The Best Mic For Acoustic Guitar? - Neumann Km184

I've used my Neumann Km184 for over ten years, it's my go to mic for recording acoustic guitar and playing live. I think this is the best mic for acoustic guitars and in this video I explain why!
Links to buy a Neumann km184:
EU: www.thomann.de/intl/neumann_k...
US: sovrn.co/1f7cqs0
(affiliate links, I get a few % if you buy through them)
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[@lukasdatree]

Hey Fabian, Thanks for the great recommendation. I've ordered a pair for the studio - been thinking about it for ages - this helped tip me over, so thanks.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hey Lukas, ah that's great. I'm glad you got some value from the video. 😊👍

[@rashidadams8327]

Thanks for the great video. Your playing is so emotive and beautiful 🤗

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate that 😊🙏

[@gitarrezeit2184]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing! Great sound, great microphone, great instrument, great playing! Best wishes, kind regards, Erich

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Erich, very kind words. Thanks so much for saying that. I'm glad you enjoyed it. All the best, Fabian.

[@dombosco1]

Beautiful presentation. Excellent playing and melody.. Bravo.. I just bought this mic today partly because of this video!!!

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Ronald, thanks for the comment. That's amazing that you bought the mic. Have you had a chance to try it yet? Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@SimonGoodallMusic]

That sounded amazing - also surprised it sounded great on vocals too! I have one - but never really realised it was so versatile! Ive just signed up and will be following your tutorials with great interest!

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Simon, sorry for the late reply. thanks for your comment! Oh yeah it's really great for vocals and all kinds of sources. Glad you found the video useful. Thanks, Fabian

[@jiggssingh1]

Lovely playing! I'll listen to more of your playing...maybe get some inspiration for me next videos 😊

[@AshkonHobooti]

Beautiful Lowden, great sounding mic, wicked awesome fingerstyle. Top notch.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it! 👍

[@SanjoyDasGuitar]

Nice your presentation,musicianship & really I believe your word .every serious musician need his/her own microphone for his/her own sound signature. Thanks a lot 😊🙏🏻

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Absolutely, this is something a lot of musicians overlook but it's so important. Thanks for your comment. ☺️👍

Amazing sound/playing man.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Lars, thanks so much! 🙂🙏

[@drivn4895]

Beautiful tune.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks! Glad you like it. 😊👍

[@RONNYMORRISMUSIC]

Amazing fabian!!!!! I am hooked on this one.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hey Ronny, thanks so much. Glad you liked the video. 👍

[@RONNYMORRISMUSIC]

@@FabianHollandGuitar amazing sound. Are you using two at the same time or?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@RONNYMORRISMUSIC thanks! I'm just using one km184 here. The other mic you can see is actually a dynamic mic from Beyerdynamic. I used it not to blend with the Neumann but to give myself another option later in post. Cheers

[@RONNYMORRISMUSIC]

@@FabianHollandGuitar perfect. I am using an old AKG 414 on my acoustics but think the neumann will blend just right. I truly appreciate this video for inspiration.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@RONNYMORRISMUSIC ah yeah the 414 is a great mic! I've mainly used it for vocals but I've heard people getting great results with it on guitar. Glad you got some inspiration from this video 👍

[@hermetech]

Thanks for the vid. I bought a matched pair of KM84s from 1977 a few years ago and my acoustic guitar mic quest stopped there. I usually try stereo micing but nearly always only use one of them in the final mix. They have a slightly flatter frequency response than the KM184 which you use, (which has more of an upper mid presence peak), but it's swings and roundabouts really, you can get glorious results with either. I've also recorded vocals, guitar amps, tibetan singing bowls and zithers with mine and always with great results! I still need to order a pair of the Omni KK83 capsules from Neumann for them. On my mic quest I also tried the Line Audio CM3 and the 3U Audio Warbler 127, both were very good and come in at significantly less than a vintage KM84!

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, sorry not sure if I replied to this or not? Some comments slip through the cracks and I never see them. That's amazing that you have a pair from 1977. Those older ones have changeable capsules right?

[@ddrumdude]

I'm looking to get this mic for recording my Hi Hat cymbals as apparently it is really good for that application. However, I can hear so much detail of your guitar playing through this mic, so it clearly is great for multiple uses. Loved your playing style, too. Going to listen to your music now!

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks for the comment. I'm glad you like the sound of the mic so much. It's insane how versatile this mic is. Anything you put Infront of it seems to just sound amazing. Glad you like my music, thanks for listening!

[@andrespadeto]

a very good alternative for Hi Hat and OHs is the AKG C541B!

[@ddrumdude]

André Spadeto I ended up going for the Lewitt 040MP pair for my overheads. Really good quality and detail for musicians on a budget. Still definitely got my eye on these Neumanns though.

[@SergeUnplugged]

Great mic , for those on the budget i would recommend Line Audio CM4 !

[@chrisapollo6676]

Good choice, bruh! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@artysanmobile]

There’s a reason they appreciate in value, even as we use them. It and the similar Schoeps CMC6 series are basically perfect microphones. I’m old enough to have bought these new for $300 and kick myself over it. I chose very different mics to collect and my collection is sorely missing KM84/184s. I rent them constantly. Small diaphragms will always beat large ones for accuracy.

[@RaysTrack]

Thanks. It's hard to find mic reviews that feature gentle fingerstyle on resonant guitars. My head's spinning with mic options and I was leaning towards the new Austrian OC818s (VERY expensive) or some AKG 414s but this recording using one Neumann has sent me back to square 1 :-)

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Ray, thanks for your comment. Sorry I put you back to square one 😂. Yes there's so many options out there it can be very overwhelming. Have you got a chance to try any of these mics before you buy them? I haven't got any experience with the OC818s but I've used the 414s a lot and they're also great mics especially if you want to record any vocals at any point the 414s is great for that. There's no one way to record a guitar and I know a lot of people like to use a stereo mic set up but I found just one Km184 works great for me, mainly because I do a lot of live recording so I need a very simple set up. I hope that helps. Thanks 😊👍

[@christianrooversmusic]

I’ve been torn between a C414 and Neumann TLM 103. Someone recommended this mic and after seeing this video I might go with one of these. It has such an honest, straightforward presence to it. You’re getting a great sound! If you have any tips for achieving a great acoustic guitar sound in post I’d be all ears. Just got hired to help a friend with his album.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Christian, thanks for the comment! Glad you enjoyed the video. Absolutely, even though the C414 and TLM 103 are both fantastic mics and would also be great for guitar I find the km184 has so much detail, I find it great for my playing style and the kind of sound I'm after. The clip from my music video was recorded with a producer friend of mine, we recorded it straight into a Zoom F8. I try to do as little as possible in post, I'm a big fan of LIVE recordings and getting as close as the sound you want before you press record. So all effects, compression and EQ I do through outboard gear before it goes into the recorder, and then little to no editing in post. But that's just me and the way I like to do things, I don't even have a computer in my studio 😂. Soon I'll be posting a video on tips on recording an acoustic guitar with one mic, it's more about obvious things like the room you're recording in, the guitar / strings you're using and the mic / position of the mic. Things like that.

[@legacyShredder1]

@@FabianHollandGuitar Small diaphragm mics will always have more detail. It takes less energy to move the capsule on a small diaphragm, where large diaphragm mics take more energy to move the capsule resulting in a non 1:1 transfer of information. This is not to say all small Diaphragm mics are created equal. The KM184 are fantastic mics.

[@atahate]

Go for C414 XLS. I learn miking acoustic guitar with a microphone with "peak presence" sounds very offending/forward on upper mids region, based on my experience on rode NT2-A vs sm81 vs Samson C02. (I was aiming at DEPAPEPE records) Now I sold my NT2-A. Also c414 xlii is more a "vocal" version of c414 xls, it has presence peak/boosted upper mids. Same on TLM102 vs 103. But if you like it, why not? It depends on what's your guitar role in a mix ^^ Cmiiw please ^^

[@ryanpahlkotter3888]

Very nice playing.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Thanks so much 🙏

[@PedroParamo1984]

Great!! Thank you!!

[@ryanrguitarist]

Sounds great! Would love to see that video of how you recorded your album

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Ryan, thanks! Yeah I plan on doing a video on that at some point. 👍

[@michaelmattioli7230]

I have a pair of km140s that were my only mics for decades: acoustic guitar, vocals, flute, sax, percussion, dialogue, strings, orchestra, sound effects, all sounded fantastic. I originally got them because they had other capsules available. After about 10 years when I finally had the money (I thought) to buy some of those capsules, unfortunately the prices went stratospheric. The 184 was the reason I bought the 140 and I a/b them a few times and found the 140 to have more bottom. Great mics.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks for the comment. Oh yeah I’ve heard lots about those little 140’s, never heard them personally though. That’s such a great idea with the different capsules! I’ve seen other mic companies do a similar thing.

[@wesleyhendricks153]

Hey...nice video. I don't really have a comment regarding this mic but would just like to say I almost clapped hands after you stopped playing but then remember I was only watching a video...lol.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks so much! Glad you liked my playing! 😊👍

[@wesleyhendricks153]

Sure! You play very good.

[@mickelachlan]

Awesome mics and surprisingly great for vocals as well. That Neumann mid is glorious! Had expensive Sennheiser, DPA and Schoeps for a long time and I always felt KM184 were just as good, often better in the mix. One of Neumanns best current mics. Not a fan of the TLM LDCs at all.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks for the comment. Oh yeah DPA's and Schoeps are also great! 😊

[@JasonFerguson1283]

Excellent vid. Thank you! Is that a fender super reverb behind you?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Thanks Jason. Ah I wish it was a super reverb! It's actually a little on going project of mine. It's one of these cheap Fender solid states and I took out the amp and turned it into just a cabinet and I'm looking to attach a small valve head to it like the Palmer eins amp for example.

[@ckrug32]

Amazing playing and amazing sound! Managed to snag one of these mics used for a great deal. Thanks for talking me down from buying a pair. Haha Do you always use the foam windscreen? Mine didn’t come with one and I’m wondering if it’s worth forking over $40 (if I’ll just be recording inside my home studio)

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks so much glad you liked the video. I don't always use it but I find it helps sometimes because I breathe quite heavily when I play and sometimes I've accidentally blown into the mic which of course is not great so this helps with that. Glad to hear you managed to grab one for a good deal. How are you finding it?

[@brooklynboy1000]

you also have a very nice sounding guitar. a guitar doesnt have to be very expensive. that setup and in tune, and nice strings.. and of course you are a very good musician too.. !

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks for the comment. Yeah absolutely, a guitar doesn't have to be expensive to sound great. I was actually thinking of doing a video about this very subject. 🙂

[@guitarreriabitar-guitarrad8302]

Gracias por la información 😍😍😍

[@NoCoverCharge]

i have worked in studios and this is the goto mic for acoustic....

[@ravinaidu5873]

Hello Fabian. Would this be good both for vocals also? Also what guitar are you playing ? Great tone similar Santa Cruz guitars. Love your music !

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Ravi, thanks for the question. It's not designed for vocals but I think it would still have a good sound. I use it for talking on all of my KZbin videos and I think it sounds great for that purpose. I still personally prefer to use a large diaphragm or ribbon mic when I'm singing though. I'm using a Lowden guitar in this video, they're hand made in Northern Ireland, beautiful guitars and yeah similar quality to Santa Cruz I should imagine although I've never played a Santa Cruz before. Thanks, hope that helps 🙂.

[@JPDC624]

Oh great. You just cost me 799 bucks because THIS is the sound I want from my Taylor. ;-D Beautiful playing, looking for your album now.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi there, thanks! 😂

[@ramencurry6672]

Warm Audio has a clone style of that mic for about half the price. I haven’t heard it but supposedly it’s good.

[@FLOSPhotographer]

Hello. I know you are saying the first recording example is just with the single KM184...but careful listening of the recording suggests it is in stereo. Did you have a second mic positioned somewhere else? The second recording example is obviously mono and sounds as such. Regardless...the 184 sounds great in your examples. Thank you for posting.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks for your comment. The first recording is just the one mic. There was another mic right next to the km184 but it was only to have another option later in post but we ended up just using the Neumann. Maybe it's because it's had a lot more processing in the mixing and mastering stages it sounds more stereo? I hired in a producer for that so I can't say exactly what plugins or effects he used. Glad you liked the sounds though. Thanks for watching!! 👍

[@andronikyegiazaryan3546]

Very nice misic !

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Thanks! 👍

[@nickgoogle4525]

Sehr schön gespielt. Berührt mich. Das ist, finde ich, was bei der Musik zählt. Deine Aufnahme mit dem KM184 finde ich auch gut. Wobei dein Soundingenieur aus dem Mono-Signal wirklich etwas heraus geholt hat. Es wäre genial, wenn Du mit dem Tonmann ein Update-Video machen könntest, wie aus dem Mono-Signal das räumliche Signal entstanden ist. Das KM184 finde ich teils bei Aufnahmen zu hell -- nicht immer. Hier die Aufnahme hat mir gut gefallen. Das neue CC8 (Austrian Audio) ist für mich eine interessante Alternative, da es nicht so hell wie das KM184 klingt. Ich hab' mir das Stereo-Set gekauft und mein erster Eindruck soweit ist für Gitarre und auch Stimme sehr gut. So, und jetzt auf zu deinem Album! Viele Grüße aus, kein Witz, Holland :-)

[@nickgoogle4525]

I thought you are German, but I seem to be wrong and you're an Englishmen in Berlin ;-) Not sure if you speak German. I very much enjoyed your playing in this video. In the meantime I listened to all your albums and am really touched by your music. You have a new fan. Looking forward to get the chance to hear you live in Holland one day hopefully! Regarding the mics: It would be great when you could make an update-video with your sound-engineer, who did a great job to come to a nice stereo sounding signal from the mono recording. In general I'm not so much a fan of the KM184. Not always, but often I find it to sound to bright, likely due the fall-off in bass and the treble boost. I just bought a CC8 mic and think it's an improvement over the KM184.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@nickgoogle4525 Hi, sorry I missed this, KZbin doesn't notify me of every comment that comes through and sometimes one or two fall through the cracks. Yes you're right I'm an English man in Germany, my wife is the native German. Are you from the Netherlands? I had an amazing tour in the Netherlands back in 2018, possibly the best tour I've ever had, I'd love to go back and play there soon. Thanks so much for listening to my musicas well, really glad you enjoyed it!! About the mic, yes I've been wanting to get my friend on one of these videos but he's not too keen on getting in front of the camera. Maybe I'll convince him one day. Thanks, all the best. Fabian

[@seattlevkk]

Nice Music and sound quality! Did you ever compare the Earthworks SR30 to the KM184. I'm trying to decide between the two for recording Nylon string. The SR30 is slightly more expensive but both are in the same ballpark. I currently have AT4040's and looking to upgrade to pencil mikes for easier setup. What Pres or recording interface do you use? I have an Apogee Duet which I think should hold its own with these mics hopefully.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks! I've never used the Earthworks SR30 so I can't say about comparing them but the KM184 is the best to my ears for my personal setup. I'm one of these strange musicians that doesn't use an interface. I like to go streight into the recorder and then do all the post in a computer. For my recent album I used a Zoom F8 field recorder and for this video I went directly into a Zoom H4N Pro with nothing at all added in post. I hope that helps. Thanks.

[@G5Hohn]

This is one of the most compelling demonstrations I’ve ever heard

[@MrCrashManly]

Very nice, I am looking for a nice acoustic mic, this is very helpful, thank you!... On the second music segment you said it was straight in to the recorder... can you say what effects or signal chain you were using on the first segment? Thanks!

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Charles, thanks for the comment. Yeah sure, on the first segment the Km184 is going into a Zoom F8 recorder, the preamps are really good on the F8. Then a tiny bit of EQ, compression and reverb in post. Hope that helps. Cheers

[@garymcaleer6112]

Upper frequency response was clear and sweet. When I recorded my violin @ the 3ABN video studio the 184 had a very tinny response. In fact, throughout the range the overtones were grating on the acoustic nerve. Now the mic was about 4' away and angled up at 45 degrees. But after proper EQ, all was well. And I have a great violin, a Peresson, so it wasn't like I was recording a cheese box! :^)

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Gary, thanks for your comment! That's interesting, I've also used the 184 on a violin but I didn't have any problems with the response at all. Yeah usually most things can be fixed with a little EQ, although I always prefer not to touch the EQ if at all possible.

[@garymcaleer6112]

@@FabianHollandGuitar I prefer straight-line myself.

[@JRandallS]

Choice of mic-pre will play a huge part in that thin sound from this mic.

[@garymcaleer6112]

@@JRandallS Agreed. I've known sound men unfit for their trade. Great with tech! Not so great with listening.

[@murphy625]

Great video really inspiring. I’m currently trying to get a decent recorded sound of my classical guitar and this helps a lot! What type of reverb would you recommend ? Im a novice when it comes to recording so open to ideas thanks

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Jezz, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I use a Lexicon mx200 unit for my Reverb. It all depends on what sound you're going for but for acoustic instruments most people like a very natural sounding reverb. I actually did a video on this recently but for reverb on pickups rather than mics. Are you recording into a DAW? A lot of programs have lots of different reverbs that you can just add to your recording.

[@murphy625]

@@FabianHollandGuitar Thanks for the reply. I’m using Logic Pro x which is great but probably too much choice when it comes to reverb. Just got to keep persevering to understand it all. I’ll check out those videos of yours. Thanks again👍

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@murphy625 No problem. Yeah sometimes there's too many to choose from for sure. That's one of the reasons I like using hardware to record instead of a computer. Sometimes by limiting yourself it can spark creativity.

[@DavidGriffis]

I'm on the never ending quest to find a good small diaphragm mic for my acoustic guitar. M2, SM81, 170... Everyone raves about this mic so I've ordered one and hope that it can bring out the natural beauty of my instrument.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi David, I'm too at a never ending quest, I'm constantly changing my setup but I guess that's all part of the fun. That's great, you won't be disappointed! 😉👍

[@teasquared09]

hows the mic?

[@puremusicdaz]

@@teasquared09 bump..

[@jasminr.671]

Hey Fabian -thanks for the great video-your playing sounds absolutely beautiful! I was wondering if you tried recording with the Oktava mk 012 mics or perhaps the lewitt lct 140 air? If yes, are they somewhat comparable/ similar to the km184? thanks so much!

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Jasmin. Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it. I haven't tried either of them unfortunately but thanks for letting me know about them. I'll be looking to do some comparison videos in the future so maybe that's something for me to look into. ☺️👍

[@jasminr.671]

Hey Fabian! thanks so much for letting me know-yes a comparison would be really awesome...:-) I was also looking at the Miktek C5 -they are built by hand in Nashville, Tn... but somehow from what I heard I sense that the Neumann is the winner!!! Nothing beats the Germans 😉

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@jasminr.671 I've never heard of the Miktek's but they sound great as well. In the end it's all personal taste and what works best for you and the sound you want but I fell in love with the Km184 over ten years ago and I've never looked back. 🙂👍

[@jasminr.671]

​@@FabianHollandGuitar ​ Gosh you shouldn't have told me-I like them too and from all the videos I've listened to, I've notice that they sounded best and have a very beautiful, detailed and balanced sound ...but they are kind up pricey for the stereo pair. Yes Miktek is a reallu great company -I own two of their condensor mics with US transformers - but I have no comparison to the Km184 and have a feeling that the Neumann is more pristine and detailed for acoustic and classical music.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@jasminr.671 True all Neumann's are expensive but for a good reason. Obviously It would sound amazing to have a stereo pair but you can still get a great sound with just one mic. That's all I used for my guitar on my latest album. I also use this mic for my live sound on stage as well so I've made back the money I spent on It 100 times over! I literally use this mic for eveything I do, I even use it in my in Zoom classes :-)

[@MrPianomanVII]

Hi Fabian, It sounds amazing! Wow! Which microphone preamb do you use?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks! For the video I'm just going straight into my Zoom H4N Pro and that's it! So what you're hearing is the very pure signal of the mic with no EQ or effects. For the little clip of my song I was going directly into a Zoom F8 and then some processing in post like EQ, reverb and mastering.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks! For the video I'm just going straight into my Zoom H4N Pro and that's it! So what you're hearing is the very pure signal of the mic with no EQ or effects. For the little clip of my song I was going directly into a Zoom F8 and then some processing in post like EQ, reverb and mastering.

[@MrPianomanVII]

@@FabianHollandGuitar That sounds good! A clear and realistic sound. I use also the Neumann KM184 and Zoom H4N as preamb, but I've some doubts by the combination in the sence of editing and mastering.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi @@MrPianomanVII, Ah great! yeah for me the Zoom is good enough for my videos and the only editing I do is in Adobe Premiere Pro and I just edit the Video and Audio together. But if I was going to do an official release on Spotify for example I think I would want the quality to be a bit better so I would either buy something else or go into a studio to record it.

[@AB-lx8cf]

I record sub par guitar playing mostly strumming, some plucking. Question is what’s it sound like when strumming? Most mics don’t handle it well and its super annoying. Plucking is fine but when you strum it tends to clip. This mic you are reviewing sounds amazing! Would love to hear some strumming patterns tho.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, it handles strumming very well. You just need to make sure the level isn't too high and you're not too close to the mic and it'll be fine. Here's a video made by Neumann where you can hear this mic with acoustic guitar strumming. It's at around 3:20 in the video. Thanks. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIfFYYiCgZt4gac

[@stanleynichols7300]

Does it work well with other acoustic instruments? I noticed you also have what looks like an oud and a charango on your wall. Quite the collection you must have. I also play various instruments and that's why I want to know.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Stanley, thanks for your question. I use it for all of my acoustic instruments and it sounds great with all of them. 🙂👍 Yep it's a Charango, the Lute is my wife's grandfather's and needs fixing unfortunately but I love the look of it.

[@mongoharry7765]

Sounds great....i wonder if I can get a sound like that live by mic'ing my acoustic and putting it in a small PA

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Thanks! Absolutely you can. This is what I do for my live shows. I combine it with a pickup in my guitar. I have to have a good EQ on the mic for getting rid of frequencies that cause me any feedback issues. Using an external mic is definitely the most natural sound you can get live.

[@Roddo731]

I’ve been looking at this mic for recording Acoustic Guitar it’s well above the upper tier of what I can afford, but I’ve come to the point where… If this is what I want if this is what I need to give up coffee, I give up donuts… I get a paper round… Whateveris wonderful playing is wonderful

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, only get what you can afford, if you can’t afford this right now then that’s okay, I started on an sm57 and built up from there. There’s plenty of other great SDC out there that might not sound as good as a Neumann but it might be good enough for what you need right now.

[@tommytramp]

Hello Fabian Great video Your playing Is beautiful , My question is .will it pick up acoustic guitar and vocals at the same time Well enough for videos ?I sing and Play acoustic wood body pre war style and a steel national guitar Blues and rags Roots music, as well as originals .I want to start out simple with these, All my Blues hero"s from the 20s and 30s made records With one mic,That sound great so What do you Think , Thank you for your time yours tommy😊

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Tommy, thanks for your comment. Technically yes it would be able to pick up both but I think it would be very hard to get the levels right between the acoustic guitar and the vocals, small diaphragm mics are more focused on whats right infront of them rather than a large diaphram would be easier to pick up both a lot easier. If I was you I would look at something like a Neumann TLM 102 or something like that. Or what could also be great is a ribbon mic, this is what all the blues guys used in the 20s and 30s and they tend to have a very natural sound and would be great for acoustic and vocals together. I actually made a video about this exact thing, check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIKcYZqQZ7ecmac

[@tommytramp]

@@FabianHollandGuitar Thank you for your reply the ribbon mic sounds great can you get a usb port adapter to use it in a mac pro? Will it even work in a laptop ? I know the blue yeti has a usb jack the yeti pro has both, I am very New at this I am not well versed in tec at all Its all new so THANK YOU for your help!!!!😇

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@tommytramp no problem. Yeah it will work with a laptop but you need to get an audio interface which converts it to a digital signal so the computer can read it. You can get some pretty cheap and half decent Audio Interfaces these days and they will definitely do what you want for now. They also give you the possibility to plug in different mics and other instruments if you should want the option later down the line. Hope that helps.

[@tommytramp]

@@FabianHollandGuitar THANK YOU YOU ARE AWSOME!

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@tommytramp You're most welcome. Glad I could help.

[@ericwan2071]

Sounds great, could it used to record a flamenco nylon string guitar, not sure if it sound good too?! And only one mic is ok right! Thanks for help

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Eric, thanks! Yeah absolutely it would sound great on nylon as well. Obviously the more mics you use the more choices you have in terms of experimenting with the sound but If you just want a very simple and easy setup that gives you a great sound every time then I would go for the km184. Would you be using this for in the studio or live?

[@ericwan2071]

@@FabianHollandGuitar Just saw your responde, thanks a lot, i would like to buy the Km184 just like yours, i will use it only for recording my flamenco guitar, simple and easy, by the way, your acoustic guitar is expensive. love your channel, thanks again!!!

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@ericwan2071 Hi Eric, sounds great! Oh yes Lowdens are quite pricey but they have an amazing sound and are very nice to play.

[@MarkMaysey]

Would it not even sound better with a pair of these? Just curious because I'm thinking of buying them in a pair. Thanks for sharing this!

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, yes absolutely a stereo pair would sound better I think for sure! I'm just showing that just one mic also gives a great sound. But if you can get a stereo pair then even better!

[@MarkMaysey]

@@FabianHollandGuitar Thank you for the response. I am looking at a pair of these in hopes of capturing the best sound possible for my acoustic guitar. I really appreciate the reply and wishing you all the best in your musical endeavors.

[@KevinP-jb6ig]

amazing, where you using two of these though in that demo?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Thanks! Hi, The other mic is a Beyer 201 but what you're hearing is just the Neumann. I recorded with the two different mics to then have more options in the mixing stage but in the end I went with just the Neumann.

[@KevinP-jb6ig]

@@FabianHollandGuitar thank you!

[@luciojara8267]

Hey fabian in the first demo you ae using a pair of these?, it don’t look like a single mic ....thanks sold one to me

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, The other mic is a Beyer 201 but what you're hearing is just the Neumann. I recorded with the two different mics to then have more options in the mixing stage but in the end I went with just the Neumann. Sorry, I know it's a bit confusing. I hope that makes sense?

[@Dannick]

Thanks i like that , i follow you 🎸🎶🎶💙🙏🏿🙏🌹 God is proud of you 😇

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Thanks for the follow. I'm glad you liked it. 👍😉

[@mongoharry7765]

That's a pretty nice thing to say to someone.

[@kitarnovainfo5939]

Hello Fabian, Have You for Your presentation. Have You, or any other in these comments maybe made a comparation between Neumann km 184 vs DPA 2011c? I'm not sure which to chose. Best Regards.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi there, thanks for your comment. I haven't compared the km184 with the DPA 2011c although I have used a few DPA mic's in the past and they also sound great I don't think I've used the DPA 2011c.

[@olarrist4273]

1:16 gorgeous music

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Thanks so much!! 😊

[@JasonFerguson1283]

Your guitar looks like a classical guitar but it is a steel string! Beautiful tone!! What builder?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Jason. Thanks, It's a Lowden guitar. They're hand made in Northern Ireland.

[@olaflanda]

@@FabianHollandGuitar can you tell which exact model it is?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@olaflanda Hi, yeah sure! The model is O10 with mahogany back and sides and Cedar top. 👍

[@JuanalaCubananana222]

Thanks. Just got the Newmann mini capsule “clip” mic and will have to get rid of it to get a pencil mic for live classical guitar. Problem is clip mic gets in the way of the hands :/

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks for your comment, glad you enjoyed the video! A really? That’s interesting because I might be getting my hands on one of those clip mics to try out. Thanks for mentioning that! I’ll keep that in mind when I try it.

[@yach1d]

So you're using 2 of the same mic to record the guitar? I'm curious to know why do you use it one on top of the other instead of spreading them "stereo" (positioned left and right) .

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks for your question. It's two different mics, the other one is a vintage Beyer mic, it's not mine though, it belonged to a friend who helped me with the recording. It was there just to have another option during the mixing stage but most of the songs apart from one on the album we went with the Neumann. We could of done a stereo pair if we had another Neumann but it was just easier to use one mic and to me it sounded great with just one.

[@reyj.7712]

Great sound, by the way, what is the brand of your guitar?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Thanks! It's a Lowden O10 with mahogany back and sides and Cedar top.

[@rgrgraterol]

@@FabianHollandGuitar you can make that guitar sound great with a behringer 30 euro mic... and your technique of course. Beautiful tone.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@rgrgraterol Ha! I'm not sure about that but thank you! That's true though, the most important thing is making sure what you're putting in front of the mic sounds good first. 👍

[@Majnun74]

This is exactly the way I’d like to capture acoustic guitar. Is there a way to hook this microphone up to (VOX mini actvh) amp with FX pedals?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Randall, thanks for the comment. Do you mean plug the mic into the amp? Or use the mic to pick up the sound of the amp? Cheers

[@skakdosmer]

If I owned a pair of Neumann KM184, I'd probably just stick to them. But I don't. And listening to various samples, I just liked the similarly priced Røde TF-5 better, so I bought those instead.

[@ryanshook8284]

Are you still digging them? How are they working out? Been thinking about those

[@peterpulpitpounder]

On the guitar, it looks like you have two mics hooked up. But are you only recording via the Neumann KM184?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Yes that's right, I had two mics recording. The other is a dynamic mic just to get a different sound if I wanted it. But I never used both mics at the same time and for this track in the video I went for just the Neumann.

[@kenjiyoshioka4539]

素晴らしい。amazing.

[@uzl829]

how do you get so much bottom end bass out of those? and bright sparkle. at the same time.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, it's actually just one Km184 you're hearing. The other one is a different mic and I didn't end up using it because I preferred the sound of just the 184. It's partly to do with the location of the mic and also my guitar is quite big and has a lot of low end so I tried to combine that with bright strings to get a nice balance. Cheers.

[@thomaswesley9508]

hi,Fabian i want to record acoustic guitar should i buy 1 mic or stereo set?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Thomas, thanks for the question. It depends on what sort of sound you're trying to get. I think one mic can sound great, I recorded my last album with just one km184. With 2 mics you can get a more stereo sound which can sound fuller but it's also more complicated because it introduces potential phase issues. And there's another option of using 2 (or more) different mics, this can give a very wide variety of sounds depending on the mics you choose and the positions of the mics when recording. So there's lots of options, but it all starts with what kind of sound you're looking for, once you know that then you can start doing the research into the mic or mics that would be best. Hope that helps.

[@TriNguyenCOT]

Hi Sir ! Can i use Telefunken M62 or Neumann KM 185 for Podcast or livestream ? Please help me !

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, yeah sure you can. Is it for acoustic instruments or for voice? If you're just using it for talking on a podcast then you'll probably be better off getting a mic that's designed for this like the Sure Sm7b. But if you're using acoustic instruments as well like guitars then the Km184 would work well. Thanks

[@TriNguyenCOT]

@@FabianHollandGuitar | thank You so much !

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

What do you think about it for voice over work? Specifically for characters/impressions?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Marc, thanks for your question. I wouldn't say it was Ideal for voice. I'm only using it here on my voice because I don't really have anything else at the moment. A large diaphragm condenser would probably sound better for voice than any small diaphragm condenser I would think. I hope that helps.

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

@@FabianHollandGuitar I mean when u speak into it it sounds like it’s right in front of you and sounds clean with no reverberation or harshness whatsoever. Which I suppose is odd for a small diaphragm mic. Did you do any post processing to your voice in this?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@ThisHandleIsInteresting Hi, I didn't use any post processing on my voice at all, I went just straight into the recorder for this. The room probably plays a bit part on why it sounds so clean and clear.

[@ThisHandleIsInteresting]

@@FabianHollandGuitar Wow..... That microphone is incredible man.... I've worked with LDC mics in the past and it's hard to reduce harshness without over eq-ing. But the KM 184 on its own sounds freakishly smooth. I can also see how it's used in the capacity of a shot gun mic for recording dialogue (even though it's not) just by looking at how you have it set up. It looks off axis but doesn't sound off axis one bit.

[@PlottingTheDownfall]

For the voice over, what preamp were you using?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, if I remember correctly I was just using the preamps that are in the Zoom H4N Pro Handy recorder. Thanks

[@BennyWeill1]

What kind of acoustic is this?! Amazing

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Thanks so much! This is a Lowden O10 jumbo with mahogany back and sides and cedar top. I actually did a video about this guitar recently if you wanted to take a look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6fGdJ-YaLZlgq8 Cheers, Fabian

[@peterpulpitpounder]

Why does the mic in the video look different than the Km184 I am looking at via Ebay? Just wondering.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, do you mean the little clip I show of me playing my song? Or do you mean in the whole video? If it's the whole video then maybe it's the pop sheild I'm using on the top of the mic?

[@peterpulpitpounder]

@@FabianHollandGuitar Hello there. Yes, you are right. The pop shield was playing tricks with my eyes. Love your playing, and the sound of this mic. I'm thinking of securing this mic for personal use. Sound great. Of course, a master guitarist like yourself will make about any mic sound fantastic. :) Thank you.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@peterpulpitpounder Hi, thanks for your kind words! And it's true, it is about what you put Infront of the mic but at least you know with this mic whatever you put Infront of it will sound clean and clear. Also you know that this mic will last a long time which is reassuring.

[@Hrcak1]

What amp you will use?

[@ryanshook8284]

What is that second mic mounted to the stand?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks for the comment. It's a Beyerdynamic dynamic mic. I had it set up as a secondary mic just in case I wanted a different sound in post but I'm not blending it with the KM184.

[@konxzx]

Do i need an audio interface ? is it better using interfaces

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, if you want to record straight into a DAW then you'll need an interface for that. It all depends on what you're wanting to record? And how many channels you'll need? And if you're wanting to record all at the same time or everything separately? And if it needs to be portable or not?... Things like this 😊

[@NguyenTrinhMusic]

Oh man his playing is so beautiful that I’m confused if this is a good mic.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, thanks so much! Lol. Yeah you definitely want to make sure whatever you're putting Infront of the mic sounds good first. 🙂

[@robertb9686]

Hi! I would like to ask you, which do you think is the best condition and dynamic acoustic guitar microphone for the stage? So not in the Studio, if not for a live game. One of the main points is not to get excited easily. thanks Robert

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Robert, thanks for the question. Sm57 is a great classic for a live dynamic mic and the Neumann 184 is also great to use on stage. With condensers you just need to watch the feedback when using them on stage especially if you have any other instruments on stage with you. But if you get a good EQ to go with it then you should be fine. I always use the 184 with me on stage and I never have any problems. Hope that helps. Cheers

[@landonrivers]

What do you have it hooked into?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

On this video I recorded it onto my Zoom H4N Pro handy recorder with no effects or processing, just directly into the recorder!

[@MrDonhekel]

its not the mic, its your playing ...

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Haha! Thanks 😊👍

[@Winharocity]

Where did you get it

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Harry, it was a while ago so I can't remember exactly but I think got mine from Thomann.

[@EchoandTheMachine]

Don't you think dpa4011 is better?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, I've tried a few dpa mics in the past and I've been really impressed with them as well but I can't say for sure if I think it's better than the km184 or not without comparing them side by side. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@DishPaDaDish]

It's the mic and the guitar as well. That's a Larive, probably 5 times more than the cost of the microphone.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

For sure! I'm using a Lowden here and they are very high end guitars although I managed to find mine second hand for not that much more than what I spent on the mic. In terms of importance I would say it goes the player, the guitar and then the mic.

[@markfry5867]

and preamp. please?.. or .. interface.. .. they do have a synergy ...like all electromechnicals

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

For this video I recorded directly into a Zoom H4n Pro handy recorder and for my album I recorded onto a Zoom f8. Cheers!

[@stanf7862]

Yaaa I will leave a comment. It should sound f n good for the fact that it cost 800.00. I know you can pay more for other as well but 800.00 yaaa it should sound good.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hey Stan, thanks for your comment. Yeah that's very true! Any mic at this range is always gonna sound good. I think what I'm saying is for me it was worth buying one very good mic and using that for multiple applications rather than getting two or three lower quality mics. And hopefully this video can help someone wondering if it's worth spending a bit more for a mic like this.

[@joseph2219801]

I own two cheap condenser mics. They stay at one level with no highs or sharp lows. I've thought about buying a pair of these but I keep asking myself are they worth it?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Joseph, thanks for the comment. I think there's lots of great alternatives out there but for me I just wanted something that I could garantee great quality no matter what preamp, recording device or instrument I'm using or what room I'm in. That's what the Neumann offers. But if you're happy what what you have then I'd say why change?

[@franfran4573]

Audio interface?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi, I'm going into a Zoom H4 portable recorder.

[@franfran4573]

@@FabianHollandGuitar tank you greetings from Argentina.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

@@franfran4573 you're welcome, I hope this was useful to you. Let me know if you have any more questions? I'll be happy to answer them. Greetings from Berlin, Germany. 😉👍

And another mic?

[@maxbley3539]

it that not two microphone?

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Max, It is. The other mic is a Beyer 201 but what you're hearing is just the Neumann. I recorded my album with the two different mics to then have more options in the mixing stage but in the end I went with just the Neumann. Sorry I know that's a bit confusing. I hope that makes sense?

[@BESTEVAAR]

Why do I see 2 Mics?????

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi there, ah yes this is something I should have mentioned in the video. The other mic is not picking up any sound. When I recorded the album I put the other mic there to have a different option when mixing but I don't blend the 2 so what you are heading is just the Neumann Km184. Thanks

[@AshAlmond1]

Highly expensive microphone produces the best recording. This Neumann is about $ 1,000, only professional established artists could afford it.

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Ash, thanks for your comment. That is very true it is an expensive mic. There's lots of highly expensive mics out there but I wouldn't say they are all the great mics for acoustic guitar just because they're expensive. My point with this video was to highlight this particular high end mic with acoustic guitar and that you also don't need to buy two of them for it to still sound great. Also it is a lot of money but I only have this one mic for my guitar and I've used it on most live show and studio recordings for the past ten years so it's made it's money back for me countless times over.

[@nathaneve4631]

Beautiful! I've just bought km184. All my recordings thus far have been with really cheap mics. I'd love to hear your mic with no pre recording sound processing though that would be really handy. (Plugged straight into interface and nothing else). I'll post my video links I'm hoping my new mic will get rid of the harsh high ends in all my recordings that can only be eliminated by sweeping too much treble frequency out. youtube.com/@nathanevelive4675

[@FabianHollandGuitar]

Hi Nathan, thanks so much! Wow love your music. Yeah I hope the km184 works out for you. I'd love to hear a recording of one of your songs using the 184. Thanks for the feedback. I think I have a few videos of me using the 184 with no pre (or post) processing. I think it might be this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYaxdZZ8qpaMbpI