Metropoulos Forum

minimize the amount of screeching across the strings when moving finger positions on an acoustic? Here is a sample of what I am talking about... http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_so ... ID=8505486" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... is it mic position? strings? I am using Elixirs... This is driving me nuts!!

Thanks,
Mike

dont botter about it. much of it will disappear in the mix anyway. some of it is cool - it has some charm

Thanks for the response Roe, unfortunately most of the acoustic stuff I want to record doesn't have a mix to it!! the particular track above is only one track and I can't hear anything else but my finger sliding across the strings!!

Do they make flatwound acoustic strings?

I have a hollowbody electric that would produce aweful screeching noises, until I through some flatwounds on. Now it's noise free.

I had a friend/guitar teacher that was a killer flamenco player that told me he used to put deodorant on the strings when he was in the studio. He was top NYC session artist in the 60's and 70's. Now, I have not tried this but, he said it worked great. He told me it got rid of it completely. I would ask him again about it but he passed away a few years ago. Attempt at your own risk not that I think deodorant would hurt the fingerboard

Interesting about the deodorant?? Spray or roll-on? I thought about baby powder but haven't tried yet.. I experimented with mic placement based on a conversation I had w/Wolly Mammoth... it seemed to minimize the audible amount in the recording... I'll post some clips in the next day or so with several different mic placements... I think I found a sweet spot that is tolerable to my ears! funny, I have mic'd a 4x12 alot in the past several years and not once recorded an acoustic until now! it is an entirely different art! Thanks for all for all of the replies!

Mike

I like a combination of pickup (fishman under the saddle in mine - and no on board EQ, just a powerjack), and a decent mic roughly at about the 12th fret but pointing back towards the soundhole.
Don't know whether that minimises the noise particularly, but I've never really been bothered by it.

Since it's already recorded your options are more limited. Try a de-esser plug in. If the squeaks are always in the same range of frequencies, you can cut it down a bit. The only way I've ever found it acceptable though, is to process short sections one at a time using de-essing and EQ.

george

You might try soaking the fretting fingers in water before recording.

VelvetGeorge wrote:Since it's already recorded your options are more limited. Try a de-esser plug in. If the squeaks are always in the same range of frequencies, you can cut it down a bit. The only way I've ever found it acceptable though, is to process short sections one at a time using de-essing and EQ.

george

Thanks guys! this is just a scratch track trying to set the mic right! I have redone it already and I am quite pleased with the way it turned out! Thanks again for the help!

Mike

Try a can of "finger ease" string lubricant.
Seems to make sliding on the neck a bit easier for me anyways.I havent had much eccessive squeeking but I would think it would help that.Its only $5 a can

Guitar-Sam wrote:Try a can of "finger ease" string lubricant.
Seems to make sliding on the neck a bit easier for me anyways.I havent had much eccessive squeeking but I would think it would help that.Its only $5 a can

I've always wondered about that stuff and if it was snake oil. There was a really great band on the scene, Zebra, and the guitar player actually had his roadie spray the shit on the fingerboard in mid song. Randy is an excellent guiatr player so if he thinks it helps I can't argue. But...

Kind of like the deodorant trick some of the guys in the 70's used to use chapstick to minimize string noise...that was on electric guitars, but it might work for acoustic.

NY Chief wrote: I've always wondered about that stuff and if it was snake oil. There was a really great band on the scene, Zebra, and the guitar player actually had his roadie spray the shit on the fingerboard in mid song. Randy is an excellent guiatr player so if he thinks it helps I can't argue. But...

I heard this too but never tried the stuff. Zebra was a great band. "Tell me what you want" is one my favorites. Singer has some pipes.

Oops posted my reply on the wrong post..............