Microphone placement basics
Microphone placement changes the recorded sound more than most EQ or plugin adjustments.
Actionable suggestions
Move the microphone before using EQ
Changing microphone distance changes tone and room pickup naturally.
Example
Start 15-20 cm from the mic with a pop filter.
Aim acoustic guitar away from the soundhole
Pointing directly at the soundhole can sound too boomy.
Example
Try placing the microphone near the 12th fret, angled slightly toward the guitar body.
Keep drum overhead distance balanced
Try to keep both overhead microphones the same distance from the snare.
Example
Measure the distance from the snare to each overhead microphone.
Check snare microphone polarity
Top and bottom snare microphones can cancel each other if polarity is incorrect.
Example
If the snare gets thinner when both mics play, check polarity.
Use keyboard line output for cleaner recording
Keyboard line output is usually cleaner and easier to manage than recording from the built-in speaker.
Example
Use line out for DGX-670 recording when possible.
Test one new microphone technique at a time
Too many microphone experiments can slow the session and make troubleshooting difficult.
Example
Try adding one room microphone and compare the result before changing other setups.