Recording your acoustic guitar

Recording acoustic guitar is not easy as electric guitar. There are two way to record, using mic and pick up. We can record both of the way, and we can mix them up to get the full frequency spectrum.
The first is replace your old string with the new one. It's important because the old string may out of tune, not so clear as the new one. Tune your guitar properly and you ready to record.
As I mention above there are two way to record acoustic guitar, using mic and pick up. We'll discuss record using mic first.


Select your best microphone
This way also have two technique, mono(one mic) or stereo(two or more mic) way. Which one better? It's up to you according the mic resource you have. Next Question is, dynamic or condenser microphone we should use? According to those mic chracteristic we recommend the condenser one which is have much more high frequency response and better transient response. A RODE NT1 is an example of a good condenser mic.

Mic placement
If you just have 1 microphone place the mic toward the 12th fret about 5 inches. We can add 1 more mic for stereo system and direct it toward the sound hole to get more frequency response. This placement is not exact, you may vary the position and listen the result. Get the combination as you want

Record using Acoustic Pick Up
If you had the pick up installed at your gear dont't waste it when you record your guitar. Use it and you can mixed up with the result of mic recording. It can yield more detailed sound.

Just remember, each situation may different. You can combine the system above to get the sound you want. Don't be affraid to experiment.

Get a better sound....

Acoustic Guitar Topology

What is Acoustic Guitar?
Historical and modern acoustic guitars are varied in their design and construction. Some of the most important varieties are the classical guitar (nylon-stringed), Steel-string acoustic guitar and lap steel guitar.

All guitars produce sound through the mechanical vibration of strings. Acoustic guitars transmit the vibration of the string to the soundboard via the saddle and bridge. The combined resonance of the strings, saddle, bridge and soundboard are, in turn, "amplified" in the soundbox or body of the guitar. The soundboard has a larger surface area and thus displaces a larger volume of air, producing a much louder sound than the strings alone. The design and quality of the strings, saddle, bridge and soundboard have a major impact on the sound. One weak link in the transmission chain--a cheap plastic saddle, worn out strings, etc.--degrades the sound considerably.

Here is the part of acoustic guitar

There are two basic types of acoustic guitars, the classic or nylon string guitar and the steel-string guitar. Both types are excellent general purpose instruments, suitable for many styles, but each has its own distinct feel and sound. The choice of one or the other is purely personal. Pop musicians tend to use steel-strings guitars more often than classics. However, many guitarists play both types of instruments depending on their mood and style of music. Eric Clapton, mainly a steel-string player, used a classic guitar in "Tears From Heaven." The Eagles, mostly an electric guitar band, used Takamine CP132SC classics on the live acoustic version of "Hotel California." Ozzie Kotani and Keola Breamer do much of their slack key work on nylon-string classics. You can not put a steel string on a classic guitar because the high tension of steel string will damage the bridge and soundboard. Classic guitar is not design to use with steel string.

Find more about acoustic guitar at www. acousticguitar.com

source : www.emedia.leeward.hawaii.edu with some part edited