Mixing electric and acoustic guitars requires careful attention to microphone selection, processing chains, and spatial treatment to achieve professional results in both live and streaming environments. From dynamic microphone combinations to creative effects routing, understanding these techniques helps create fuller, more engaging worship experiences.

The foundation of a great guitar tone starts with proper microphone selection and placement. Using combinations like the SM57 with darker-sounding dynamics creates a rich, full sound while maintaining durability for touring environments. Multiple microphones per cabinet allows for width control and tonal variety, while adding a DI provides additional creative options for special moments.

EQ and compression form the core of guitar processing, but moderation is key since electric guitars often have compression built into their signal chain through pedals and amplifier distortion. Multi-band processing helps control problematic frequencies that change based on playing position or pickup selection. Creative use of saturation and special effects can transform simple DI signals into massive textural elements.

Thoughtful reverb treatment helps place guitars properly in the mix. Running stereo reverb sends creates width and depth, while opposing reverb pans can fill spatial gaps in mono guitar signals. Church environments often benefit from handling reverb at the console rather than relying on guitar patches, which can become overwhelming in a full mix. The entire guitar group can be processed together with gentle compression and subtle kick drum sidechain to maintain clarity and punch in the overall mix.