TUTORiAL
Recording acoustic guitar should be simple… but in reality, it's one of the easiest instruments to get wrong.
Boomy lows, harsh highs, lifeless DI tracks, rooms that sound terrible on mic – most of the time, the problem isn't your gear, it's the decisions you make before and during recording.
In this short, focused course, I'll walk you through a practical, realΓÇæworld approach to recording acoustic guitars that actually sound musical and mixΓÇæready, whether you're working in a home studio or a professional space.
Drawing on nearly two decades of producing and recording artists, I'll show you how to get better results from the gear you already have – without relying on endless plugins or complicated setups.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
Plan your recordings so you're not "fixing it in the mix" later
Choose the right playing style (pick vs. fingers) and control your dynamics for a more consistent, professional sound
Make the most of an untreated room by finding the best recording spot and minimising unwanted reflections
Understand the differences between condenser, ribbon and dynamic microphones and pick the right type for your guitar and space
Use practical mic placements (singleΓÇæmic, dualΓÇæmic and simple stereo techniques) to capture a balanced, natural tone
Layer and doubleΓÇætrack acoustic guitars to create width, depth and richness without cluttering the arrangement
Shape your sound in the mix with EQ (including PultecΓÇæstyle tone shaping), compression and gentle saturation
Choose and dial in different reverb types (room, plate, hall, spring) so your acoustic sits naturally in the mix
Who this course is for
Home producers and songwriters who want their acoustic tracks to sound more like "records" and less like rough demos
Musicians who mainly work in the box and want to start using mics and rooms more effectively
Intermediate users who understand the basics of recording but struggle to get consistent acoustic guitar results
Anyone who wants a clear, step by step framework instead of random YouTube tips
The course is split into short, focused lessons you can watch in one sitting or dip into as needed:
Setting the mindset and expectations for recording acoustic guitar
Preparing your performance and choosing the right space
Understanding microphone types and how they affect your sound
Practical mic placement techniques that work in real rooms
Layering strategies for bigger, wider and more interesting guitar parts
Mixing essentials: EQ, PultecΓÇæstyle tone shaping, compression and saturation
Reverb choices and settings to place your guitar in the right space
Final thoughts and next steps to keep improving your recordings
You don't need expensive gear to benefit from this course – just a DAW, at least one microphone, and a willingness to experiment.
If you're ready to make your acoustic guitar recordings clearer, more musical and more professional, enrol now and let's get started.
Curated by
Pluggi
Music Production Curator
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Personally verifies every resource before publishing. Since 2020 — the most complete free library of VST plugins, samples, presets and MIDI for music producers.
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