Multiple takes sound different

[chimmy]

I recorded four acoustic guitar songs in one sitting and recorded 3-4 takes for each song. I used a Shure mic around the 12th fret and a Lawrence acoustic guitar pick-up, sending each to separate tracks.

On playback, separate tracks of the same song have a different EQ sound to them.

At first I thought it was a result of slightly changing positions with relation to the mic when pressing stop/arming new tracks/then pressing record. The tracks from the pick-up however also sound different. Again, the effect is like each take having a different EQ setting.

The EQ sound differences are also consistant between the mic and pick-up.

For example:
On a particular song, take one with the mic has a sound of more highs and take two has a sound of more low/mids, and the pick-up tracks have the exact same EQ sound differences.

The interface I used on this is a Delta 1010LT 24 bit/88,200k and I don't ever recall hearing anything like this in all of the electric songs I've produced, including vocal tracks that have been spliced together from multiple takes.

Anyone have any ideas why this might be happening? Why would pressing stop, then record, have any effect on the sound texture of whats coming off the A to D converters?

I appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks..........chim.

[Lunch Money]

This one's near-impossible to trouble-shoot from a forum. Could be any number of factors from equipment placement to subtle differences in playing style (strumming closer to the bridge, for example, or even slightly softer or harder), something odd happening with your pre-amp or microphone, something happening with your power supply, a difference either physically or in the setup of your soundcard... where once it worked flawlessly, now any number of things could have happened to it. Auomation of a main, master, or "feeder" track that you forgot about... or finally, it could be something in Tracktion itself. There's always that possibility, but it's only one out of many possibilities, and without further corroboration, the least likely.

Finally, are you playing back multiple guitar parts at the same time? The way they interact with each other will affect phasing, which will in turn affect the frequencies that you hear.

I dunno, dude. Tough one.

[chimmy]

Thanks for the reply Lunch.

I think you probably got it with the "subtle differences in playing style ". Not noticable throughout the course of a song, but definately apparant when trying to splice a rogue note or two. I hadn't considered that, so thanks for pointing it out.

Fortunately I have full takes that will work without edits but I'm glad to have the answer for future.

"Get it in one take!"

Thanks....chim

[Lunch Money]

It's also much easier to fool the listener when you make your splices at bar changes whenever possible, rather than mid-phrase in a measure.