Mic Mic Mic Mic

[satchaholic]

hey guys, i need a mic for close mic'ing an acoustic and im after a very airy sound

doubt anybody has heard of this band (Seventh Day Slumber) but im after the same sound they got on the recording of the song "When The Children Cry"

lookin at condensors... ive got a large diaphragm already so im lookin at a small diaphragm (57 type) condensor to accompany it

any recommendations? cheaper the better

[twilightdark]

Neuman KM184 - PERFECT for acoustic guitars. It's a small diaphragm condensor. If you can do it, get two and do an XY array.

I find AKG 451s can be decent on an acoustic (also a small diaphragm condensor).

One small diaphragm condensor I would not really recommend for an acoustic is Oktava MK012. Unless you want an excessive amount of attack, pick noise, fret noise, and string noise - they are really airy though, so it MIGHT be what you want, but I'd say try it out first and if you can't try it out, than don't do it - it's not worth the risk. I've tried an Oktava MK012 on XY array on an acoustic as an experiment - it didn't turn out (it was aweful), I scrapped the track and went back to the solo 451 track.

If you're only going to get one mic and especially if it is the 451, I would recommend trying a Mid/Side mic array (assuming your large diaphragm can do a figure 8 pattern). I've got good results combining an AKG 451 and an AKG 414 in this array.

But remember if you want air and ambience try moving the mic back from the guitar... And (especially if you are using one mic) you should always mic an acoustic from about (or more) "the guitar's body length" away from the guitar. Because of the soundwaves the resonate over the entire length of the body, yadda, yadda - The sound doesn't fully develop till it is at least that far out from the guitar. This pretty much goes for all acoustic stringed instruments (ie, you'd mic an upright bass further than a guitar, and a mandolin closer, etc.).