Best hardware & software for recording Acoustic ?

[Jaden]

like the title says, how can I get high quality recordings using a nylon strung guitar - I have a decent mike, but need to get pro sound recordings using my PC - I know that line 6 do a lot of interfaces for the PC but....

whats going to give me the best result, I have to send recorded material ready to use... !!! everything ive tried so far is buzzy/fuzzzy / not good enough !!!

suggestions would be very welcome !

[Jaden]

cmon guys, someone must have some experience of this !!

[bluealien]

Depending on who you work with and the format they take, unless you are going to kick it out to WMA, MP3 or something.

Sonar 6 by cakewalk is a great DAW program, others are Pro Tools, Cube.

Also how are you recording, distance between you and the guitar, direct plugin, are you using a pre-amp?

[Rip]

Originally Posted by whatisshredding

like the title says, how can I get high quality recordings using a nylon strung guitar - I have a decent mike, but need to get pro sound recordings using my PC - I know that line 6 do a lot of interfaces for the PC but....

whats going to give me the best result, I have to send recorded material ready to use... !!! everything ive tried so far is buzzy/fuzzzy / not good enough !!!

suggestions would be very welcome !

I have a hunch you're not really asking for the "best"

But because thats what you asked for..

Start with a telefunken elam 251 if you want a really thick sound.
Perhaps if you want a more natural sound go with a
Schoeps -cmc6/mk4 combo..maybe a stereo pair?

Your Preamp depending on the tonality of the guitar
could be anything from a NEVE 1272 or 1073
Or if you want a more natural sound go for a Great River

For your limiter you can never go wrong with a urei LA-2

For your converter go and get yourself an Apogee

Now you're into the computer
Go BUY (dont steal) Nuendo

And you're good to go.

You better get all of those so you have options since even the way a player plays the guitar
might make you want to switch mics..etc.
Should only cost you about $40 grand. No biggie.

Theres your
"best hardware & software for recording acoustic" just ask you requested.

Oh and dont forget your Genelecs for monitoring

[Rip]

My regular preference for recording acoustics is to run through my following gear.

Either a Lawson L47MP (similar to a Neumann U47)
a AKG 414EB (with a C12 capsule)
or one of my Schoeps cmc6-MK41's (maybe in a stereo pair if it calls for it)

Then its into either my NEVE 1272 or API pre's

Then into an LA-4 or a RNC compressor (yes believe it or not i use that lil thing)

And then into a MOTU converter...
then into Nuendo.

Where i will use the Waves renascence EQ's or the waves mastering EQ's

And if i need a little more limiting through a Waves L2

[David McCarroll]

Alternately, ProTools LE, a DIGI002, a really nice mic, a good valve pre and compressor and you will be getting reasonably close for, ah, quite a lot less money (I said reasonably close by the way Rip, not anywhere near "as good as"!!!)

People record entire albums with a Digidesign interface and a Mac/PC Laptop these days - and if you have a genuine quality Audio Recording retailer somewhere near you, they should be falling over themselves to offer you advice - don't forget that microphone placement will have an enormous effect upon your captured sound.

The late, great Michael Hedges used to record his Martin D28 using no less than six mics to capture soundhole, string noise, room and ambience - all of which your ears/mind mix down and master unconsciously in your head!

Definitely really skillful limiting and compression will enhance the recorded sound beyond belief, so you need to do your homework on this as well.

Cheers, and enjoy the process - it might even be worth spending a few hours in a good studio recording your guitar with a relly good engineer, so that you get an idea of what they do to pull a great acoustic tone.

David

[Darin]

Be sure to look into the 'Avalon U5' while you're doing your research.
http://www.avalondesign.com/instrudi.html

"Wow!! Acoustic guitar has never been better to listen to... magical!"
- Adam B., CA