I just recorded my first MP3, it is a rush, one take recording.

It is a simple version of Simon and Garfunkel's Scarborough Fair. I didn't do any editing (still figuring it all out!) I recorded it with my two Mikes one pointing at the 12th fret and one pointing at the bridge both approx. 6 inches away from the guitar both 90 degrees from the guitar top. The gain knobs on the mbox for both channel go approx 3/4.

The guitar was my OM2HAV with some pretty worn strings (almost 1 months old). I plan to change them this weekend for some serious recordings when I'm more familiar with all this new toys.

Here is the MP3:

http://www.collingsforum.com/mp3/files/Scarborough%20Fair.mp3

Please suggest on:

1. What kind of editing is needed? EQ? compression?
2. Is the mike placement correct?
3. Theres seems to be some distortions here and there.. what should I do to reduce them?
4. How can I make the guitar sound more 3D and dynamic?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ed,

Ed,
Congratulations on getting your first recording done. I thought you got a pleasant warm sounding recording, certainly warmer than I was getting with those microphones.
The microphone positions you chose is one of the classic recommended ones. Just keep experimenting to see what you like best. You might try getting a little more treble in the recording either with different mike positions and/or equalization - that will add more presence to the sound. You could get a little more spacious sound with a little reverb or stereo expander plug-in.
Even cranking the volume up all the way through my headphones it still was not very loud. You would expect more volume with the knobs up to 3/4. Are the mike inputs being reduced with a PAD switch (I am not familiar with the M-Box controls.
Sounds great Ed. Enjoy

quote:

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Originally posted by Ed:
I just recorded my first MP3, it is a rush, one take recording.

It is a simple version of Simon and Garfunkel's Scarborough Fair. I didn't do any editing (still figuring it all out!) I recorded it with my two Mikes one pointing at the 12th fret and one pointing at the bridge both approx. 6 inches away from the guitar both 90 degrees from the guitar top. The gain knobs on the mbox for both channel go approx 3/4.

The guitar was my OM2HAV with some pretty worn strings (almost 1 months old). I plan to change them this weekend for some serious recordings when I'm more familiar with all this new toys.

Here is the MP3:

http://www.collingsforum.com/mp3/files/Scarborough%20Fair.mp3

Please suggest on:

1. What kind of editing is needed? EQ? compression?
2. Is the mike placement correct?
3. Theres seems to be some distortions here and there.. what should I do to reduce them?
4. How can I make the guitar sound more 3D and dynamic?

---

Ed,

Good first recording. Actually, very good first recording. Here's some suggestions:

1. Research stereo mic techniques, particularly XY, ORTF and spaced pair. BTW, you used a variation of the spaced pair technique that is adapted for acoustic guitar.

2. Experiment with mic placements. Record. Listen. Record again. Listen.

3. Try placing the mics further out from your guitar (18" to 30") with the XY and ORTF techniques. With these techniques, pan the left and right 100%, 90% etc. to set a stereo image, keeping in mind you might create a hole in the center of the soundfield, which you want to avoid. Listen to the sample I posted on the Collings Forum mp3 page. It's an XY setup about 26" out and slightly to the left (towards the neck) side of things, with the center axis of the XY configuration pointed towards the soundhole. Its panned about 80% IIRC.
4. Add a master fader in ProTools (stereo). You can fool with eq and compression (using the provided plugins). Add them as inserts on the master fader. A touch of reverb too, just a touch.

Keep up the good work!

Very nice, Ed.

Switch out the strings for new ones, then re-record. I think that will help.

I'd rather wait until I hear your guitar with new strings before saying more.

It can only get better, and you're already in good shape.

It sounds really good! Fantastic for a first time. The new strings might as more clarity, but overall the reocrding is very nice, as is the performance. I expect to hear lots of stuff from you now.

Thanks for all your nice advices and comments.. I have just re-recorded the tune with brand new Daddario 80/20 Lights. Everything remain unchanged. It sound a lot brighter than the initial one.

Here:
Scarborough Fair Take 2

Please comment!! Thanks!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ed,

Ed,
The second take sounds a little brighter as you said. I like it better - sounds more like I am right in the room with you playing your guitar.

Nice Ed! It's even better now.

The major difference I noticed between the two recordings was the string change. My guess is you used the same mic placement as before.

Try moving the mics out a bit. Both recordings picked up too much bass (due to the proximity effect). That 5th string A note is overpowering everything else. If you move the mics out a ways (say 18" to 30"), the proximity effect will be minimized, allowing the mics to pick things up more evenly. However, those C1000s mics have a high frequency boost, so you might start getting too much high frequencies. You can adjust this by moving the mics back in a bit (just a little) or using eq at mixdown.

Good playing.