Recording acoustic guitar

I was watching some videos on how to record acoustic guitar, something that I've heard can be notoriously difficult. It requires even more trial and error than I ever imagined, for sure. I bought an instrument mic but the super low input from the dynamic mic, no matter how much I crank up the gain, is really just going to plague me the entire time. Is it better to boost during production, as I've been suggested compression as a strategy? Should I try recording with different microphones and not just experimenting with placement? Is the ambient sound or any extraneous noises picked up by a condenser mic something that I can remove in post? I think my head is going to explode from the million and one questions that I have.

I like the calm demeanor of this guy and I would like to see the other videos that he mentioned later on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaEVS2ttogA

I probably should have asked the teacher during my last recording lesson, if attempting to record with a condenser was a good idea. I brought the SM57 and he didn't say, don't use that. But he was puzzled at the low output. We went back to the settings and adjusted the bit rate, was it? I don't recall if I mentioned to him that I was using fingers and not a pick. But I am thinking that if I renew the strings on the guitar, that might also help it sound louder. I've restrung the two guitars already. I practiced with the extra set of strings that came with the Washburn so I wouldn't feel bad if I messed it up but so far, so good. I moved on to the Yamaha, switching to the lightest gauge I could find. I think Extra Light helps it and I found myself really liking the Martins that were on sale so I went and bought another set of those as backup and then got 2 other sets, in Custom Light and Light. Of course, with a coupon, I found an excuse to hoard strings. I got a box of D'Addarios and Martins, with 3 sets in each box, and an Ernie Ball one. The guy at the store was like, after this, you'll know which ones you like. I sure hope so. 

The thing that I'm not sure about is why the strings seem to sit much higher at the higher frets. It's a bridge thing, I guess but I'm not going to mess with that. I feel like the buzzing is coming from the lower frets, where the action is really low. I like it low, but I don't like the buzzing. I do wish I could get a lesson in guitar maintenance or guitar setup. That would be invaluable. I hesitate to tinker with all the things. Not yet. I am glad I have the Washburn for this purpose though. I have tried messing with the truss rod just a little bit. Not entirely sure if it made a noticeable difference overall. But I really think that the issue isn't that the neck is not straight. Maybe they just all sit too high at the bridge. Either way, I sense some improvement after the string change. I realize that it's been over a year since Andy changed the strings for me and I think even the Silk n Steel can get a little corroded over time. I thought I saw a little discoloration. The Yamaha hasn't had the Elixirs on for as long but I just didn't like the way my guitar sounded with them on so I was happy to change those out. It's easier when the guitar sits on a stand because I can just pick it up anytime. The Yamaha sits in the new card case, which is great but it's definitely seeing less action. Maybe the new strings will make me want to pick it up more. 

how do I get my string change to look like this?

The guitar teacher and I had settled on Blackbird as the piece to learn, rather than jumping from piece to piece. The thing I don't understand is, was I supposed to be the one coming up with the material? Did I need tabs, coz I don't have that. I was asking him if he had any because all I had were chords from the internet and if we were to pick it, then I would need tabs. What I really want to learn is Cannonball but I don't think he knows that song at all. 

Playlist Recommendation: Cannonball, Damien Rice