ton for the tips - especially the vertical axis adjustments... I'll remember to be more "free" when moving the mics about and not feel locked into that side-to-side movement.


Any other tips to a guitarist looking for realistic representation? FYI - I was doubling the rhythm part, with each x/y panned hard. Maybe after all this, I'll realize that mono was a better, and much EASIER way to go for this application. that raises another question - when is it more appropriate to go mono, and when is it more appropriate to go wider (x/y, m/s, etc.)

-Matt

[Karloff70]

the vertical axis makes for a more balanced weight left to right in the spaekers, as top and bottom of the guitar (when lying in your lap) are more similar than neck to bridge ends soundwise. Whether this is desirable is preference. The M/S link doesn't work for me.....but if you google or search it on here you should get loads of info. As far as what's appropriate is totally subjective and a matter of context outcome desired. I'd check out the LCR thread that's running at the mo. There's loads of great positioning wisdom in there.....

[badhorsie777]

It's a link to wikirecording (dot) org... anywho - you've been incredibly helpful.

[Karloff70]

[Storyville]

As a general rule of thumb, XY is going to exaggerate the size of the guitar. Close up, you will get an incredibly wide, very much in your face guitar sound. Farther away will drive the image more centered, and give you more of the room sound. Far enough away and the room sound will rival the direct sound, and the image will go wide again - but you're really capturing the room and not the direct at this point. I don't generally use XY captures very close, I tend to use them as room captures - however, I generally include a spot mic in my set up.

Ultimately, the truth has already been stated - get the sound you want in your head, then the rest is much easier to obtain.