KVR Audio

Local Man · Post by **Local Man** » Sat Aug 17, 2019 1:19 am

Thanks for all the great posts. Gives me a lot to look into.

The irig looks interesting but I wonder how much background noise it picks up since it is an actual mic it seems.

I'm suprised no one has mentioned using convolution reverb IRs in conjuction with DI pickups yet. I know Past to Future sells a Martin D18 IR set. I wonder how those work in real world use and if they pair well with the clip on mics a lot of you are talking about or if they are only good with Piezos.

CapnLockheed · Post by **CapnLockheed** » Tue Aug 20, 2019 8:59 pm

My main live acoustic guitar is a strange beast. It's like the b@stard love child of an Ovation and a Les Paul. It's a rare Dillion model. It has both a standard LP type humbucker AND a piezo...and seperate outs for each. I run the 'bucker out to a '56 Fender Vibrolux and the piezo out to a BBE Acoustimax preamp which helps tame that typical piezo "quackiness". That goes into a Carvin AG-200 acoustic amp. And THEN I have a Fishman Triple Play MIDI pickup and layer atmospheric synth sounds with both pickups.

Hermetech Mastering · Post by **Hermetech Mastering** » Wed Aug 21, 2019 5:15 pm

I've never got it to sound good either, but I only have a crappy piezo system in mine. Always reach for the KM84 and TG2 combo instead.

fedexnman · Post by **fedexnman** » Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:11 pm

I have a K&K pure pick up . You glue it to the inside of your guitar under the bridgeplate . Instead of a under the saddle pickup . On a Crate acoustic amp I find I have to dial the low end down a tad maybe 9or 10 o'clock and cut the mid range quite a bit 7-8 o'clock and boost the treble to 1-2 o'clock. I think it is a piezo as well ? The plastic sound , quack sound , nasally sound is not as bad on a K&K pure . A lot of the LR baggs and Fishmans included preamps dial the quack out a tad better nowadays . With the k&k pure you have to use a di or preamp before a PA with it being passive. For recording even a cheap dynamic mic like a sm58 will sound better than a pickup . And if you have two mics to record with than even better ..

Hermetech Mastering · Post by **Hermetech Mastering** » Thu Sep 05, 2019 7:19 am

What's a piezo pickup's fave song?

Under the Bridge...

The Noodlist · Post by **The Noodlist** » Thu Sep 05, 2019 11:31 am

Hermetech Mastering wrote: ↑Thu Sep 05, 2019 7:19 am What's a piezo pickup's fave song?
Under the Bridge...

How about "Back In The Saddle Again"

lfm · Post by **lfm** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 7:12 pm

Local Man wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 1:19 am
....but I wonder how much background noise it picks up since it is an actual mic it seems.

You could have a look at DPA dvote 4099G, easy to clip on any acoustic. I use it as second mic to get stereo when guitar has it's own system as well. It's also very directional and I usually put 2 cm over fret 14-19 or so, you don't hear much if anything from room. But you could experiment what works better on your guitars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZWRLweohao

Otherwise I double what was said about KKsound Pure mini - I have installed on two acoustics and real easy to do if you have a tapered reamer and normal drill machine. No piezo character at all in my view, very nice.

Taylor ES2 mic system sound really good as it is. Even better with DPA as second mic.

Local Man · Post by **Local Man** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 7:24 pm

lfm wrote: ↑Sun Sep 08, 2019 7:12 pm
Local Man wrote: ↑Sat Aug 17, 2019 1:19 am
....but I wonder how much background noise it picks up since it is an actual mic it seems.

You could have a look at DPA dvote 4099G, easy to clip on any acoustic. I use it as second mic to get stereo when guitar has it's own system as well. It's also very directional and I usually put 2 cm over fret 14-19 or so, you don't hear much if anything from room. But you could experiment what works better on your guitars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZWRLweohao

Otherwise I double what was said about KKsound Pure mini - I have installed on two acoustics and real easy to do if you have a tapered reamer and normal drill machine. No piezo character at all in my view, very nice.

Taylor ES2 mic system sound really good as it is. Even better with DPA as second mic.

Nice recommendations, thanks!

lfm · Post by **lfm** » Sun Sep 08, 2019 7:33 pm

I was a bit slow, but some reviewers talk themselves to death - but 5:30 into this gives even better demo of DPA's own girl above
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhXXp3q2Io4

Just note that all type of clips for various type of instruments does not follow each mike you buy, the 4099G is acoustic guitar.

Hermetech Mastering · Post by **Hermetech Mastering** » Mon Sep 09, 2019 6:42 am

That DPA does sound great, would be awesome for live use, so much better than a piezo sound!

bangzero · Post by **bangzero** » Tue Sep 10, 2019 5:09 pm

for your consideration, recent DI practice recordings of two guitars with stereo piezo disks, superglued on:

https://app.box.com/s/4iac3afsik7weev5iwp1e4i94qa79loc

'raw' is unprocessed (except for light compression/limiting on the mix bus). 'dry' adds eq/comp/ambience to the guitar. 'wet' adds echoes/verb for context. details on request. feedback welcome. enjoy!

The Noodlist · Post by **The Noodlist** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 2:04 pm

Just finished installing a OEM mic/piezo preamp (allegedly), I still prefer an external mic. I didn't expect a lot for £12, OK for getting quick ideas down. Preamp has handling noise when adjusting parameters, gives a loud pop when turning tuner off and on.

The one mentioned by DT sounds good, and is fairly priced, and a better option.
Tie Studio TCX110 Condenser Microphone for Guitars

Here's 2 test recordings, one with FX and the other without, tried to level match them at -15LUFS using Melda's free MLoudnessAnalyzer.
Warning -dead, rusty strings with an action of 6mm at neck joint. Gotta refret and file saddle.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2r6dfckrrhpxn ... X.wav?dl=0 With FX
https://www.dropbox.com/s/p2o3kxc8xx887 ... X.wav?dl=0
75% mic 25% piezo.
Might try again with just piezo.

The Noodlist · Post by **The Noodlist** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:13 pm

bangzero wrote: ↑Tue Sep 10, 2019 5:09 pm for your consideration, recent DI practice recordings of two guitars with stereo piezo disks, superglued on:

https://app.box.com/s/4iac3afsik7weev5iwp1e4i94qa79loc

'raw' is unprocessed (except for light compression/limiting on the mix bus). 'dry' adds eq/comp/ambience to the guitar. 'wet' adds echoes/verb for context. details on request. feedback welcome. enjoy!

Is it stereo, or 2 discs in mono?
Similar to this with 3. I'm thinking these discs might give more fuller body sound than under saddle strip piezo.

fedexnman · Post by **fedexnman** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 6:52 pm

That's basically like a K&K pure pickup with the 3 sensors . There are some other companies that make similar pickups.

bangzero · Post by **bangzero** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 9:14 pm

The Noodlist wrote: ↑Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:13 pm Is it stereo, or 2 discs in mono?

wired and processed in stereo. this seems quite a bit more natural than a mono system. gel supergluing the pickups on the inside of the top helps too. also, both the homebrew pickups in g1 and the K&K's in g2 have a thin layer of epoxy on the back. both guitars have one pickup next to the bass side of the bridge, and one next to a crossbrace on the treble side. the exact positions were tuned by ear to limit resonances using a stick on pickup on the outside. still needs lots of eq, also tuned by ear.

Anyone Using DI Acoustic to Good Results?