Guitar Gear Forum

Hey guys, I thought I would try out my new small condenser microphone. I am by means no studio engineer and really can't discern sound the way they do, but I think this mic sounds pretty good. I had it pointed perpendicular to my guitar at the 12th fret for this recording. I like that I can hear some nice top end, plus the warmth of my guitar as well. I really feel like for $105 I got a pretty decent SDC mic to record myself at home.

Here is the clip:

https://soundcloud.com/col-justesen/i-see-fire-superlux-s241

This is the mic...

http://avlex.com/products/s241u3/

I have wanted to try this after hearing the recording below. I was honestly floored with the sound quality for a mic in this price level... I have read a few threads where people have compared this mic to the Oktava Mk-012 (which is quite adorned at Gearslutz) with favorable results.

https://soundcloud.com/noah-zhang/ac-guitar-recording-test-2

Tell me what you guys think

Cole

I should also mention that I got this mic from Sonic Sense Pro Audio out of Colorado. These guys have great deals and ship quickly! They have become one of my favorite online shops in the past year!

http://www.sonicsense.com

Cole

It sounds great to me.

RustyMetal wrote:It sounds great to me.

Thanks buddy! I thought my recorded tone of my K&K Sound Pure Mini pickup sounded good, then I recorded this and it instantly sound dull and horrible by comparison. I am glad that I got this mic!!! I had an Audio-Technica AT-2035 that sounded great, but I like the results I am getting from this for acoustic guitar a lot more.

Thanks for listening

Cole

Sounds fantastic. SDCs capture high end like no others.

colejustesen wrote:Thanks buddy! I thought my recorded tone of my K&K Sound Pure Mini pickup sounded good, then I recorded this and it instantly sound dull and horrible by comparison. I am glad that I got this mic!!! I had an Audio-Technica AT-2035 that sounded great, but I like the results I am getting from this for acoustic guitar a lot more.

Cole

Have you tried an SM57, and do you think this one sounds better than that? A 57 seems to be the universal suggestion (for a reason), but at about the same price you might have found a nugget!

Markdude wrote:Sounds fantastic. SDCs capture high end like no others.

Thanks for listening! Coming from you that means a lot!

RustyMetal wrote:

colejustesen wrote:Thanks buddy! I thought my recorded tone of my K&K Sound Pure Mini pickup sounded good, then I recorded this and it instantly sound dull and horrible by comparison. I am glad that I got this mic!!! I had an Audio-Technica AT-2035 that sounded great, but I like the results I am getting from this for acoustic guitar a lot more.

Cole

Have you tried an SM57, and do you think this one sounds better than that? A 57 seems to be the universal suggestion (for a reason), but at about the same price you might have found a nugget!

I haven't ever owned an SM57, so I really can't comment. I have owned a Beta 57 that sounded pretty good, but I preferred the Sennheiser e609 to it for recording a guitar cab. I might have to snag an SM57 to add to my mic locker and try it out...

Cole

People often recommend it for mic'ing an electric guitar cab, but it might not be very good for acoustic, I don't really know. What you have may very well be better for your application.

RustyMetal wrote:People often recommend it for mic'ing an electric guitar cab, but it might not be very good for acoustic, I don't really know. What you have may very well be better for your application.

I know it is highly recommend for recording electric guitar cabs; why I have never owned, I have no idea. I would love to get one because it is an industry standards. As far as micing an acoustic, I came across this thread and was pleasantly surprised with what an SM57 can do for acoustic guitars. The single dynamic method on this thread looks like an Audix i5, whereas the dual dynamic looks like an SM57 and a Beta57 (???)

http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/kb/reader.aspx/2007013311

Cole

I don't know if it is or not.

I pay close attention to those techniques, but the high end equipment they use is usually way over my head - ...and budget. I do and will try some of those things with ghetto equipment though. If I don't have the quality guitar to start with, high dollar mics is just throwing money away for me. I have a behringer mic quality acoustic guitar.

hey cole-- congrats on the new mic!

try rotating the mic a bit so that you're pointing more at the top strings than the lower ones-- the recording isn't bad, but it sounds a little boomy still. dink around with it-- i'll typically start at the 12th fret and point it DOWN and a bit towards the body of the guitar to get a good balance of body harmonics and ring. also-- don't mic it too close-- pull it back 8 inches or a foot. cool though.. it's a new challenge.. i love recording acoustics!

newholland wrote:hey cole-- congrats on the new mic!

try rotating the mic a bit so that you're pointing more at the top strings than the lower ones-- the recording isn't bad, but it sounds a little boomy still. dink around with it-- i'll typically start at the 12th fret and point it DOWN and a bit towards the body of the guitar to get a good balance of body harmonics and ring. also-- don't mic it too close-- pull it back 8 inches or a foot. cool though.. it's a new challenge.. i love recording acoustics!

Thanks for taking a listen and giving me some feedback!!! I am recording it in a small room, so my acoustics aren't the best (though I don't know how much that is really playing an effect in this particular recording). I will try your recommendation. I did record this with the mic pointing at the twelfth fret, but I imagine my playing caused me to move my guitar around a bit. I was about 8 inches away, but once again, my moving while playing could have altered that. I will have to mess around with it for sure!

Thanks again for the great feedback!!!

Cole

Very nice!