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 Post subject: EQing Acoustic guitars
PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 7:15 am 
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Tinhorn
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So i've been browsing the net reading about opinions and articles regarding eqing acoustic guitar. And alot of searches have come up with people saying "just use mic placement, you shouldn't have to use any eqing on them"

What are your guys opinions? And if there is anything to eq, where would you start? dropping everything below 80hz?

thanks.


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PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 7:43 am 
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The Reverend
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seems like when I mix with other instruments, I have to accentuate the high end for the guitar to cut thru....just me.

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PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 8:38 am 
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Mr. Electonica Dude
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I almost always roll off below 60 to 80 just to keep any extraneous low freq stuff outa the mics going in. if your mic has a LF rolloff switch , use it instead.

My exceptions are certain guitars like vintage Martins or other "woody" guitars , I let everything in on the 12th fret mic and do a rolloff on the soundhole mic.

Taylors and Ovations , I rolloff both mics.

It's just one of those try it and listen deals. Remember the room affects things too , don't necessarily blame the guitar or mic placement for EQ issues later on.

Whatever you do , try to leave effects and EQ for mixdown. Sometimes about 3.1 compression with a soft knee helps going in as does a compander or sometimes a well set limiter if the player just can't sit still for one measly good take.

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PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:49 am 
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Tinhorn
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mrskygod wrote:
I almost always roll off below 60 to 80 just to keep any extraneous low freq stuff outa the mics going in. if your mic has a LF rolloff switch , use it instead.

My exceptions are certain guitars like vintage Martins or other "woody" guitars , I let everything in on the 12th fret mic and do a rolloff on the soundhole mic.

Taylors and Ovations , I rolloff both mics.

It's just one of those try it and listen deals. Remember the room affects things too , don't necessarily blame the guitar or mic placement for EQ issues later on.

Whatever you do , try to leave effects and EQ for mixdown. Sometimes about 3.1 compression with a soft knee helps going in as does a compander or sometimes a well set limiter if the player just can't sit still for one measly good take.



Thats what i was thinking off. I was gonna record it dry, and then remove everything from 70-80 down. My mic has a 80Hz or 40Hz low-cut filter so i could use that, but i'll first record it all flat, and then see if the AW1600 eq will work better for me.


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PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:10 pm 
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Mr. Blues
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HI,

I first record my acoustic guitars dry.
Like Geno said I prefer the mix pointed to the 12th fret and sometimes a second mic pointed to the bridge.

If I use the acoustic guitar strummed (mostly a Taylor 210) in band context I roll off the lower frequencies at around 120 hz. Picking and flatpicking I roll off at around 80 hz.

If I only use a acoustic guitar for the song, I roll off at 65 hz to let a bassy attack for the thumb hit strings and do a cut in the 125hz area to prevent muddiness.

It is always different with the character of the guitar dreadnoughts are much boomier) the style of playing, the song arrangement (band context or single instrument) and the srings (new, used, old).

So try to find your personal settings.

Andreas

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PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 12:59 pm 
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Tinhorn
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Good tips!

How about for finger picking? any differences there? I would assume since its 'gentler', i wouldn't need to get rid of so much "oomph" and bass.. and could let some low end stay?

With more pressured strumming, and harder attack (using a pick) i would i guess remove more low end :)

I guess the best answer is too "experiment" . But having some basic guidelines is good. :D


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PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 1:17 pm 
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Mr. Blues
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Hi,

cheeserandyburg wrote:
Good tips!

How about for finger picking? any differences there? I would assume since its 'gentler', i wouldn't need to get rid of so much "oomph" and bass.. and could let some low end stay?


Exactly. Thats my experience with micing finger picked acoustic guitars. To get a clear attack for the bass strings I always use a thumb pick, for the fingers I use my longer growed nails. Good for Blues tunes and ragtime playing on guitar.

Quote:
With more pressured strumming, and harder attack (using a pick) i would i guess remove more low end :)

General this is correct, but depends on the individual guitar, gauge of strings ...
Another experience I made is to higher the frequencies around 12 khz a little bit to get more shime to the guitar sound. Makes it sound more natural and interesting to my ears.

Andreas

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PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 4:28 pm 
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HamelnStock Survivor and Midi Guru
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Does eqing a guitar also depend on other sounds palying along ?

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PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 5:31 pm 
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Robbie The Botkiller
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Yes. In the end, all instruments have to fit in one frequency sprectrum. They all need space for themselves in that spectrum.

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PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 6:30 pm 
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With my Martin D18, mic'd around the 12th-14th fret, I usually roll off the lows (using L.SHL) starting at 250 Hz a few dB. I'm always using a pick.

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