I have an acoustic guitar track that has many noises from sliding on the strings. Notching out some frequencies with EQ has helped a bit but not enough. I also tried using a de-esser but couldn't manage to do anything useful.
Do you guys have any other trick for eliminating these noises?
Removing slide noises from acoustic guitar track?
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- KVRAF
- 2118 posts since 1 Apr, 2004 from Athens, Greece
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- KVRian
- 514 posts since 11 Jun, 2005 from Western Third of the shire of the Horse Bay
Sorry, I can't offer any advice on how to remove them, beyond what you've already done and the obvious thing of re-record the part when it is played without string noise.
What I really wanted to say was, is it really that important to remove it completely? You've already managed to diminish the sound a bit, does it need to get rid of it altogether?
String noise can make a part sound more real and human, because that's what it often sounds like when some humans play - it'll sound like a real guitar rather than samples. It can often make guitar parts sound more intimate, like you're there right next to the player, which can often be a good thing.
Just a thought.
What I really wanted to say was, is it really that important to remove it completely? You've already managed to diminish the sound a bit, does it need to get rid of it altogether?
String noise can make a part sound more real and human, because that's what it often sounds like when some humans play - it'll sound like a real guitar rather than samples. It can often make guitar parts sound more intimate, like you're there right next to the player, which can often be a good thing.
Just a thought.
And it is as it is and we take as we find / Always next season's buds on the bough / But I'll never find a better time / Hard though it is to allow / I'll never find a better time / To be alive than now
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- KVRist
- 211 posts since 12 Aug, 2008
Please dont take the soul out of the instrument and the player.
Leave it for all to hear! Just listen to John Williams.
sell
Leave it for all to hear! Just listen to John Williams.
sell
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2118 posts since 1 Apr, 2004 from Athens, Greece
I don't need to completely take the noises out guys, but I definitely need to make them softer. We have double-tracked the guitar part and given it a wide stereo image, which unfortunately means that you hear noises popping out of each speaker all the time. And the longish reverb I want isn't helping either 
It only pronounces the noise.
sellmestory I know what you're saying (I am a guitar player after all) but all those noises in our track are not soul, they are just sloppy playing.
It only pronounces the noise.sellmestory I know what you're saying (I am a guitar player after all) but all those noises in our track are not soul, they are just sloppy playing.
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- KVRist
- 293 posts since 2 Aug, 2002 from Odense - Denmark
There is really no way around it. Either redo the guitars or live them as they are. Some of it is down to bad mic placement. (this is assuming it is acoustic guitars). Remember not to just rig the mic, record and hope for the best. Just changing the position (or direction) of the mic can have drastic results.geroyannis wrote:I don't need to completely take the noises out guys, but I definitely need to make them softer. We have double-tracked the guitar part and given it a wide stereo image, which unfortunately means that you hear noises popping out of each speaker all the time. And the longish reverb I want isn't helping either
sellmestory I know what you're saying (I am a guitar player after all) but all those noises in our track are not soul, they are just sloppy playing.
And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
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- KVRAF
- 4908 posts since 10 Aug, 2004 from Colorado Springs
You could try a frequency selective dynamics processor like the Equinox that IIRS has in the DC09. The specific one I'm referring to is here: http://www.kvraudio.com/developer_chall ... hp#dc09_51
The problem with using just plain EQ is that string squeak frequencies are right smack-dab in the middle of the acoustic guitar spectrum.
Double-tracking guitars is a time-tested-proven approach for wideness, but it's not done very often on finger-picked acoustic guitar specifically because of the reasons you are running into.
Works great for strummed parts, but unless your player has robotic precision, you will notice a great deal of 'jumping out of the mix all over the place' for impulsive sounds from fingerpicking or flat-picking.
You will likely acheive better results by using some kind of stereo-widening tool on a single track.
Comp the two tracks that you have into a single mono track where you've selected the non-squeaked parts singly from the two original tracks.
Then apply a stereo widening effect to the comp mono track.
Or, track a whole bunch more parts and comp them independently to two different hard-panned tracks where you've selectively removed any bits of string squeak.
-Scott
The problem with using just plain EQ is that string squeak frequencies are right smack-dab in the middle of the acoustic guitar spectrum.
Double-tracking guitars is a time-tested-proven approach for wideness, but it's not done very often on finger-picked acoustic guitar specifically because of the reasons you are running into.
Works great for strummed parts, but unless your player has robotic precision, you will notice a great deal of 'jumping out of the mix all over the place' for impulsive sounds from fingerpicking or flat-picking.
You will likely acheive better results by using some kind of stereo-widening tool on a single track.
Comp the two tracks that you have into a single mono track where you've selected the non-squeaked parts singly from the two original tracks.
Then apply a stereo widening effect to the comp mono track.
Or, track a whole bunch more parts and comp them independently to two different hard-panned tracks where you've selectively removed any bits of string squeak.
-Scott
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- KVRist
- 91 posts since 11 May, 2006
most of my recordings involve acoustic guitars, so i have had to learn to deal with string squeaks and other noises.
as with most things in the recording world, you should try to eliminate any problems at source... so...
the best method i've found is to use your playing technique to minimise any noises; for example reduce your finger pressure on the strings, and try to avoid resting on unplayed strings while sliding.
otherwise, you may want to try different strings; i sometimes use D'Addario Flat Tops - these minimise string squeaks by their very nature but have a mellow tone so don't suit all playing styles.
another thing to consider would be keeping your strings clean.
even by taking care with technique, mic placement (and string choice), you're nearly always going to end up with some squeaks and other noises in the recordings... and these can often be accentuated if you use processing such as compression, reverb, delay etc.
i haven't had much luck using EQ or de-essing myself, so will often use a wave editor or level automation in my DAW to manually reduce the level of any noises - NOT necessarily removing them entirely.
but like you say, with double-tracked, wide-panned acoustic guitars it can sound really distracting.
i will ask though, are double-tracked parts really necessary? if you want width you could maybe use some subtle chorusing instead.
as with most things in the recording world, you should try to eliminate any problems at source... so...
the best method i've found is to use your playing technique to minimise any noises; for example reduce your finger pressure on the strings, and try to avoid resting on unplayed strings while sliding.
otherwise, you may want to try different strings; i sometimes use D'Addario Flat Tops - these minimise string squeaks by their very nature but have a mellow tone so don't suit all playing styles.
another thing to consider would be keeping your strings clean.
even by taking care with technique, mic placement (and string choice), you're nearly always going to end up with some squeaks and other noises in the recordings... and these can often be accentuated if you use processing such as compression, reverb, delay etc.
i haven't had much luck using EQ or de-essing myself, so will often use a wave editor or level automation in my DAW to manually reduce the level of any noises - NOT necessarily removing them entirely.
but like you say, with double-tracked, wide-panned acoustic guitars it can sound really distracting.
i will ask though, are double-tracked parts really necessary? if you want width you could maybe use some subtle chorusing instead.
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- KVRAF
- 8389 posts since 11 Apr, 2003 from back on the hillside again - but now with a garden!
also, do extra EQing of the notches you've found just before it goes into the reverb bus
You might find that helps..
Code: Select all
Guitar -> First line EQ -> Further Stereo Enhancement -> mix
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Reverb Buss -> Second Line EQ -> Reverb -> mix
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- KVRAF
- 2973 posts since 18 Oct, 2004
Look at a spectrum analyzer to see what frequency band spikes during the slide, then use a multiband compressor to tame that area.
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- KVRist
- 364 posts since 15 Aug, 2009
I'm assuming that you used a microphone to record, and that you didn't direct record from a pickup.geroyannis wrote:I have an acoustic guitar track that has many noises from sliding on the strings. Notching out some frequencies with EQ has helped a bit but not enough. I also tried using a de-esser but couldn't manage to do anything useful.
Do you guys have any other trick for eliminating these noises?
If this is the case you may want to (as other have suggested) record the guitars again using a different microphone and/or microphone placement--ideally using a couple of microphones placed in different locations. Unless you're on a tight schedule, or the studio clock is running, don't be afraid to experiment with different microphone locations. I'm probably stating the obvious, but if possible avoid having the microphone near the fret hand if squeaky strings are a problem.
Also, a bit of hand creme on your hands will reduce the string squeaks--though you'll want to make sure the ingredients in the hand creme (e.g., alcohol) isn't something that may damage your fretboard.
Also consider whether a different chord voicing, or whether playing the part on different strings will reduce noise while still maintaining the basic character of the progression or riff. This is probably a less favorable option since different chord voices and different string gauges often affect the feel of a song (not to mention that some parts and chords will be impossible to play differently).
If this doesn't work, you may want to add a decent guitar sample as a double track and then mix it in with the real guitars. However the irony should be noted that there are guitar soundfonts, etc. having strings squeaks that are added to the mix to make the sampled guitar sound real.
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- KVRist
- 75 posts since 20 Jul, 2005
I would use either a de-esser or multi band comp w/ the compressor only effecting the range that the scrapes are in. Waves c1 is actually pretty good at this... i forget the name of the mode, but it has a kinda fake one band multiband compressor function.
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- KVRAF
- 8238 posts since 22 Sep, 2008 from Windsor. UK
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- KVRAF
- 7579 posts since 17 Feb, 2005
ideally you can use both takes and stitch together as much as possible. a bit of spectral surgery ala adobe audition can reduce the level of the slides if carefully found and deleted. heh, so much work when recording a few more takes will work fine.
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- KVRist
- 54 posts since 13 Aug, 2009
If you're handy with image-editing apps like Photoshop, there's a funky little program called Photosounder that converts sound into image files, which can then be edited using traditional image-editing tools. It's a little hard to explain, but go to the site and check out some of the demo videos, and you'll get the picture. It's particularly useful for isolating or removing instruments and sounds from complex recordings, which is exactly what you need to do. Admittedly, it's a somewhat wacky way to solve your problem, but it's so crazy that it just might work.
You're bad... with my help, you could be the worst.