Avalon Acoustic Guitars

by **Lentin** » 21 Apr 2008, 22:33

I don't know if this is the right place for it, but it's my today's question.
I (try to) play an incredible L32 and I would like to record some music.
It's pure acoustic.
I bought a cheap pick up, since I've got a Marshall amp, but it doesn't sound too well.
Any clue?

by **chris c** » 22 Apr 2008, 09:07

Hi Lentin,

All depends on the sound you want, and on your budget. Many people on YouTube just use the mic of their webcam or camcorder (or even cell phone), but that doesn't always sound too good.
You can also plug the guitar directly in your computer or digital recorder, but that will probably not be a very realistic sound either.
Of course you can also use a good microphone, which is maybe the best option.

I usually plug my guitar (which has an Fishman Matrix pickup) via the Fishman Aura into a small Boss digital recorder. At the same time, I record the image with my cheap camera (which is intended to make photographs, but has a basic video function). The internal mic of this camera is very bad, that is why I record the sound separately.
Then I put sound and image together with Windows Movie Maker, and try to synchronize as best as I can.
I don't do any EQ or whatever, so it's still not a perfect sound, but it is quickly done and good enough for YouTube.

Here is an example :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd-8mWfYgFE

Some have posted amazing videos here that look and sound much better than this one, so I hope they will tell us their "secrets" :idea:

by **Lentin** » 22 Apr 2008, 21:10

Thanks for the reply.
I have been reading about that pickup and has been discontinued.
There's a new model. It's an 'undersaddle Pickup'. Have you made a hole on your guitar to install it?

by **chris c** » 23 Apr 2008, 08:33

No, the pickup was already installed in the guitar.
But for recording, it only sounds really good in combination with the Aura.

by **Lentin** » 23 Apr 2008, 21:37

First of all, I didn't say anything about your video on YouTube. It's really good.

I was this afternoon in a guitar shop. They had the Aura. But it was 600 eur.
That's too much.
:cry:

So, you bought your L32 with preamp. Mine is pure acoustic. And I love the sound. This guitar has a lot of patient with me...

by **chris c** » 23 Apr 2008, 21:41

600 euro is way too much !
And the L32 is my 12-string. My 6-string is the Jacques Stotzem signature model.

by **Lentin** » 18 Apr 2009, 23:14

I bought this week a new PC.
ISo, I tried for the very first time to record a song in the PC.
First I tried with my old digital video cam. Awful sound.
Then, I tried a couple of cheap mics I had at home. Re-awful.
Lastly, I tried a not-expensive DiMarzio Acoustic pickup. Sound is still bad-

Ideas? (not buying an expensive Aura or any other similar solution)

Thanks

by **singlereed** » 19 Apr 2009, 07:44

Have a look at this guy's website for a few ideas http://www.mjra.net/WillFly/howtorecord.shtml

by **oberon** » 19 Apr 2009, 19:58

I have just started playing about with Youtube recently. My webcam for sound and vision was not too successful, being blurred and not good enough to follow fast finger movements. better was using a normal digital stills camera with video clip capability. This does a reasonable job of sound and vision, and even though perfectly in sync from the camera, Youtube manages to get it out of sync by the time it's uploaded and played back. Better again was using the digi camera for the visuals and recording the sound at the same time on my Zoom H2. Windows movie maker is fine for putting the two together, and even adding simple titles/credits easily. I think this one is probably my best effort so far, although still a bit out of sync compared with the original on my computer -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hujey_g ... annel_page
Sorry it's not an Avalon.
Keith
(Ross A's Youtube channel is worth a look if you haven't already been there.)

by **Ross A** » 20 Apr 2009, 09:40

oberon wrote:I have just started playing about with Youtube recently. My webcam for sound and vision was not too successful, being blurred and not good enough to follow fast finger movements. better was using a normal digital stills camera with video clip capability. This does a reasonable job of sound and vision, and even though perfectly in sync from the camera, Youtube manages to get it out of sync by the time it's uploaded and played back. Better again was using the digi camera for the visuals and recording the sound at the same time on my Zoom H2. Windows movie maker is fine for putting the two together, and even adding simple titles/credits easily. I think this one is probably my best effort so far, although still a bit out of sync compared with the original on my computer -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hujey_g ... annel_page
Sorry it's not an Avalon.
Keith
(Ross A's Youtube channel is worth a look if you haven't already been there.)

Ah Keith, you're too kind - but thanks for the plug

If you want to hear some proper guitar playing I would heartily recommend that you check out the Youtube channel keithchesteron. It also will give you an idea of the quality of recording you get from the Zoom H2, plus how you can get good quality video from a digital stills camera.

You should find that you can put together some kind of solution without spending a fortune. There are loads of options, it's just figuring out which suits you.

by **Lentin** » 21 Apr 2009, 21:09

Thanks for the answers. I've been reading now a bit about Zoom H2.
I understand it has some mics for recording and you don't need a pickup or an electro acoustic guitar.
Am I right?

by **Ross A** » 21 Apr 2009, 22:31

That's right. It is a recorder with a built in mic. You record your music, and then transfer it to your computer. The quality is very good, and the price is pretty reasonable. You might be able to get one for a good price on ebay.

by **Lentin** » 19 May 2009, 17:44

Back again with this interesting topic

I have tried to find the Zoom H2 but no dealer in Spain. So, I'm searching on eBay (I'm new on it so it's taking some time).
In the meantime, I have recorded some videos with my old vid cam, and the movie size is huge!!
Sorry for bothering you but, do you know how I could make lighter files?

Thanks

by **Ross A** » 20 May 2009, 08:55

If you are using a PC (rather than a MAC) you can use Movie Maker.

You just need to import the video you have already created (it might take a while depending on size).

Then you select finish movie, and you are offered several quality options. The higher the quality, the bigger the file.

I'm not a MAC user, so I can't help with that.

by **Lentin** » 20 May 2009, 20:41

Thanks Ross.
Any recommended configuration?
I will try some in my personal page.

Avalon Acoustic Guitars

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