More guitarists than ever before have access to high-quality digital recording facilities available in their home and project studios, but if you want the tracks you record with these to sound anything more than flat, harsh and cold — that’s to say, if you want them to sound professional — you still need to apply some old-school studio techniques to your efforts. You can have the best new 24-bit, 98kHz digital interface available, a cutting edge DAW (digital audio workstation), and the best guitars, amps and effects that money can buy. Record it without due care and consideration, however, and the results are bound to be disappointing.
No worries. Here are five ways the industry insiders nail perfect guitar tracks every single time. In five full parts we have covered all the major secrets to miking and recording excellent, pro-grade guitar tracks every time. Included here are secrets and tips that professional producers and engineers have used for years to capture fat, classic guitar tones, both acoustic and electric, and tons of the kinds of insider info you need to nail tracks you can really be proud of. Peruse the five-part series in detail, or dip into the installments that interest you most.
Recording Guitars: Miking Amps, Part 1
There are plenty of great direct-injection (DI) systems and amp simulators available today, but the real tonehounds out there still get their best sounds by miking up real guitar amps with real microphones. Part one covers the basics of single-mic techniques, and offers a run-down on the main microphone types used for recording guitar amps.
Recording Guitars: Miking Amps, Part 2
There’s a lot more to it than sticking a mic right in front of the speaker and hitting “Record.” Part 2 covers advanced microphone techniques such as ambient miking, multi-miking, front and back techniques and more.
Recording Guitars: Miking Acoustics, Part 1
Easy, just stick that SM57 in front of the sound hole and play, right? Wrong! Getting your recorded acoustic guitar to sound like its true self requires a lot more care and consideration than many players might expect. Start here for deep, rich tones.
Recording Guitars: Miking Acoustics, Part 2
No, the Spaced Stereo Pair is not a new indie duo—it’s an effective technique for capturing huge sounding acoustic guitar tracks. Explore it here in Part 2, along with other advanced techniques such as the XY Pair, Mid-Side Pair, Dual Mono Pair, Corner Loading and more.
Recording Guitars: Miking Resonator Guitars
Sure, a resonator guitar is “an acoustic guitar” in the technical sense, but miking one up for great recorded results requires different considerations than miking your average flat-top. This installment guides you to where the sound comes out of these odd and beautiful beasts, and how you can capture it in your tracks.