Recording Acoustic Band Live

[maku]

I need to record an acoustic gig - 2 guitars and 1 vocal - in an underground cellar bar that can hold about 50-60 people.

The band will be playing acoustic versions of their alt. rock stuff - one guitar playing loud chords, second guitar playing mostly lead melodies. Unfortunately both guitars are quite cheap and old, so not too great a source.

Supposedly the PA at the venue is decent, and I'll be using a Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 going into Logic on my laptop.

I have this selection of mics to choose from:

1 x Shure SM7b
1 x Shure Beta 87A
2 x Shure SM58
3 x Shure SM57
1 x Sennheiser MD421
2 x Rode NT5 (matched pair)
1 x AKG D112
2 x Sennheiser E904

I heard the singer doing an acoustic show with a Beta 87A before and the vocal had amazing clarity in the mix. However, I've recorded his voice in the studio before with the SM7b and it has an amazing warmth and body. So am unsure which to use for the gig.

Also what do people recommend I use for each guitar?

[Gerax]

Are you doing live sound reinforcement at the same time?
I'd go with the SM7b and Rode NT5 (or both) on guiar, for consistency. Vocals with SM58 (a tried and true standard) if the Beta87 isn't behaving as you like on that voice. I'd also use the guitar's D.I outputs if they are fitted with pickups.
If no other condensers are available I'd go with a pair of the SM57 for the room. You can also try 57s on guitars (a la Dylan) and use the NT5s for the room, but be sure to have a balanced sound on guitars.

Hoep this helps

[maku]

Thx for the response.

Yes, they'll be playing through the PA to a live audience.

I only have one SM7b, but 2 guitars. So if I was to put a NT5 on each guitar, should I also put a second mic on each - e.g. SM57?

Or do you mean the SM7b on one guitar and NT5 on the other - is one better for chords, one for lead?

I always prefer the Beta87 to SM58s, so will probably stick with it for the lead vox.

Is the SM7b likely to feedback more than the Beta87 if used on the lead vocals?

[GZsound]

I sould use the two NT5's on the guitars and whatever vocal mic you like best on vocals.

Simple panning on mixdown would provide ample separation in the guitars.

[maku]

Why is it that small condensers like the NT5 are better on acoustic guitar than dynamics like SM57?

[GZsound]

Originally Posted by maku

Why is it that small condensers like the NT5 are better on acoustic guitar than dynamics like SM57?

Try using each on an acoustic guitar and see if you find a difference.

I would suggest frequency response, transient response, etc. is better in a SDC than in a 57.