Recording acoustic instruments in small space

E

eco_bach

Well-known member
For a current project I will need to record the audio of a string based trio of musicians. Most likely playing period instruments like the santour and lute. Micing the actually instruments will not be possible.
Can I get by with a single boom mounted cardiod or stereo mic?
Any recommendations?
 
We really haven't the slightest clue what you mean by "small"? Do you mean a 3m cube? Or do you mean only a 120-seat auditorium?
Or what kind of space it is? Is it a converted cistern with floor, walls, and ceiling of glazed ceramic tile? Or a parlor with overstuffed furniture, thick carpet and heavy drapes?
Is this an established ensemble who have long experience playing with each other, or is it an ad-hoc pick-up group?
Will they be OK with moving them around for best acoustic blend for the microphone(s)?
How much time will you have to experiment with mic selection and placement during rehearsals?
Do you have to mix this live for broadcast? Or will you be able to "track" each mic and mix it later?

i.e:
Consider the acoustics as well as the size of the space.
Arrange for as much time as possible to experiment.
Leave as many options open as practical.
 
eco_bach said:
....Can I get by with a single boom mounted cardiod or stereo mic?
Click to expand...

Yes, you can.

But to add to Richard's questions so we can help you:

- You said that you need to record the audio, as though no video is being recorded. Is this the case, so that mic placement in a shot is not a consideration?
- What are your microphone options? Do you have an inventory or a limited budget?
- Why is mic'ing the instruments not possible? What other limitations are there?
 
Also a factor is what do you want/ need to come away with.

It is not uncommon to use a stereo pair or M/S pair centered in front of the performers.

I personally think this tends to give a bit of a cramped sound but it's mono compatible if that is important.

What I prefer to do is basically the front portion of a McCandless lighting set up. L&R up high and wide and angled to cross in the center at about where the instrument is with a pair of cardioids. The plus is a very big sound with lots of width, the down side is poor mono compatibility.

That said Richard kind of nailed it in that all of this is pure speculation with out knowing more about the situation.
 
It also depends on what sound you are trying to achieve, how much ambience you want, whether this is soundtrack music or whether the performance is on screen. You won't capture a gazebo performance sound in any room let alone a small one with hard surfaces. Music recording has different requirements to movie sound. You have limited options with one mic but you do have the option of recording the instruments separately. Odds are if the musicians are professionals that they have their own acoustic pickups, that may be an option with your single mic in between or above them (but not the centre of the room) for ambience or reinforcement. Odds are if you asked they would own or know someone who owns acoustic condenser mics that you could borrow or rent for beer. Your musicians are your best resource. They may very well know more about what you need to do than you do if they've ever recorded or gigged before.
 
eco_bach said:
For a current project I will need to record the audio of a string based trio of musicians. Most likely playing period instruments like the santour and lute. Micing the actually instruments will not be possible.
Can I get by with a single boom mounted cardiod or stereo mic?
Any recommendations?
Click to expand...

Don't use a single cardioid mic. on a boom - the result will be mono and not good for recording music.

If the music soounds good in the room, then use a stereo pair - either an ORTF pair of cardioids or an MS rig of cardioid and fig.8.

Put these where it sounds best and don't worry if they get into shot slightly as the sound is far more important than the picture in these sort of recordings.
 
Well I was talking of using two matched pair of omnis to record because I am experimenting with two omni lavs to record stereo in a spaced array. I am looking for a jecklin disk as well. Thanks.
 
If you are on a budget the Sony ECM-MS957 or even the ECM-MS907 could be useful as a single stereo mic placed near the ensemble.
 
mgod said:
I am looking for a jecklin disk as well. Thanks.
Click to expand...

These are excellent - I have a Jecklin disk as well as a Schneider disk.

Mine are made by MBHO who, I think, are the only ones available commercially.

You really need diffuse-field omnis in one of these disks, rather than mini tie mics that are designed for nearfield use.
 
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