Billy, that is the first time I saw a USB mic. The new computers today have no input for to record on the computer so I guess one has to buy a USB mic. Do you any ? Looks like I’ll be in the market for one.

Billy I like the Fretastic its very useful thanks for posting. I will look at the video next.

That was a good summary of the various types of recording, thanks Billy. I’ve been using an IK Multimedia iRigHD 2 USB Condenser Mic direct into my iPad for some while, without a DAW it’s not the most sophisticated of methods but its simple and works quite well.

Richard

I don’t know which acoustic you played there Billy, but I strongly suspect that was a reasonably faithful reproduction of the guitar. I listened with good headphones and the audio sounded clean to me.

Richard

I can recommend the Shure MV88 as a top quality Iphone Mic with some high quality recording software bundled for the apple fire wire port. Plugs straight in and is a studio quality unit quite amazing.
https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/mv88

Hey Billy, nice short and concise review of how to record acoustic guitars. I have watched some other such reviews in the past, but i like this one best. I have a condenser mic, but i would have to use another interface, which would then probably require different settings in Reaper. Too much hassle altogether. Therefore, i may look again at a USB-mic. Plug and play. More time for guitar.

Good stuff Billy. That dude speaks the truth. I 100% agree with everything he says. And note that the very first thing he says is “you need a DAW”. If you are going to record and share your music, that is the heart of the system. Learning to use a DAW is not that difficult, thanks to Youtube.

I have a Shure MV88 (a condenser mic that plugs into the Lightning port of iPhones and iPads), a Shure SM58 (the classic dynamic mic used by vocalists), and a Rode M3 condenser mic (plugs into my Scarlett 2i2). Of the 3, the Rode gives significantly better sound. Rodes are made in Australia, and are very well made and competitively priced. Note that ALL condenser mics require an external 48V DC power source called “phantom power”. The Shure MV88 gets it directly from the iPhone or iPad. The Rode he’s using in his first demo gets it from the computer’s USB port. Mine gets it from my Scarlett 2i2.

As for noise, condenser mics (like Billy’s) are more sensitive than dynamic mics. With a dynamic mic, if you put it half and arm’s length away from your guitar, you will barely be able to hear the guitar. They need to be almost touching the guitar. That’s why you see vocalists on stage almost kissing their mics. Condenser mics, on the other hand, are so sensitive they will even pick up the sound of a car driving by outside your house. But if you can manage to record in a reasonably quiet room, condenser mics will give you a much better quality recording.

Another thing to notice is that when he records going through the Scarlett 2i2, the guitar has a fuller sound that when recording through a USB condenser mic. This is because the Scarlett has a built-in pre-amp and can deliver a full range of frequencies, including more bass.