Acoustic Guitar Recording: How Mic Choice & Placement Shape Your Tone (Mic Shootout!)

I don't want to just tell you, but to show you how different microphones and mic placements dramatically change the sound of an acoustic guitar recording. Whether you’re a beginner looking for starting points or an experienced engineer curious about mic shootouts, hopefully this guide will help you capture the tone you’re looking for.

Let's listen and compare:
✅ Small diaphragm condenser microphones
✅ Large diaphragm condenser microphones
✅ Tube condenser microphones
✅ Ribbon microphones (my personal favorite option!)

You’ll hear how each mic type colors the sound and how moving the mic placement, from the 12th fret (classic option), or moving toward the sound hole, or straight up on the neck, and then experimenting with distance shapes tone, depth, and clarity. This is the recording acoustic guitar with a single-mic technique 101 to give you reliable starting points in your own sessions.

By the end, you’ll understand not just where to place a mic, but why it sounds the way it does.

If you enjoy this video, check out my other recording tutorials and gear shootouts for more practical, real-world recording tips.

#AcousticGuitarRecording #MicPlacement #recordingguitar #HomeStudioTips #MicrophoneShootout

Gear Used In This Video: (affiliate unless otherwise noted)

Guild OM-240E Acoustic-Electric Guitar:
https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--GLDOM240E?siid=187071

Warm Audio WA-84 Small- Diaphragm Condenser:
https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--WAUWA84?siid=255159

Roswell Pro Audio Mini K87:
https://roswellproaudio.com/chapman

Mojave Audio MA200 Tube Condenser Microphone:
https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--MOJMA200SN?siid=289035

Shure SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone:
https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--SHUSM57LC?siid=1479

sE Electronics VR2 Voodoo Active Ribbon Microphone:
https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--SEEVR2?siid=342750

My Favorite Mic Pre: The A Designs P1 500 Series Mic Preamp:
sweetwater.sjv.io/kO6NWN

What I Personally use for audio: (affiliated unless noted otherwise)

My Voiceover Mic: (Not Affiliated)
https://www.dachmanaudio.com/products/da-87se
My Interface:
https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--ANEDISCRT4PROSYN?siid=317635
My VoiceOver Preamp:
https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--BLAAUTEURMK3?siid=313551
My Main Monitors:
https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--NEUKH120II?siid=335650
My Headphones:
https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--BEYDT770PRO250?siid=302076
My LiN76 Compressor:
https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--LIALIN76?siid=322099
Plugins:
https://pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=691f3713a627d

My Camera Gear:
My Main camera: https://amzn.to/40Q93bY
My Main Lens: https://amzn.to/3GD2Wkx
My Main On Camera Microphone: https://www.zzounds.com/a--3993776/item--RODVMNTG?siid=272904
My B Lens: https://amzn.to/44GwEgB
My Softbox: https://amzn.to/3EyfA2Q

Timestamps:

Intro 0:00
The Guitar: 0:20
The Mics: 1:00
Small vs Large Diaphragm: 2:06
Tube Mics / Mojave MA200: 2:43
Mojave Audio MA200 sample: 3:27
SM57 for Acoustic Guitar?!?!?: 3:58
SM57 Sound Samples: 4:46
Ribbon Mics / SE VR2: 5:20
SE Electronics VR2 Sample: 5:53
Loving the SE VR2: 6:26
Off Axis Rejection of Figure 8 Ribbon Mics: 7:11
Mic Placements: 8:50
Distance Comparisons: 9:08
Moving Mic Side to Side: 10:24
Philosophy of recording: 11:36

Subscribe for real-world, no-hype recording insights: www.Youtube.com/@UC7erPUP_HjRQvLg53ck1_Aw
Follow me on TikTok/IG: @andrew_chapman
Business inquiries: andrewcchapman@gmail.com

Видео Acoustic Guitar Recording: How Mic Choice & Placement Shape Your Tone (Mic Shootout!) канала Andrew Chapman Creative