Composition chart
String instruments
View all the instruments.
General tips
- As with all instruments, the best way to record the violin depends on the type of final sound you want to create.
- For a smoother sound it is better to have the mic further away (around 3 or 4 feet) because fewer squeaks and scratches will be heard.
- Avoid having the mic directly above the instrument.
- Remember, like piano and acoustic guitar, each instrument has it's own tonal qualities and so mic placement will vary.
- Experiment by aiming the microphone at one of the f holes at a distance of about 16 inches (40cm).
- Move the mic closer to the instrument if an emsemble is playing.
- Try placing the microphone level with the performers shoulders, pointing down towards the bottom of the double bass and cello.
- Keeping the mic away from the bow will limit the scratchy noises being picked up.
- For a country fiddle sound that is more aggresive it is ideal to situate the mic directly above the bridge, between 8 and 10 inches.
- It is important to use your ears and reposition the mic if you are unhappy with the recordings.
- If the sound hole under the strings is more guitar-style, then better results will be achieved if the mic is aimed upward from below the instrument.
- With acoustic guitar, the mic is best positioned between 8" to 12" (30-42cm) away from where the neck and body meet (usually near the 14th fret).
- When recording electric instruments much of the sound is dependant upon the amp and it's settings.
- It should be sufficient to have one mic aimed toward the site of the speaker cone.
- It is possible to have several mic's around the guitar amp but it's not essential.
- Some sort of pad is also useful on the mic to prevent distortion wherever possible, especially when the amp is up loud (as it should be).
- Electric bass guitar is usually recorded direct but you may want to mic a speaker depending on the results you need.
- Note that the bass guitar, moreso than the electric, uses more of the body of the instrument to create some tones that it produces.
- The most common option is to situate the mic up close and directly in front of the speaker, although this can put considerable amounts of pressure on the mic.
- Try aiming the mic towards the edge of the speaker to lessen the pressure if necessary.
- A more unusual technique is to place the mic directly in front of the bass, aiming at where the neck meets the body of the instrument.
- Another method is to point the mic at the speaker from an angle to pick up extra bass, where high pitches tend to bypass the mic.
- Miking the body is particularly effective at picking up the unique sound of slapping and pop-style pieces.
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