Well, you could have your artist play with his/her fingers (Lindsey Buckingham works this way, as do many others, esp Classical players on nylon string insturments).

Personally, I LOVE the sound of plectrums plucking strings. Gives character and zing! to the sound. (Ok, make that STING!) I wouldn't make any attempt to remove it, unless it's causing some kind of overload problems.

I just did a test/demo recording over the weekend with several guitars using various LD mics. (a 1996 Zeigler Excaliber cutaway, a Gibson 1934 LC, and a $50 off-the-rack nylon string no-name guitar.) The guitarist was first-rate, and his flat-picking was a huge part of the sound.

- Turn down the mic gain
- Turn down/off any inbound compression
- Different picks (my first choice...hard sicks sound different than soft, plastic different from tortoise-resembling, etc)
- Reposition mics further away from point of attack
- Different strings (I prefer Elixers for all acoustic work here...)
- Different mic (ribbons on acoustics sound GREAT, as do some higher end dynamics)
- Fire the guitar player and get one with a softer touch. :wink:

- Turn down the mic gain

Ok, but wouldn't this lower the overall sound as well as the pick noise?

- Turn down/off any inbound compression

Ugh....compression?!?!?! that's a given, I hope!

- Different picks (my first choice...hard sicks sound different than soft, plastic different from tortoise-resembling, etc)

Probably the best choice of all, yep!

- Reposition mics further away from point of attack

Another good idea.

- Different strings (I prefer Elixers for all acoustic work here...)

Many guitarists use lighter guage strings because of the neck tension (and the strength required to play on heavier guage strings....it's not for wimps! ;-) )

- Different mic (ribbons on acoustics sound GREAT, as do some higher end dynamics)

I'm STILL trying to find a way to buy my OWN SF-12 or 24. (LEGAL ways, that is! Hahahaa)

- Fire the guitar player and get one with a softer touch.

Drastic measures for drastic problems. (I know you're kidding here, of course....aren't you? :wink: )

Unless the pick noise is truly excessive, than personally, I would leave it in. When I listen to a guitar-player live, I expect to hear some pick noise.

If the pick noise is too high - try repositioning the mic - chances are, you have it aimed right where the pick hits the string. This will not only be noisy pick-wise, but will produce an overly boomy low-end. Try a "fatter sounding" mic aimed slightly higher.

J...

Thanks

Cool - thanks for those tips - I'll give them a go!

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