Recording Acoustic Guitar Direct vs Mic: Which Is The Better Method?

Recording Acoustic Guitar Direct vs Mic: Which Is The Better Method

When recording acoustic guitar, you can choose between recording direct or recording with a microphone. Each method has its pros and cons.

But which one is better for recording acoustic guitar? Let’s learn more about these methods and decide which one you should choose.

Recording Acoustic Guitar Direct

Recording direct is to plug your acoustic guitar directly into the audio interface or a DI box to record.

There are many acoustic guitars equipped with internal electronics and a guitar output. These guitars are suitable for recording direct.

1. How to record your acoustic guitar directly?

You may use the audio interface or a DI box to record an acoustic guitar directly. This method requires an electro-acoustic guitar or an acoustic guitar with a ¼” output.

To record with an audio interface or DI box, first, plug your guitar into the audio interface or DI box.

Then, connect the audio interface or DI box with your computer. Play the guitar and record the sounds through the DAW software on your computer.

2. Advantages and disadvantages of recording direct

Advantages

When recording direct, you can record at any time and anywhere. Recording direct doesn’t need a room with acoustic treatment. You won’t have to worry about the background noise to ruin your audio. Just plug and play.

Besides, when recording through an audio interface or a DI box, you can change the tone of the sound. You will also easily adjust the settings of sound recorded by the DAW software.

Disadvantages

Recording direct will make the sound of your acoustic guitar unnatural, plucky, and thin. The sound of an acoustic guitar that we hear comes from the outside of the instrument.

The way an audio interface or DI box capturing the sound is different from the way we hear it. So, the recorded sounds are even like they come from a totally different instrument.

Besides, when you only rely on digital software for recording, you may have audio latency problems.

Also, you can’t use this method to record an acoustic guitar without internal electronics and a guitar output.

Recording acoustic guitar using a microphone

How to record your acoustic guitar using a microphone? Here are tips:

Choose the right microphone and other gear

A suitable microphone for recording acoustic guitar is a condenser or dynamic microphone. A condenser microphone can pick up all the details of your guitar sounds. A dynamic microphone is less sensitive than a condenser one. It also captures less specific spots.

You should also choose microphones with a cardioid polar pattern. They can pick up the sounds most effectively.

Besides the microphone, you will need headphones, an audio interface, and DAW software.

The headphones should be closed-back headphones for the most neutral sounds. If you use a condenser microphone, choose an audio interface with 48V phantom power.

Remember to check the generation of the USB that your computer supports. In that way, you can pick a suitable audio interface for your computer. You can use free DAW software for recording acoustic guitar.

Choose the right place to record

The best place for recording acoustic guitar is a studio with acoustic treatment. But you can still record at home as long as you find the right place.

You should choose a place that you feel comfortable recording. Relaxing in mind will make you play better.

Besides, the place should be quiet without background noise. Otherwise, the mic will capture the noise and ruin your recordings.

A good room for recording should have carpeted floors and uneven, structured-surface walls. You can also put the bookshelf or wall racks in the room.

Don’t choose a room with parallel walls and low ceilings. It will increase the sound reflection and affect the quality of your recordings.

Place the mic in a right position

Don’t place the mic in front of the soundhole of your acoustic guitar. The soundhole will produce lower frequencies and make the sound difficult to mix.

You should put the mic about 12-16 inches away from the 12th fret of the guitar. In this position, the sounds will be the most balanced and natural.

Advantages and disadvantages of recording acoustic guitar using a microphone?

Advantages

Recording acoustic guitar with a microphone will give you the pure and natural sound of the instrument.

Moreover, a microphone also helps you to capture the room’s sounds. If you want your recording to have some echo or reverb, you should record with a microphone.

This method doesn’t need a guitar with a ¼” output. Thus, you can use a microphone to record all types of acoustic guitar.

Disadvantages

You will need more time to set up all the devices for recording when you record with a microphone. Additionally, the microphone can’t eliminate unwanted noise. So, this method requires a place with acoustic treatment for recording.

Another downside of recording acoustic guitar using a microphone is the unchangeable sound tone. It is difficult to change the tone of the recorded sound in your recording software.

Which one should you choose: recording acoustic guitar direct or using a microphone?

Recording acoustic guitar direct is convenient and easy. This method also prevents unwanted noise to affect your recordings.

But the recorded sounds will be unnatural in comparison to the sounds recorded with a microphone.

Watching carefully the video to know the differences between the sounds recorded by these two methods.

So, if you want to capture the natural sound of your acoustic guitar, record it with a microphone. However, you can choose to record directly if you want to save time and change the recorded sound.

Conclusion

Above are all the details about recording acoustic guitar direct and with a microphone. Depending on your preference, you can choose a suitable method.

Remember to consider the pros and cons of each method before using it. We hope that you will have your desired acoustic guitar recordings.

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