KVR Audio

jdtay2 · Post by **jdtay2** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 7:45 am

Hi all,

I am having some difficulty mixing an acoustic guitar track (soundcloud link below). Namely, I am having trouble with the percussive slaps being too loud. I have tried to EQ and compress the track to improve this, but I am not 100% satisfied yet.

Any tips?

I used the Rode M5 pair in XY position panned -40L/+40R.

Link: https://soundcloud.com/jesse-taylor-6/a ... -13dec2017

planetearth · Post by **planetearth** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 7:57 am

Depending upon what you have for compressors, you could set up one to get a side-chain feed to trigger the compressor like you would when you're "de-essing" a vocal track.

Have a copy of the track feed a buss where the EQ really hypes that "smacking" sound. Have the output of that EQ feed a compressor with a very quick attack and release. That way, the "smack" will be pushed down only when it actually plays.

Steve

Aloysius · Post by **Aloysius** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 8:43 am

I can't hear it right now but have ye tried a transient designer? With something like Softube Transient Shaper you can hone in on the problem area.

Using two tracks.

(a) The original acoustic
(b) A phase inverted version

You could isolate the slaps to another track (using a filter) and phase invert it. Adjust the volume of the 'treated' track against the main acoustic guitar track to reduce the volume of the slaps on the original acoustic guitar track.

You could, play it again Sam. Part of making a good recording, is playing properly.

Mister Natural · Post by **Mister Natural** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:57 pm

Aloysius wrote:...You could, play it again Sam. Part of making a good recording, is playing properly.

came here to post something like this as my own acoustic recording has been an intensive learning process
so many little technique flaws can be brutally exposed by the mic
the most challenging issues for me are both string-squeaks and . . . my own heavy breathing being picked up

best of luck !

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 5:11 pm

Aloysius wrote:You could, play it again Sam.

I think so too. Play a little bit louder and/or slap a little bit softer. It sounds a bit like you're hesitating, uncertain and plucking softly. But meanwhile those afterbeat slaps come through quite firm and assertive.

Also you can try to put the mic at twice the distance (or even further) which will also change the balance between these type of sounds.
Or record two tracks: one "click-track" with slapping and the other just the strings. Then you can mix & process them differently.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 5:25 pm

I agree that re-recording is the best option. The playing sounds hesitant, and not loud enough. Focus on keeping the volume of the slaps as low as you can, without sounding unnatural.

jdtay2 · Post by **jdtay2** » Wed Dec 13, 2017 9:18 pm

Thanks so much for the comments. It looks like I have some practicing to do!

Can anyone comment on the spaced pair configuration mic position? I like the XY position, but I am yet to experiment with the spaced pair configuration.

Thanks again!

Hermetech Mastering · Post by **Hermetech Mastering** » Fri Dec 15, 2017 8:54 am

Move the mic array around until you get the sound that you want, then re-record it. Fix it at the source instead of after the fact.

This is by far the best introduction to spaced pair work in multiple configurations, 'The Stereophonic Zoom', by Michael Williams. It doesn't just cover NOS, XY, ORTF, DIN etc., but explains WHY they are like they are, and gives you the knowledge to adapt things to your own needs. Get the Rode stereo bar and you can pretty much experiment with them all.

https://gracedesign.com/~gracedes/suppo ... Zoom10.pdf

Mixing acoustic guitar - hot tips?