Reducing background noise

[Glory_Morris]

Next week I have an appointment with a guy, wants to record acoustic guitar. Most of the time I work with heavy rock bands and noise isn't so much a problem.

In anticipation of potential background noise problems on this up-coming recording, I just wanted to see if anyone had some handy solutions. At my disposal, I have:

futon matress (buried somewhere)
15lb Elevator blanket

I have a vocal booth that's really, really quiet but there's no way he'd fit in it. My equipment is isolated in a control room, so the computer etc. is not a problem. I think it's just mostly road noise. I have 4 huge windows facing a busy street. Help...

[jjbohn]

I would try to isolate as much as possible on recording with your blankets. Kinda depends on how you have stuff configured in the room. Street noise is a little harder though, especially with the resources available to ya.

You could also try to remove some noise later with a noise removal plugin (Z-noise, or something similar).

[Glory_Morris]

You could also try to remove some noise later with a noise removal plugin (Z-noise, or something similar).

I didn't know you could do that. $800 is probably not gonna materialize though....More suggestions?

[kayagum]

Adobe Audition has great noise reduction plugs included. $300.

Just having a screen of blankets / futons / cubicle walls behind the client helps a lot. If you have dynamic or ribbon mic options, that can help too (condensors can pick up a lot of environmental noise). Use the mic pickup patterns to your advantage.

[Mane1234]

Any chance he can record late at night when the traffic problems would be less likely?

[cjmnash]

have a flat frequency response omni mic positioned to pick up more of the background noise than the sounds being recorded...then flip it out of phase and blend it back in to the mix. that might help.

later,

chris