How to mic your ukulele and processing audio advice

cyber3d

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 29, 2017
Messages
507
Reaction score
16
Location
West Los Angeles, California
I remember someone asking about recording their ukulele to further their technique. It got me thinking. So, I found this great educational piece on how to mic an acoustic guitar. There is a lot of good basic information there along with advanced theory. How to properly set up a microphone(s) to record your uke. Listen with studio monitors to really hear the differences or at least a quality headphone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-_xkBoAuJw

And there is another video for those who might want to consider using Adobe Audition to record and enhance your playing. His focus is on using a lavalier on his acoustic guitar. It's an example of what you can do with Audition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNvD1ywZeT0

BTW, Audition is my favorite piece of software for recording music. I also use Premiere Pro CC for video editing. I've been using a Zoom HN6 with Sennheiser EW100 wireless with an over the ear mic for vocals and a single Sterling Audio ST31 positioned to the sound hole (But, after seeing that video I am going to try the XY mic for the Zoom as well as the Sennheiser EW100 Lavalier mic attached to the Uke).
 
Last edited:
For Mac users, Garage Band is really good, so is iMovie for video. For heavy duty video editing, Final Cut Pro 10.3 is more advanced than Premier.
 
Last edited:
There's so much useful stuff about recording on Youtube these days. I've found that recording ukes is quite different than recording a guitar. So I'll throw this placement in the hat in case the video missed it or to give it some extra emphasis:

micposition.jpg

A few more details here: https://liveukulele.com/gear/recording/. 99% of the uke you hear on my albums is recorded that way with a Neumann KM184 plus a DI from the pickup. I think I talked about this on my Youtube channel when I was trying to document the new project, if anyone is interested.
 
That's a great demo of the various techniques and how and when to use them.

Mic placement is OFTEN much more important than any EQ that you do later in your software, and will do MORE for getting excellent sound similar to what your ears hear in the open air, than ANY fiddling with knobs or settings in software.

The old rule applies 'Garbage in - garbage out'...

Mid-side technique is great for both solo instrument recordings, as well as using a single mic for a small ensemble like a folk or bluegrass band that has all acoustic instruments, and ALSO requires a lot LESS work in post-production than most of the other techniques, as per my own experience over the past 30 yrs.

Thanks to the OP for posting this video. I am sure it will help lots of folks to get great recordings. :)
 
cyber and hippieguy:

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. It was very helpful. I'm just starting to learn how to record my audio tracks.

regards
Luke
 
Top Bottom