Big Wins In Mixing Acoustic Guitar

Photo by Stephen Niemeier

Mixing acoustic guitar involves adjusting and balancing various elements of the guitar's sound to achieve a clear, pleasing, and well-integrated result in your mix. Here are some steps and tips to help you with the process:

1. Recording Quality

The foundation of a great acoustic guitar mix starts with a good recording. Make sure the guitar is recorded with a quality microphone in a suitable acoustic environment. This will give you a solid starting point for the mix.

2. EQ (Equalization)

Use EQ to shape the guitar's tone and to avoid frequency clashes with other instruments. Acoustic guitars often have a wide frequency range, so it's important to make space for other elements in the mix. Reduce muddiness by cutting some low frequencies, and add clarity and brightness by boosting the higher frequencies (around 5-10 kHz). The specific EQ adjustments will depend on the individual guitar and the context of the mix.

3. Compression

Apply gentle compression to even out the volume and control dynamic range. Acoustic guitars can have wide variations in volume, especially if finger-picked or strummed with intensity. A light compression will help maintain consistency and ensure the guitar sits well in the mix without sounding unnatural.

4. Reverb and Delay

These effects can add a sense of space and depth to the acoustic guitar. Be subtle with the amount of reverb and adjust the decay time to fit the style of the song. A short delay can also add a nice touch, but again, use it subtly to avoid cluttering the mix.

5. Panning

Consider panning the acoustic guitar slightly off-centre, but be mindful of the other instruments in the mix. This will create a more immersive and spacious sound stage.

6. Stereo Widening

If you have recorded the acoustic guitar in stereo (using two microphones), you can enhance the stereo width by applying slight stereo widening techniques. Be cautious not to overdo it, as it can lead to phase issues and an unnatural sound.


7. Dynamics and Automation

Use automation to control volume levels during different parts of the song. You might want to boost the guitar during solos or reduce it during verses to keep it from overpowering the vocals or other instruments.

8. Guitar Fingerboard Noise

Acoustic guitars can produce some fingerboard noise, especially in solo or quiet sections. If it becomes distracting, you can use volume automation to reduce it during critical moments.

9. Surgical EQ for Troublesome Frequencies

In some cases, you might encounter resonances or undesirable frequencies in the guitar's recording. Use surgical EQ to target and reduce these problematic areas.

10. Reference Tracks

Always refer to professionally mixed acoustic guitar tracks in a similar style to gain insights and inspiration for your own mix. It will help you understand how the guitar can sit in the context of a full mix.

Remember that mixing is both an artistic and technical process, and there's no one-size-fits-all approach. Trust your ears and experiment to find the best sound that complements the song and the other instruments in the mix.