Subject:Bad Bass Noise While Recording in Sound Forge

Posted by: clepto

Date:12/30/2002 2:51:20 PM

Hey,

Im using sound forge 6.0 and a Shure sm57 mic. Im trying to record my acoustic guitar, all levels seem fine while monitoring. When I record everything sounds ok except the bass notes of my guitar, they actually seem to mesh together or drone. It sounds especially horrible on the F bar chord. I cant seem to figure out the problem, ive played with my recording levels and mic placement. I am just getting into the world of music editing and recording, is there something I can do to lesten this droning? Thanks!

Subject:RE: Bad Bass Noise While Recording in Sound Forge

Reply by: clepto

Date:12/30/2002 8:33:59 PM

I realise this may be simple to most but as an acoustic guitarist I have never tried to record my sound. I am currently though attending school and majoring in music/ classical guitar. Electronic music is in my future in terms of classes but it is so foreign to me now. Any help at all would be great, I should in the future continue to be on these boards due to my trade.

Subject:RE: Bad Bass Noise While Recording in Sound Forge

Reply by: musicvid10

Date:12/30/2002 8:41:47 PM

It's probably a resonant tone, either in the room or the guitar shell.
If so, you can:
Try to deaden the acoustic space with baffling, foam, or egg cartons,
Put a little batting material inside the guitar to suppress LF resonance,
Use an external graphic equalizer to suppress or "notch" the offending frequency,
Turn off monitoring during recording to eliminate residual feedback,
Post-process the recorded file to tame down the offending frequencies,
Try a different microphone or placement.

Usually, it's a combination of techniques that will give the best result. Also, make sure all other recording inputs and outputs are silenced in your computer mixer, except those being used.

Subject:RE: Bad Bass Noise While Recording in Sound Forge

Reply by: clepto

Date:12/31/2002 10:17:29 AM

Thank you so much for the information, I have some things to look up now due to your response which is great! One more question though, you suggested also getting a new mic, is the Shure SM57 a cruddy mic? It was what was recommended at the store. Also I have a Mackie 1202-vlz 12 channel mic/line mixer. Will this serve as an external graphic equalizer or am I just getting confused?

Subject:RE: Bad Bass Noise While Recording in Sound Forge

Reply by: musicvid10

Date:12/31/2002 12:37:31 PM

The SM57 is a good instrument mike, because it is rugged and can handle high sound pressure levels without distortion. It is not quite as responsive to very soft sounds or high frequencies as some others. Trying another mike might make a difference because of the response curve, -- the 57 is certainly not a bad mike, I use it regularly to mike guitar amps.

Another option is an acoustic guitar pickup, but they are sometimes problematic because they tend to pick up hum.

Your Mackie mixer doesn't have multiband EQ if I remember, but adjusting the input bass controls might give all the correction you need. Start by setting it at -6db. Also if the input has a "Lo Cut" filter enable it. It's a good quality mixer. Try different combinations of fixes, and when you find one that suits you, try it out on another musician. Two sets of ears are always better than one.

Subject:RE: Bad Bass Noise While Recording in Sound Forge

Reply by: musicvid10

Date:1/2/2003 12:07:21 AM

Here's another afterthought:
Make sure your chair and the mike stand are on a carpeted surface, and the mike stand doesn't come in physical contact with a solid object like a chair or music stand. Conductive vibrations can really mess up a recording session!