Can You Record Guitar and Vocals at the Same Time?

The figure-8 trick

A figure-8 (bidirectional) mic is least sensitive to sound from its sides, according to Shure's guide to multi-pattern mics. AEA's guide to controlling bleed with ribbon nulls puts this to work for singer-guitarists: point the vocal mic's null down at the guitar and the guitar mic's null up at the mouth.

1. Place the guitar mic. AEA's acoustic guitar guide puts it 12 to 24 inches from the guitar, facing the 12th fret. Closer adds low end.
2. Place the vocal mic in front of your mouth, side facing straight down at the guitar.
3. Use two inputs. An interface like the Scarlett 2i2 has two mic preamps with phantom power.
4. Record one take and solo each track. Rotate a mic a few degrees if its track has too much of the other source.

Recording both in GarageBand

Apple's GarageBand guide records several tracks at once: set each track's input, press Option-T and check Record Enable to show its button, arm both tracks, then press R.

Mic choice is on best microphone for acoustic guitar, and guitar-only placement on how to record acoustic guitar. The full process is in how to record music at home.

Related questions

How do I record acoustic guitar and vocals on GarageBand?

Create two audio tracks, set one to the vocal mic's input and one to the guitar mic's input, press Option-T and check Record Enable to show its button, arm both tracks, and press R.

Can I record guitar and vocals with one mic?

Yes. One mic in front of you captures both on a single track, but you can't change the balance or edit one part without the other later.

What interface do I need to record guitar and vocals together?

One with at least two mic inputs, such as the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, which has two mic preamps with phantom power.

More answers: Home recording FAQ