Week 1: Improve your Recording Skills

😕 Now I have to start all over again 

I am currently recording from two places in my condo. The bedroom and the dining room.

Today, I will report on the test made in the bedroom. I will do the same exercise in the dining room later this week.

Here are 2 pictures of the bedroom that incorporate an office/studio area. A very crowded place but comfortable to work and practice. For today's test, I will concentrate on changing the microphone position.

The third picture depicts the standard recording set-up I am using:

• The pixel 7 is on a desk tripod and connected directly into the ZOOM AMS-22 Audio interface
• The audio interface is powered from the computer USB Hub
• The guitar Fishman preamp is connected in the audio interface using a standard guitar cable.
• The Fishman split between the micro and the pick-up was 50-50

I will use the same set-up with the microphone that will connect into the audio interface.

For this test, I decided to buy a microphone on Amazon. The Tonor TD510 

https://www.amazon.ca/Microphone-dynamique-enregistrement-streaming-microphone/dp/B0CCVBQRFX/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2W7GGE2D0F705&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bAd0RWKdV0JpvDIq_Mb9gomSMQOJ9CNnuIlH-XH7FXIGNhi3blklys8RKeFqGw-0.G1BFMTCSHAuRW-xpyK_f3kVcT64PH4bBwfjM6X13n8U&dib_tag=se&keywords=tonor%2Btd510&qid=1714586802&sprefix=tonor%2BTD%2Caps%2C70&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

For this test, I made the following recordings:

- Fishman 100% microphone

- Fishman 100% pick-up

- Microphone pointing guitar - 4 to 5 feet away

- Microphone pointing bridge - 4 to 5 feet away

-Microphone pointing bridge - 2 to 3 feet away.

Well, what are the findings of that exercise:

- The sound from the Fishman 100% microphone is very bad (mostly vibration- buzzing). I  felt this was my playing and made a second recording and this was the same. I feel there is probably something with the guitar or the microphone attachment that vibrates and generates the noise. I will soon bring the guitar to the luthier and check that.

- The sound from the 100% pick-up is much better and I now feel better about my playing. 😅

- The recordings with the microphone are good but I will need to increase the microphone volume in future testing. 

- For me I feel that the microphone pointing the bridge and 2 to 3 feet away from the guitar was the best recording (your comments are more than welcome).

The big surprise was that during the recordings there was a lot of noise outside the building. I kept the last recording for a few more seconds to see if we could hear the truck backing intensive Beep and nothing.

I will keep doing more testing this week and post my results. 

Here are the results of my experiments. I use a pair of Rode pencil mikes.

Experiment 1: In terms of where I sit in the room I have a preference based on the recording but interested to hear what others think. Position 1 might seem a bit strange but I included it as I have been doing some guitar/flute recording in this position. Might need to change.

Experiment 2: I am not sure what to make of the different microphone placements, again interested in Martin's and other comments. 

Experiment 3: I only did 2 distances. 

@martin I've posted mp3 files as I don't know how to edit/sync audio files with video. Apologies if you have to download them to listen to them.

I used AT2020 condenser mic and Reaper for this. My workspace is a small room with a few pieces of furniture (sofa sets and book racks). so, the following are the three positions I experimented with:

Position A (Next to wall, with my back to the wall)- This is where I practice daily

Position B- Middle of the room

Position C- Corner of the room

Placement of Mic- about 30 cm from the bridge for all the positions.

I recorded with the interface's gain at about 50% and that of Reaper at about -6dB. I haven't done any processing or added FX.

To be honest, I don't know what to make of these recordings or how to judge/differentiate them. I tried to follow the guidelines provided by Martin for Experiment no.1. Curious to know your thoughts.

Hi Guys, I managed to get a video uploaded of me playing in all different scenarios. I used one Shure SM-81 normally I run 2 stereo but for this project I used just one mic. Demonstrated in my home recording space. It ws fun playing in the different areas of the space. I really liked the natural reverb created with the further mic placements. 

Here is my Intro vid. Playing a Carcassi Etude #15. This is a recording I made for the Carcassi Challenge which ended already. It should be available now in case you missed this. I love playing through the Carcassi Etudes! Feedback or comments welcomed!