Best Microphone for Record an Acoustic
 

Hey Friends,

What microphone would you recommend for recording acoustic guitar? Give me an entry-level, medium-level, and high-level option if possible. Thanks and have a great weekend.

MK

Here is an example of the set up I have right now for recording. I used two wireless DJI mics to capture this recording.

https://youtu.be/l6uvIzM8bjc

Everyone will have their own favorites, but generally small diaphragm condensers are the choice. So, sticking with those:

High end: Schoeps CMC64 (CMC6 body with cardioid MK4 capsule) is probably the mic that gets the top reviews around here. Around $1650 each.

Mid: From the Shure SM81 ($400) to the mid-high Neumann KM184 ($850).

Budget: You can get good results with the sE Electronics sE7 ($120). The Line Audio CM4 (has to be ordered from No Hype Audio in Europe, about the same cost excluding shipping) punches above its price point.

BTW, there is a whole subforum for recording; you will get more answers if you post this question there.

Here is what I have for entry level recording, purely home use to record my playing for learning/improving...


- recently bought a used Rode NT5, records and sounds great
- my Shure SM58 is also useable but nothing like the NT5
- also have a AKG 214 which records really well, I love the clarity/sound

and occasionally when I don't want to set anything up, I use a Rode NT-USB+ with ok results

You might find this comparison I did a while back useful. 5 different pairs of mics at price points from $60-1650. Of these, the one I'd recommend (and use myself) is the Schoeps, but I think all of them did a decent job. The other mics I often use (not demo'd here), on the high end, are Brauner VM1s.

Thanks, Doug!

Excellent video, super helpful!

MK

Generally a good quality matched pair of two small diameter condenser mikes for acoustic guitar recording.

Personally I have been recording with Microtech Gefell M295 or M300. Those particular mikes not made anymore but in general the company makes great mikes.

However many other great mikes to record with as you will see recommened on this recording part of this forum.

Consider you may be working somewhat backwards with the criteria given.

That is to say I understand wanting to get a sense of the costs for the different levels (budget ranges and build quality of mic

BUT the vast number of available possible options in any one price category is difficult enough to sift through and make a decision.

The reality is while there are decent usable mics in all price ranges, there is still the "you get what you pay for" factor involved yet the value of which is totally subjective ..

Then by having three budget ranges you are compounding that large number of variables by basically 300%

So all that to say I always encourage folks to decide on reasonable a budget range based on your realistic personal disposable cash and what you likely know is you limits . And then shop in that range because that definitely help to focus your search

Hey Derek,
The Gefell M295 is discontinued, but I believe the M300 are still available.

I have the M300 mikes in addition to the M295s. The M300 is a very nice
mike that works well on the guitar - a bit warmer sounding overall than
the M295 mikes. If available I would say give them a strong consideration.

A recording I did using the M300s that I like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

That's exactly what I would suggest !

I bought the AudioTechnica AE5100 after seeing this video. Not super expensive, and it has been around long enough that you can find them used. It has become my favorite mic for ToneDexter 2 training:

My votes go to:

Entry: Roswell Pro Audio k67x (think they're just under $500 USD)

We have a pair of these at the studio, they are great little workhorses. They get most jobs done & sound good.

Mid-level: KM-184 (right around $800 USD)

I just like KM184s. People love to hate on them, but they are great mics with a smooth & detailed sound.

High End: U87 ($3200, but if you know where to look you can find factory 2nds for around $2300 USD) or a Signal Art Electronics U47 clone (around $2300 USD).

The U87 is an industry standard for a reason & acoustic guitar is one of those tasks that it really shines on.

The SAE u47 is a superb mic, if you don't mind dealing with the idiosyncrasies of a tube mic (more delicate than it's solid state variants, warm up time, heat production, needing to stock extra tubes).

At the beginning of the session, the young turk recording engineer approached the grizzled veteran and posed a question, trying to put him on the spot:

"What is the best mic to record acoustic guitar?"

The grizzled veteran scratched his chin and stared off into the distance, thinking. He took his time and thought, and thought. Eventually, the young turk lost his patience and blurted out, "So, comeon! What is the best mic to record acoustic guitar?" The grizzled veteran scratched his head and thought some more. Then, still staring off into the distance, he muttered, pensively,

"It depends."

and shuffled back to work.

(Semi-quoted from a 1979 Recording Engineer/Producer Magazine article, from memory)

Bob

That’s what I did. I swim at the bottom of the pond with my pair of sE8 SDCs ($525 the pair). Until recently, my room acoustics made it irrelevant which SDC I used. Now that I’ve entered the world of absorption gobo surround, I suppose it’s possible I’ll begin to find some limitations in the mics — but, for my purposes, I doubt it.