Acoustic DI > Mic emulation VST ?
- KVRist
- 259 posts since 31 Oct, 2021
I'm wondering if anyone's come up with this...
DI from acoustic sounds pretty nasty on a recording (generally speaking), so... might there be a plugin that takes that kind of signal and "emulates" what an acoustic would sound like mic'd up?
I've heard of people using IR's from various bodies of acoustic guitars to achieve this, but imagine this is only half the story since frequency also plays a big part in the sound of a DI vs Mic.
Pretty sure I could do something after hours of trying out different IR's and manually playing with EQ... but a plugin would save me the bother!
DI from acoustic sounds pretty nasty on a recording (generally speaking), so... might there be a plugin that takes that kind of signal and "emulates" what an acoustic would sound like mic'd up?
I've heard of people using IR's from various bodies of acoustic guitars to achieve this, but imagine this is only half the story since frequency also plays a big part in the sound of a DI vs Mic.
Pretty sure I could do something after hours of trying out different IR's and manually playing with EQ... but a plugin would save me the bother!
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 259 posts since 31 Oct, 2021
Fantastic, just what I was looking for! As it says on their website: “Turn your under saddle pickup into a studio grade PRO sounding full body elite instrument”
Obviously, I just didn't use the right keywords.
Thank you
- KVRian
- 1114 posts since 20 Oct, 2018
I've had my eyes on Blue Cat's Re-Guitar - https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_ReGuitar/ - need it to come down 50% before i'll make a move on it.
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 259 posts since 31 Oct, 2021
I have it.. unless I've got old version or something, it doesn't really have anything for acoustic DI to make it sound more like mic'd acoustic... it can do electric to acoustic I believe, but I'm at a loss to think why I would want that since I have an acoustic already!Saffran wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 9:11 pm I've had my eyes on Blue Cat's Re-Guitar - https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_ReGuitar/ - need it to come down 50% before i'll make a move on it.
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- KVRist
- 117 posts since 6 Nov, 2017
Nembrini has regular sales by the way, up to 80%! And you can try it beforehand.AudioBabble wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 9:07 pm
Fantastic, just what I was looking for! As it says on their website: “Turn your under saddle pickup into a studio grade PRO sounding full body elite instrument”
Obviously, I just didn't use the right keywords.
Thank you![]()
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Blue Cat Audio Blue Cat Audio https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=39981
- KVRAF
- 6350 posts since 8 Sep, 2004 from Paris (France)
Thanks for mentioning our plug-in. It may actually help a little bit with acoustics too sometimes, if you disable pickup simulation and just use the body simulation. But it depends on your source and the expected result.AudioBabble wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 9:22 pmI have it.. unless I've got old version or something, it doesn't really have anything for acoustic DI to make it sound more like mic'd acoustic... it can do electric to acoustic I believe, but I'm at a loss to think why I would want that since I have an acoustic already!Saffran wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 9:11 pm I've had my eyes on Blue Cat's Re-Guitar - https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_ReGuitar/ - need it to come down 50% before i'll make a move on it.
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Winstontaneous Winstontaneous https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=98336
- KVRAF
- 2593 posts since 15 Feb, 2006 from Another Green World
Also - if the acoustic pickup you're using is a piezo and doesn't already have a preamp, be sure to use a preamp/DI with as high an input impedance as possible (at least 1MegOhm, and up to 10MegOhm if available) or any plugin processing you do afterwards will just be lipstick on a pig.
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kris.audioplanet kris.audioplanet https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=345112
- KVRer
- 13 posts since 20 Dec, 2014
Woodworks UAD
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- KVRian
- 1076 posts since 27 Nov, 2003 from UK, Polegate
I have the Nembrini which is OK, but uses ilok which I didn't personally get on with. The Blue cat one is good. Another option is to use impulse respones of acoustic guitars on your Di'ed guitar
EDIT -oh yes and overloud TH-U have 2 acoustic packs which are very good. The TH-U seems to get negative responses here for the electric amps, but I found these acoustic packs good.
https://overloud.com/products/lrs-acoustic-dream
https://www.overloud.com/products/bm-pro-acoustic
EDIT -oh yes and overloud TH-U have 2 acoustic packs which are very good. The TH-U seems to get negative responses here for the electric amps, but I found these acoustic packs good.
https://overloud.com/products/lrs-acoustic-dream
https://www.overloud.com/products/bm-pro-acoustic
- KVRAF
- 7691 posts since 2 Sep, 2019
Find some acoustic guitar impulses and run the DI guitar through convolution.
http://acousticir.free.fr/spip.php?rubrique2
http://acousticir.free.fr/spip.php?rubrique2
THIS MUSIC HAS BEEN MIXED TO BE PLAYED LOUD SO TURN IT UP
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- KVRAF
- 3030 posts since 12 Mar, 2002 from Central NY
Another vote for convolution. I spent nearly the entire day just yesterday demoing acoustic guitar body IRS. Any IR loader VST will do, but I prefer to use one that displays the actual wave, I find the visual cues helpful. Also the plugin needs a good browser. Sooo....I usually use either SIR or Wavearts ConvologyXT.
Now, just like all other IRS, guitar IRS are only as good as guy that made them. The guitar you're using and the sound you're shooting for are also considerations. Bottom line?? Will a well made IR make your quacky, plasticky piezo pup sound like a mic'd up pre-war Martin. Not exactly. BUT......will it make sound WAY better and sit better in the mix?
ABSOLUTELY!!
The link jamcat posted has a lot of free AG IRS......good place to start!
Oh....and BTW....there are some cheap IR Loader pedals out now. They are marketed to be used for loading cabsim implulses, but they load acoustic guitar IRS just as well. They can even handle smaller short-tailed verbs and some short delays.
I'm using this one:

Cheers.....CL
Now, just like all other IRS, guitar IRS are only as good as guy that made them. The guitar you're using and the sound you're shooting for are also considerations. Bottom line?? Will a well made IR make your quacky, plasticky piezo pup sound like a mic'd up pre-war Martin. Not exactly. BUT......will it make sound WAY better and sit better in the mix?
ABSOLUTELY!!
The link jamcat posted has a lot of free AG IRS......good place to start!
Oh....and BTW....there are some cheap IR Loader pedals out now. They are marketed to be used for loading cabsim implulses, but they load acoustic guitar IRS just as well. They can even handle smaller short-tailed verbs and some short delays.
I'm using this one:

Cheers.....CL
the secrets to old age: Faster horses, Richer Women, Bigger CPU's
https://soundcloud.com/cristofe-chabot/sets/main
https://soundcloud.com/cristofe-chabot/sets/main
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Blue Cat Audio Blue Cat Audio https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=39981
- KVRAF
- 6350 posts since 8 Sep, 2004 from Paris (France)
Re-Guitar has actually been updated since and now has a new piezo input type that will let you get pretty good acoustic tones out of your piezo takes, as shown in the example below. Of course it works best with acoustic DI (thinner electric guitar strings make it sound a bit different):Blue Cat Audio wrote: Mon Mar 20, 2023 7:38 pmThanks for mentioning our plug-in. It may actually help a little bit with acoustics too sometimes, if you disable pickup simulation and just use the body simulation. But it depends on your source and the expected result.AudioBabble wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 9:22 pmI have it.. unless I've got old version or something, it doesn't really have anything for acoustic DI to make it sound more like mic'd acoustic... it can do electric to acoustic I believe, but I'm at a loss to think why I would want that since I have an acoustic already!Saffran wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 9:11 pm I've had my eyes on Blue Cat's Re-Guitar - https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_ReGuitar/ - need it to come down 50% before i'll make a move on it.
