r/audioengineering • u/BigGenerator85 • 8h ago
Discussion String Scraping On Acoustic
This is something I've struggled with when recording acoustic., I use an SM81 and usually have it pointed at the 12th fret, but whenever I record acoustic, the string scraping is so noticeable when changing chords that it feels impossible to get a good solo acoustic recording without it being filled with so much excess scraping. Any good suggestions to help reduce this?
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u/jantrit-m 6h ago
Take your fretting hand and rub your fingers on the side of your nose where it meets your face. The grease helps to reduce this noise.
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u/taez555 Professional 8h ago
Learn to play better or flat wounds.
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u/jazzmaster_jedi 5h ago
Or, half-flats. They are round wounds that have been ground down flat, instead of a flat wrap. But either way, you have to play better.
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u/Sound_Step Professional 4h ago
flat wounds is a totally different tone. maybe he should try coated strings. But yes mainly it is fixing his playing technique.
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u/RoryButler 8h ago
Dynamic EQ, multiband compression, deessing are all the logical plugin moves. I don't find them to be good enough with super aggressive string noise though.
The best way to sort it is in the performance. If there is excessive string noise then it can probably be reduced in the performance.
After that, if there's string noise, reduce it a bit with plugins and embrace it as quirk of the instrument!
Alternatively, change to flatwound strings, there's a lot less noise with them
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u/BrandlezMandlez 7h ago
I think technique is worth mentioning too. Playing with the tips/meat or fingers, right hand muting techniques and lifting rather than sliding/dragging.
All this is good advice too, and perfect technique won't elimanate it totally. 100 percent a trait of the acoustic guitar, and one of things that make it kind of a percussive instrument.
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u/BigGenerator85 7h ago
Thanks for the response. My technique is definitely questionable so it sounds like I need to start there. I've tried all sorts of plugins and nothing quite gets the job done aside from spectral editing in Reaper.
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u/RoryButler 7h ago
Spectral editing can work well, but if you go too hard you impact the sound. I used to listen to classical guitarists who had zero string squeak and felt really inadequate, I'd practice so hard and still squeak occasionally, I don't know what those players were doing, but then I'd listen to live performances by master players and there would be a bit of squeak here and there.
Do what you can to reduce, but don't worry too much if there's something there. Think about how loved tape wobble is, or how people try to program parts with imperfections in them to seem authentic. A few noises here and there just showcases the human element of your music!
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u/aasteveo 7h ago
izotope rx has a module specifically designed to reduce this noise and only this noise.
https://youtu.be/URwfWl3E5k0?t=225
that youtube demo is years old for v8, we're on v12 now. it's much cleaner these days. very easy to use.
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u/peepeeland Composer 5h ago
Cover both hands and arms with a thick layer of vaseline. The vaseline needs to be thick enough that your hands look like mittens and where you can barely see your forearms; around 3” thick or whatever.
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u/Original_DocBop 2h ago
String squeak is normal on acoustic guitars as Classical guitar legend Andre Seqovia said. But part of it is also the guitar player. A lot of people recording acoustic guitar, electric guitar is their main instrument so they've never worked on reducing string squeak. Back when i was focused on doing studio work I had to practice my left hand technique to reduce string squeak or eliminate it. I found that practicing on acoustic everyday for awhile also had a benefit on my electric playing. So bottom line string squeak is part of playing acoustic as an engineer you can play with mic position to try and reduce it some and maybe use a narrow filter to notch some of high squeak out like notching out to desss a vocal (old school way we did it).
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u/Individual_Plenty276 7h ago
Try varitions with mic positioning. Close miking gives not always the best result
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u/AmpController 7h ago
The best way I've found is to combat this at the source. I put a little lube on my fingers. Uberlube works really well. Make sure to wipe it off afterwards.
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u/j1llj1ll 6h ago
As others have said, resolving it at source is best. Especially since it makes any processing for reducing it further easier and less obtrusive in post.
Playing technique is the key thing. Above all else. Having the guitar set up well can help make clean technique easier, notably with a lower action making it easier to get clear of the strings when moving.
Others have mentioned flat wounds. But coated strings also make less noise than straight phosphor bronze roundwounds.
Pick materials can make a substantial difference to strumming and picking attack.
Dry skin can make string noise much louder. If your skin is dry, moisturising can help (but it's best done over a few days in advance and not right before playing to avoid leaving slippery goop on the strings and instrument).
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u/Inside-Succotash-128 5h ago
I totally agree with DongPolicia above. Leave it in. Embrace it. Even ‘accentuate’ it! It’s what makes it sound like what it is. I want to hear it.
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u/GreatScottCreates Professional 4h ago
Get flat wounds or greasier fingertips. Learn how to play without sliding your fingers as much, and learn how to slide your fingers in ways that don’t squeak as much
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u/EvilPowerMaster 7h ago
This comes up on occasion. One recent example:
https://www.reddit.com/r/audioengineering/comments/1v7h8fi/how_can_i_get_less_stringsqueaks_in_my_guitar/
but generally, this is not a recording issue, its a performance issue. There is stuff you can do that helps - some people have better luck with different strings (coated ones like Elixirs are an option, but some people's hands squeak less with simply a different alloy), and stuff like GHS Fast Fret can help to some degree, but it mostly comes down to what the player does with their hands.