Attack when Recording Steel

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 28 Oct 2006 4:50 pm

I've noticed a phenomenon when I try to record pedal steel which I don't notice when I'm playing: whether I'm wearing finger picks or not, the percussion of my fingers hitting the strings is very noticable. I want to hear the tone of the string, not the clunk. Someone mentioned that I should be using the volume control more effectively, but in watching the pros on YouTube, they're often picking so fast that they wouldn't have time to move the volume control for every note, and I don't hear any clunking.

Maybe it's the way I record. I put a microphone up to about 2 ft. from the amplifier. I've thought of using some compression.

Any ideas ?

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 28 Oct 2006 5:05 pm

I noticed this very thing while doing a session the other day. (Don't know why I hadn't noticed it before.) I was using a Peavey Session 400, and I tried rolling off the sensitivity a bit. It seemed to work. The guitar was just a little too hot, and when I tamed back the high end response of the sensitivity, it cooled down a bit. I never lost the bite, just the loud plunk that you're talking about. If you're using a Nashville 112 or similar, try turning down the pre amp a bit and boost up the master. It may clean it up and take away that percussive pick noise.

If you're pick blocking, of course there will be more pick noise. But if you're palm blocking, a little EQ-ing should do the trick.

I'm sure you'll get more informed responses soon......

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 28 Oct 2006 5:25 pm

Pick harder! Sounds crazy, but it seems to work. When you pick softly, you consciously (or maybe unconsciously) kick up the volume pedal, and the result is more extraneous bar and pick noise, since the picked note is lower in volume.

Cut back your volume and pick harder, and all those scratchy-clicky noises will just disappear.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 28 Oct 2006 6:27 pm

Recently I was lucky enough to track with an engineer who really new his stuff. After I was done tracking we sat and listened. He just eq'ed those sounds right out. He said it was all super low end noise and all he had to do was cut those frequencies. The guitar sounded exactly the same as far as I could tell.
I don't know if that could be done on an amplifier or not. I never notice it live but it has always bugged me in the studio.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 28 Oct 2006 8:35 pm

Practice picking hard like Donny says. Only I would practice without a volume pedal and with the treble cranked on the amp. If you use EQ or try to duck with your volume pedal you will not get your tone together. Think about how violin players need to get the scrapey sound out of there bow attack. Do you think all those orchestra guys fart around with volume pedals ?
Its just one of those things you need to practice till you get it.

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Bob
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Rob van Duuren · Post by **Rob van Duuren** » 29 Oct 2006 3:56 am

i try to pick 'faster', not necessarily 'harder'. The noise of touching the string right before picking it, seems to be the problem for me. rob

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 29 Oct 2006 4:38 am

Try to think of the volume pedal as an effect to be used sparingly. Guitar players don't ride theirs while they play solo parts. Try this: just open your pedal, take your foot off, and play. You'll be surprised. I practically never use my volume pedal for more than an on/off switch in the studio. Off to practice the lick I'm going to use, on to put it to the tape. If I want/need a volume "swell" effect, I will adjust accordingly.

Also, the proper shape of the picks is important. The way they come from the store (straight out) is going to make more noise. Bend them properly where they just kinda slide off the string, and it will clean a lot of that up.
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Mikey D...

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Michael Douchette on 29 October 2006 at 04:39 AM.]</p></FONT>

Alex Piazza · Post by **Alex Piazza** » 30 Oct 2006 3:16 pm

You may try using a low watt tube amp. Thats what ive always used in recording and ive never had a problem with pick noise. however, it might not be the tone you want. The warmth seems to hide the harshness of the pick attack. Ive used a deluxe reverb, magnatone, goldtone, ect.. and had great results.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 9 Nov 2006 6:24 pm

Thanks folks. I'm going to be trying your ideas. The idea of picking harder makes sense. I use a low-output old Fender tube amp. I play in the sub-basement and don't want to wake the neighbours.

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 9 Nov 2006 7:16 pm

"Harder" does make it different. Jimmie Crawford played harder... Lloyd doesn't. I don't think Lloyd has been affected with pick noise too much.

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Mikey D...