Wind instruments miking techniques research
The commonly wind instruments that are being recorded in studios are trumpet, trombone and saxophone.
Mic placement:
For brass instrument such as trumpet and trombone, the sound are produced by the vibration of the bells and most of the sounds are projected in the direction of the bell. So to get the sharpest or crispest sound, the mic has to be clipped on the instrument or placed directly in front of the bell. When pointing off axis, it can capture a darker and mellower sound and also avoid the high SPL mic distortion and wind pop. To get the position, ask the player to play the instrument first, then only place the mic depending on the player's position so that he or she will not be holding an unnatural position while recording. For starting point, the mic can be placed at 2 feet away from the bell and adjust it according to the sound that we desire to get. The closer the mic to the bell, less room ambiance and bleed from other instruments will be captured and vice versa.
For saxophones, the miking techniques are a bit different as it produces sound along the full length of its body. So the mic should be placed at the center of the instrument, and at least one foot away as miking too close might capture the unwanted clicking sounds of the keys. The mic also have to be on axis with the instrument, as not doing so will create a sound with no real presence or articulation.
Mic choices:
Typically large diaphragm condenser mics are used to record the wind instruments as they have a smoother frequency response and also give a fuller sound compare to recording with a dynamic mic. Sometimes trombone do benefit more from the color provided by using dynamic mics. Ribbon mics can also be used for recording as they give a natural and rich sound in the lower midrange frequency. For saxophones, large diaphragm condensers are also the most often used for recordings. They respond well to the frequency range of the instrument and distance required for capturing a full sound. Small diaphragm condensers and dynamic mics are not the best option as they are more directional and make it difficult to capture the full range of the instruments.
Cardioid pattern should be used when recording the instruments in an ensemble to minimize bleeding from other instruments. But when recording solo, omnidirectional pattern can be used to give an open, natural sound and also capture the room ambiance.
Experiment:
Sound we are trying to get:
1. A full and natural sound for jazz pieces.
Plan:
1. Using the Neumann TLM103, AKG C414 condenser mics and Avantone CR-14 ribbon mic for cardioid, omnidirectional and figure 8 polar patterns respectively.
2. The distances of the mics from the instruments and on/off axis will be adjusted accordingly.
Mic placement:
For brass instrument such as trumpet and trombone, the sound are produced by the vibration of the bells and most of the sounds are projected in the direction of the bell. So to get the sharpest or crispest sound, the mic has to be clipped on the instrument or placed directly in front of the bell. When pointing off axis, it can capture a darker and mellower sound and also avoid the high SPL mic distortion and wind pop. To get the position, ask the player to play the instrument first, then only place the mic depending on the player's position so that he or she will not be holding an unnatural position while recording. For starting point, the mic can be placed at 2 feet away from the bell and adjust it according to the sound that we desire to get. The closer the mic to the bell, less room ambiance and bleed from other instruments will be captured and vice versa.
For saxophones, the miking techniques are a bit different as it produces sound along the full length of its body. So the mic should be placed at the center of the instrument, and at least one foot away as miking too close might capture the unwanted clicking sounds of the keys. The mic also have to be on axis with the instrument, as not doing so will create a sound with no real presence or articulation.
Mic choices:
Typically large diaphragm condenser mics are used to record the wind instruments as they have a smoother frequency response and also give a fuller sound compare to recording with a dynamic mic. Sometimes trombone do benefit more from the color provided by using dynamic mics. Ribbon mics can also be used for recording as they give a natural and rich sound in the lower midrange frequency. For saxophones, large diaphragm condensers are also the most often used for recordings. They respond well to the frequency range of the instrument and distance required for capturing a full sound. Small diaphragm condensers and dynamic mics are not the best option as they are more directional and make it difficult to capture the full range of the instruments.
Cardioid pattern should be used when recording the instruments in an ensemble to minimize bleeding from other instruments. But when recording solo, omnidirectional pattern can be used to give an open, natural sound and also capture the room ambiance.
Experiment:
Sound we are trying to get:
1. A full and natural sound for jazz pieces.
Plan:
1. Using the Neumann TLM103, AKG C414 condenser mics and Avantone CR-14 ribbon mic for cardioid, omnidirectional and figure 8 polar patterns respectively.
2. The distances of the mics from the instruments and on/off axis will be adjusted accordingly.
ok, good plan and research. It's pretty common to place the mic on the bell of the sax and many use clip-ons at least live.
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