Armistice wrote: โWed Dec 20, 2017 4:09 pm
A lot depends upon the sonic qualities of the guitar as well. I've never used a mic down the lower end of a guitar - but I'm recording an Australian built Maton Messiah which doesn't really sound like a Taylor or a Martin or a Yamaha or anything else and has particularly frequency characteristics which I've had to learn to accommodate. I primarily recorded acoustic guitars for 3 albums worth of instrumental music, so this is something I've had plenty of time to learn the hard way about!
So what muttley says about experimentation is key - you'll need to find what works in the particular room for the particular guitar with the particular mics you have. Also, as he says, 4 inches is too, too close. I'm rarely inside a foot and that's for fingerpicking - strumming/plectrum hybrid stuff in a rock mix I'm up to 18 inches away - the sound comes together better if you're further away.
I'd tend to a drier room than a kitchen, without having seen either of your options - again, depends upon the end location of the track in the mix.
I don't use the over the shoulder technique but lots do and it works for them - I tend to have an SDC pointing at about the fret/body join and a second one higher (yep) up, but that's my guitar and absolutely not for everyone. One close mic and a room mic may also work, again, depending upon the mix.
The other point I'd make is that a lot of acoustic guitar recordings are crap because people can't play acoustic guitar very well - especially primarily electric guitarists who are just picking it up to add some colour to a track, or to do the obligatory album ballad. God I've heard some heavy handed squeaky acoustic tracks from really good electric guitarists.
So - too late now, but practice, practice!
Also:
(1) Control your breathing if what you're doing is quiet - breath noises on the close mic are very possible if you don't - again, in a busy mix, not such a problem but if it's an acoustic track, it can be a thing
(2) Wear soft clothes to avoid rustling noises
(3) Sit down and jam the fucking instrument into the corner of the couch if that's going to anchor it and stop casual movement - don't feel you have to stand up - doesn't work on leather couches, of course, only fabric
(4) Watch for feet tapping and shit like that - I always need to get pretty "zen" to do good fingerstyle stuff as it's so easy to make extraneous noises on such a quiet source
(5) Squeaking - wash your hands, then soak them in warm to hot water for a minute between takes and your skin softens and you get way less squeaking. The best way to deal with acoustic guitar squeak is not to make it - and this is part of how to do that. The other bit is just get good at what you're playing
(6) Watch for pick strike noises - again, a technique thing
(7) Keep your headphone cord out of the way as you don't want that slapping against the guitar body either - I always run it back over my shoulder
That's enough to remember for now. Like everything else - it's practice, both at the piece and at the recording aspects, that make perfect. Good luck.