Mic placement for the classical guitar

After my last article about recording, I decided to start a series of articles on recording.

The quality on recorded music is dependent to many factors, so we must eliminate most factors and check the various stages individually.

For example on a classical guitar, the guitar itself, the nails of the guitarist, the strings, all play a major role on the final quality of the recording.

So, this is my guitar, a 1997 Alkis Efthimiadis with Savarez Alliance strings recorded through a Rode NT2000 microphone. I decided to play a short easy piece by Mauro Giuliani to demostrate the various sound colorations when we use a different microphone placement in front of the guitar.

Also, the Rode NT2000 is capable of seamlessly changing the polar pattern of the microphone, so I tried out two settings. A hypercardioid and an omnidirectional setting.

There are no effects besides a subtle limiter that makes the sound louder and prevents clipping.

Also, there is no correct placement of the microphone. Everyone must choose the one that suits his playing or guitar most and of course there are also the stereo techniques that are not covered since I don't own two same mics :)

Enjoy!