Grammy-winning producer Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Kings of Leon) shows you how he captures professional, soulful-sounding acoustic guitar tracks in real time using UAD plug-ins. Learn more about Universal Audio and UAD plug-ins at www.uaudio.com
Along with Nashville session guitar ace, Jerry McPherson (Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson) and UA's Ben Lindell, King details his thought process when choosing mics, taking into account genre and eventual mix placement, how he selects mic pairs, and how different combinations of microphones will give you superior results.
Mic Placement
Next, watch and listen as King runs through various mic positions as McPherson plays. Learn how to avoid "cloudy" areas that introduce mud, create a lead vocal "pocket" using panning, and how to effectively "EQ" with mic placement in order to avoid later EQing.
Choosing a Preamp
Get the lowdown as King walks you through various UAD mic preamps, including his faves - API Vision, UA 610-B, and the Neve 1073 plug-ins - and how he casts each preamp depending on mood, genre, and feel of the track. King also runs through the benefits of pairing the right mic with the right preamp.
Bring on the DI
Looking for a little more detail? Learn how to harness an acoustic's onboard pickup, whether you're in a pinch or if you're looking to add some spice to the miked sounds. Learn how King uses the UA 610-B Tube Preamp & EQ plug-in along with a bluestripe 1176 Limiter, Ocean Way Studios, and Helios Type 69 Preamp & EQ plug-ins to add air and tone.
Tips from the Trenches
A Nashville vet with credits on thousands of records, McPherson shows off a variety of Taylor acoustics and details how he chooses different models depending on the vibe of the track. He also details why experimenting with different picks is preferable to EQ tweaking.