Record Acoustic Guitar with One Mic?

[@bhouglum]

As an guitar player, I wholeheartedly agree that the best "recording" of the instrument is capturing the acoustic sound rather than the on-board electronics of the instrument. However, when I record, I typically use a microphone AND the on-board electronics into separate channels. The mix will be primarily the microphone with a little of the guitar pickup in the background. I am new to home-recording, so I am still learning! I did find some very useful tips in this video today!

[@todd_douglas_music]

Same. I use 2 mics at 2 different locations on the guitar (usually one neck and one on the body) along with the DI track. The mic tracks get hard panned and the DI track is in the middle just a bit if needed to ensure the AG line is articulate. Also make sure to time align the tracks to address phase issues.

[@jazzlehazzle]

This. Makes it easier to fill in what the mic is missing & round out the tone if you can't place the mic perfectly.

[@maximeblais2032]

“My dad collects flashlights” remains the sentence of the day 😂 love it !

[@krishnachoudhari.youtube]

I only have one mic and I use it to record the mid channel, I use the inbuilt bridge pickup for the side channel using a mixer matrix. Sounds pretty good.

[@Dubstar86]

Joe, I really appreciate all of your content. I watch everything you put out on this channel and also on Recording Revolution. Your delivery is wonderful. You’re funny, down to earth, honest, and genuine. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and gifts.

[@kleinjohnson5734]

I love to watch your videos, and I agree with you as a general rule. I usually do some type of DI and at least 1 mic when recording my acoustic guitars. However, last week I was recording some guitar for a cover version of a song, for a client. While kicking around ideas of how I wanted to track the acoustic guitars, I plugged my Takamine into my WA73 mic pre, rolled off at 80Hz and hit the red button. It sounded so nice, and since I accidentally played nearly mistake free, I left it. Then I "doubled tracked" the same part using my Taylor with "Nashville Strings" through same Pre and setting. WOW!!! One panned left 50 and the other right 50... The sound gave me chills. It surely won't be that amazing for every song, but man... Keep up the awesome videos.

[@JordanMillsTracks]

been producing for ages but never thought of that flashlight analogy, it's brilliant

[@bzkjim]

This is by far the best video i 've ever seen about recording acoustic instruments!!! Thank you!!!

[@Celticsaint777]

I started recording acoustic guitars with the xy method you recommended in a previous video. With the xy being able to be folded upon themselves makes a great balanced tone. I then double track and pan right and left. 4 today tracks instead of two but it sounds perfectly balanced

[@Logicalhuman83]

Been listening to your channel for a while and love your stuff it’s been very helpful. Have to say, your analogy of the flashlight is so mind opening for me. I learn well with good analogies and visualizations. This video, not to belittle the others, is by far the most eye opening for me personally

[@ianwathen7885]

Cool video. Actually looking into doing this for my next song and looking for insight.

[@ChunterInfo]

I'm glad I'm not the only one pointing the mic at the headstock or the strap button just because that's what sounds best

[@Uatu-the-Watcher]

Arrested Development bit. Nice. :-)

[@TheHirade]

Always do record the line of the guitar too. It's free, costs no time, and you have a clean backup incase of you need to fix some issues or tiny parts later on.

[@AllenShadd]

YT algorithms steered me to this. Glad they did. Nice job, well done. I record acoustic guitar demos for various clients. High end guitars, boutique stores (Dream Guitars being one), as well as recording on my own in a basic home studio. How I record and how I mix totally depends on what the track will be used for, but you absolutely hit the bulletin points.

[@trward07]

Great video Joe! My question to you is how much of a difference does the particular room you're recording in make? I feel like it's best to probably go into as "dry" a room as possible, but maybe not always? Would love to hear your thoughts on this!

[@olearyml57]

Brilliant flashlight analogy ... you are a born teacher

[@DamianBrennan]

Thanks Joe.This is really helpful. I am using an Apex 460 and wondering if you have or can do a quick video on the different settings on the dial? Thanks!

[@officialWWM]

This is a very helpful video. Could you please do one on recording a guitar and vocal at the same time and your approach to mixing them. Cheers.

[@ronwalczak7120]

Your amazing bud Thanks so much

[@lj5899]

FANTASTIC tutorial sir! I have about a bazillion questions but think I'll just watch a bunch of your other videos first! Thank you for the great content!

[@TheSantbanerjee]

You really really have a great good voice....and I can guess you are an emotional great singer.

[@kihoalurocks]

I like experimenting with mic placement for acoustic guitar. I usually plug in direct but then use various microphones at different locations and then choose the best sounding one (or ones). I rarely use just one mic. Just my personal taste.

[@richwebster117]

It's not harsh at all Joe, the pupil should be exercising humility and willing to accept honest appraisal, otherwise how else are they going to learn? I for one certainly learned a grest deal from this, so thankyou!

[@VacantCityDrifters]

have found that picking hand location determines the sound even more than mic location, so striving for intentional RH technique is at least as important ... ive alo wondered why they dont put a mic near the player's ear ... i know i adjust my playing so that the sound that hits my ear sounds good, so a mic placed there seems to make sense

[@raymondspagnuolo8222]

Very helpful, as usual!!! Thanks.

[@chrisw5742]

I use an omni mic. An EV 235 n/d-b into a cloudlifter.

[@jasper_north]

Here is one, best ribbon for recording vocals and acoustic guitar at the same time? Thank you.

[@Sweetmanthanks]

Thank you for the tips, especially the stuff about the intitial point of reference for mic placement. I personally use up to 3 mics all running to their own tracks when recording acoustic, it supplies insane dimension and all the color I could ever need to shape the sound in the mix.

[@JeffHuntMusic]

4:24 "Those are balls!" Classic set up from AD.

[@bboyingboyoyong6444]

Amazing vidéo a while brunch of extremely useful informations and it puts you in such a good mood hard top comment mdr

[@TheOnlineBusker]

I love this video, and that Gibson!! I'm so guilty of putting the mic right up on the guitar, mainly because I record the performance, singing at same time. I use the "Warren Huart method", SDC pointed very close to the bottom shoulder of the guitar, and I'm happy about the separation by doing this, but guess what? Sounds nothing like that amazing full guitar you strummed a couple times here! I'm guessing it might be an idea to try using a LDC a little bit away and to hell with worrying about the separation, right?? It's not like it's gonna be mixed one thing at a time is it!? Cheers Joe, I'm inspired to have some fun with it again! ♥

[@HomeStudioCorner]

You can also get pretty good separation by placing the mic above the guitar, a little bit, and angled away from the singer. The microphone is technically closer to the singer, but when it is angled away, you get pretty good rejection.

[@ericpeterson9336]

Hi Joe. Thanks for all you do. I learned a ton from you. My question is this. How often do you use your Presonus Pre-amp, the 600 or 700 when recording acoustic or vocals and how often you use your Eleven Rack? I use my Eleven Rack quite often and I recently acquired a Focusrite Producer Pack. I have 2 Austrian made C1000's and an AKG P420, I seem to like the 420 more for the acoustic.... .thanks .

[@jimhart1959]

Yes…wasting time by trying different mic positions! That ‘wasted’ time is how I eventually figured out what mic positions work best for me. I still ‘waste’ some time fiddling with mic position every time I sit down to record an acoustic.

[@adrianbloommusic]

Hello Joe. Your channel is awesome. I just found it few days ago but I am totally in love with it. I also have J45 and it will be great if you will share with me the brandname of your favorite strings set for this beautiful guitar. Thank you and keep rolling :)

[@b1j]

Joe, you’re so knowledgeable. But I rarely hear you talk about room acoustics. Good-enough mic, J-45/D-18/HD-28, good playing talent, good mic placement. All good. But a room with flutter echo or resonances can ruin the recording on its way through the cable, before the DAW ever does its thing. Or do you disagree?

[@thehotcorner3337]

Offset sound holes present some other challenges that may require placements different that what you would expect.

[@ben-jammin2284]

Agreed! I have a McPherson with an offset sound hole and have yet to find the best spot to record it.

[@BrianHoffpauer]

Joe, could you explain how you feel about recording acoustic guitars direct? Not sure I got what you were trying to express...

[@beachforestmountain4269]

Sound comes from all areas of the guitar, so when you only capture the sound at the position of a pickup, you won't get the whole sound of the guitar, just a little bit of the sound at the position of the pickups. If you record it using a microphone, you'll get a recording that is closer to the sound that your ears hear when the guitar is being played.

[@richwebster117]

To me, it's because the sound of the D.I. is not representative of the character of the guitar in terms of harmonics, warmth and resonance, (as Beachforestmountain explains well) giving you a somewhat harsh and metallic tone. However, in live situations it is useful in helping eliminate feedback, level consistency and in cutting through the mix too.

[@Squidaniel]

The senior portrait comment got me 😂

[@lawrencemanlapaz3471]

I started my own bedroom studio and unfortunately it’s not treated just as the typical studio and it’s hard for me to record an acoustic guitar thru microphone without picking up noises in my background. So I prefer to use the built in pickup just to record clean and dont get any bleeding in my mix. I can say that using built in pickups is not a terrible terrible way to record an acoustic guitar, I understand we love the real raw acoustic sounds to capture but for those less fortunate and aspiring bedroom studio producer like me, I guess built in pickups are a life saver when you dont have a quiet place to record.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

In my opinion, acoustic with a little noise sounds infinitely better than DI acoustic.

[@danielrappholz]

Have you ever tested or heard of the Audio Sprockets ToneDexter?

[@northernengland]

Brilliant

[@ajfedz]

When you said you posed for a senior portrait, I thought you were referring to "senior citizen". lol

[@chromatic-me]

Hi Joe - useful video, thanks. I only do basic AG recordings to sit in the background of the mix but I use a Zoom H2n recorder set to mid-sides that gives some stereo field and is adjustable in the mix. But really I want to reiterate another question from the comments here - is it possible to get an acceptable AG recording in the way you describe, in the average bedroom studio where there may be little or no acoustic treatment?

[@goodheartmedia]

Slight disagreement about recording direct - you can get interesting results if you double the part and record one of those parts direct. Then blend it in with the part that's recorded with the mic. It can reinforce the mids and almost sound like a clean electric, but not quite...and sometimes I'll add chorus or other effects to the direct signal, but leave the rest alone, then blend in the direct 10% or 20% just for something a little different.

[@cnewman99]

This close- they always look like landscape

[@johndavidtice]

Former guitar salesman here. Around 2016, there was a substantial increase in people who were only interested in acoustic guitars with USB ports on them. "I want to record and this just makes it easier, and my friend told me there's 'really no difference' in the sound." Most salespeople can tell you that there's simply no way to dig someone out of something a friend told them, since they're the trusted friend and you're the stranger who "just wants to make a sale." I'm glad the USB acoustic fad died quickly.

[@DreamsongsProductions]

AT4050...best mic on a budget for acoustic guitar recording....

[@AndyMangele]

"It infuriates me, but that's OK!" 😂 Children grow up fast anyway to face the same problems with their own kids. 😂😂

[@nealhathaway2004]

I put a direct into one track and a mic on another track.

[@w.Izzy.]

Casio duro?

[@GaryCunninghamyouareenough]

🤘🙏🤘

[@cliveburgess4128]

Well, this will probably sound stupid, but I could never get a good sounding acoustic guitar track, I liked what I heard when practicing etc. but not when recorded, so i thought, why not put the mic where your ears are, surprisingly, it was an improvement, so that's what i do now,

[@sgg6927]

Interesting.. So are you saying have the mic higher up near ear level ?

[@ARrocks12]

Hey Joe, I have one question. Maybe you or anyone else here can help m on this. I get a really good sound recording my acoustic guitar with a mic, but my problem is I ALWAYS HERE ME BREATHING on the recording (especially when I have a slight cold). How can I avoid this?

[@TheHirade]

Place a pop filter between your mouth and the microphone. Or, wear a mask like we had to wear in the last years, that helps too.

[@ARrocks12]

Thanke for the answer. A pop filter doesn't work good enough. And I'm a little bit sick of wearing a mask ;-)@@TheHirade

[@TheHirade]

@@ARrocks12 The problem with breathing noise on recordings is well known. We record a lot of acoustic guitars, and almost every guitarist has this problem. You just have to breathe more quietly, and hold your breath in quiet passages, if necessary. The masks has a real benefit for once, so look on the bright side ;)

[@ARrocks12]

Sorry for me answering late. Thanks for the answer! Though I thought there migth be an easier way, at least I don't feel like an idiot any longer since you tell me that almost every guitarist has this problem ;-)@@TheHirade

[@SuperHarl007]

First check that your mic is not omnidirectional that is can pick up sounds from all directions the make sure it's placed correctly focusing on the instrument then gently bite on your lips while playing and try to breathe as gently as you can. I think using a cardioid mic helps a lot with that actually. Or try to do it with a dynamic mic if it's not working out well enough.

[@oinkooink]

Doesn't mention preamp gain settings

[@cgsmithinnola]

How's that new air hockey table treating ya? :)

[@BamRoberts]

Did he say flashlight or fleshlight? Asking for a friend

[@steveanstice]

You missed a few "terribles" there Joe.

[@fragslap5229]

Jeez, over 15 minutes of BABBLKE anddid he EVER get to the point of discussing HOW exactly to record with one mic?

[@reddillon8425]

If you can’t put the time and effort in to actually listen to a guy telling you everything you need to know about recording acoustic guitar, and instead you’re just looking for a quick “put mic here, play guitar like this” tiktok video, then music production is not going to work out for you. Might be time to go get a producer to handle that for you.

[@ronnyskaar3737]

Sorry, but this was a lot of talk and very little guitar recording.

[@rewind2play]

Why are you sorry, Joe is the king of waffel. But his knowlage is good..

[@ronnyskaar3737]

@@rewind2play 🤣

[@reddillon8425]

If you can’t put the time and effort in to actually listen to a guy telling you everything you need to know about recording acoustic guitar, and instead you’re just looking for a quick “put mic here, play guitar like this” tiktok video, then music production is not going to work out for you. Might be time to go get a producer to handle that for you.

[@YourFavouriteColor]

Joe ole' buddy. For once we totally agree about how unbelievably awful an acoustic pickup sounds. For those watching, it's literally a bypass. It's listening to the saddle of the guitar, so there's no point to even having an acoustic instrument. And trust me. The minute anyone in the industry hears that telltale farty, nasal, awful sound of an electric-acoustic, they will immediately dismiss the record out of hand. Mic your acoustics, people! Listen to Joe. I'll go further and even say that, whenever possible, mic your acoustic live too. I know you have to stay in a stationary spot, but IMO it's worth it for the immense increase in sound quality. Watch old Johnny Cash performances from the 1970s. He's always got a D-35 miced up, and he does just fine! and most importantly, it SOUNDS good!

[@TheHirade]

There is a pickup for acoustic guitars using a mic, that sounds great. But it costs 700 $. I play live and it's simply the best choice. And I play fingerstyle, not only strumming. I the studio, we always record the line too. Just to have a clean backup in case of.

[@YourFavouriteColor]

@@TheHirade the internal mic is BETTER than a saddle pickup, much better. But it still doesn't compare to the real thing because the diaphragm is too small and too close to really "listen" to the acoustic in a proper way. Also, it adds weight to the body which dampens it IMO. It's just not ideal, but yes. ANYTHING is better than piezzo farts.

[@G5Hohn]

Fifteen minutes of talking about recording and not a single bit of actual recorded guitar sound. Maybe a bit more showing and less telling.

[@bitburg40]

No guitar just 16 minutes of blah, blah, blah. 🤮

[@KKMcK1]

Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe . . . My Rickenbacker 330/12 was stolen. Now, my bestchance of replacing it is using the direct piezo from my acoustic 12 and messing with that signal path to do my best to 'replace' my missing 330/12. So, to say not to use the piezo out on an acoustic is crippling at least. That is, if it is being used in an extremely creative manner.