[AxSlinger]

I've been playing around with a crappy mic, and I want to amplify when playing on my classical. What's the best spot to point the mic at. I usually point it straight at the soundhole, but I don't get much from that.

Doing a little research on the internet, when recording with a cardioid mic, the mic should be to point a little upwards, because of the way the mic picks up the sound.

My question is, where would be the best place to point the mic? I heard some people point it at the 12th fret, some at the sound hole, and some closer to the bridge. How does it affect what type of sound it picks up, and where would the most sound be coming from? Would it help to have two mics, each pointing at a different spot?

When I save up to buy some decent mics, I want to be able to record.

Should I be posting this in the recording forum?

FYI, I have a $150 Classical Nylon stringed acoustic.

[dadfad]

Ideally you mic at two locations... near the bridge area and near the upper bouts (on some guitars the top upper is preferable, on some the bottom upper is best, on most it doesn't matter). The lower bout (big end of the guitar) tends to have more bass response, the upper more treble. That being said, on many (maybe most) guitars where the internal bracing is no longer in a specific-tone enhancing pattern but is now just symetrical, specific areas are less important. The bridge area is probably the spot that gives off the most volume and the best single area to be mic'ed. For that mic'ing I like the mic slightly back pointed at the bridge with a slight angle toward the sound-hole (for a cardioid, like a 58), more directly at the bridge back edge (for a directional, like a 57 or 55), at five or six inches (closer if it doesn't interfere with your playing style. These are generalities, you really need to experiment with your specific mic and guitar.

[AxSlinger]

So then what would you think would be the best mic to use? The classical guitar isn't very loud by itself (using fingers not a pic/fingernails). Would a cardioid or directional be better. Furthermore, an electric condenser or a dynamic. I will by a new mic to record with. So then a couple of them would be better?

I appreciate the help.

[dadfad]

A dynamic cardioid would be the most practical. A dynamic directional or a crystal directional give truer reproduction but are a lot more touchy. (Not to mention expensive, especially in the crystals). A crystal cardioid is a bit easier but still pretty expensive for a decent one (you can buy three or four pretty good dynamic cardioids for the price of one good crystal mic) (plus shock-mounts, etc). One thing that can add greatly to the performance of any mic is a tweeker/notch box of some kind (wholey separate from whatever your recording or amplification device may or may not have). Even a cheap one (fifty dollars or so, even less) can enhance your mic's capabilities greatly.