How do I mic a harp?

[thediscoking]

How would I go about mixing a classical harp (no, not a blues harp) for multitrack recording?... The BIG harps, a seven footer. It will be used as a lead instrument, so it needs to have presence.

I know that for solo cellos, mics are sometimes placed behind the player to pick up all of the frequencies. Is it the same with a harp?

Have the best day ever

Jacob

[mshilarious]

I only have a 29 string harp but I prefer an omni SDC about 4 feet away, head high. A larger instrument probably needs a bit more distance. I like a mic a little bright, but not too extreme; for classical you might want something flatter.

I don't get the behind the instrument approach. That will mostly be lower frequencies, but if you can't pick up low frequencies in front of the instrument too, something doesn't seem right to me. Perhaps that's why I like the omni.

[garf]

When I mic my wifes pedal harp I use a ldc about 5' up, directly over the end of the baseboard when the harp is leaning back. The second mic is a small neumann that I come at from the back, about 2' away, and roughly 1/2 way up the harp, at a 45 degree angle to the harp. I have not had much luck mic'ing from the front on larger harps. Definitely a challenge however. If you want I will try to post a picture.

[thediscoking]

Garf, if you have a picture, I'd love to see it.

Thanks again.

[bigwillz24]

Don't quote me on this but I believe the sound of the harp originates somewhere around the base of the instrument and not from the strings.

Look for a port of some kind at the base and put a mic in front of it.

Info comes from a reliable source.

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by bigwillz24

Don't quote me on this but I believe the sound of the harp originates somewhere around the base of the instrument and not from the strings.

Look for a port of some kind at the base and put a mic in front of it.

Info comes from a reliable source.

It's like a guitar in that sound radiates from the soundboard, and the lower strings hit at the bottom of the soundboard. Folk harps have a number of ports in the rear, but I wouldn't close mic those any more than a soundhole on the guitar.

Again, dunno about the big boys

[brandondrury]

How would I go about mixing a classical harp (no, not a blues harp) for multitrack recording?...

Just a guess.... I'd put a mic or 5 where ever they sounded the best.

Just a thought. I don't mean to be a total smart ass.

Brandon

[mindbuzz]

http://www.hr-faq.org/micbuying.htm#harp

Check out that link. Eh, it doesn't seem to be short-cutting to the right place on the page, but if you look under "Microphone Purchasing" there's a link header for What should I buy for a harp? Follow that.

[bcains]

"The sound board sweet spot is about 1/3 up from the bottom of the harp.
Directly miking the board alone loses the plucking sounds which IMHO makes up
about 50% of the sensual component of the instrument."

I havent personally miked harps, but i've seen it done where they've
pointed a 81 or a 451 at the middle of the sound board,
and also another condenser about 1-2ft aimed at the hands "striking pont".

[garf]

Here are some pictures of how I am currently micing this particular pedal harp. My experience is that the larger & more resonant the harp, the more difficult it is to get a good recording. The harp I have with the largest sound board sounds terrific, but is extremely difficult to mic. I also recommend against micing the 'hands' for the 'plucking' sound, as in my experience this will distort the balance of the sounds emanating. The problem is that the harp is such a large sound source that micing a particular area tends to overemphasize the area selected.

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by garf

Here are some pictures of how I am currently micing this particular pedal harp. My experience is that the larger & more resonant the harp, the more difficult it is to get a good recording. The harp I have with the largest sound board sounds terrific, but is extremely difficult to mic. I also recommend against micing the 'hands' for the 'plucking' sound, as in my experience this will distort the balance of the sounds emanating. The problem is that the harp is such a large sound source that micing a particular area tends to overemphasize the area selected.

I think it would help if you rotated your whole assembly 180 degrees to face out from that corner.

[garf]

mshilarious, on the idea of rotating the whole assembly, thats an interesting idea. One thing I did not show in the picture is that the back of the harp is aimed towards a large opening to another room. Would you still recommend this?

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by garf

mshilarious, on the idea of rotating the whole assembly, thats an interesting idea. One thing I did not show in the picture is that the back of the harp is aimed towards a large opening to another room. Would you still recommend this?

Probably. Between the large opening and the furnishing (forget exactly what, not looking at the pic right now), it seems to me those might be big bass traps/sinks, whatever you like. That might be why you don't pick up much bass in the overhead mic. Also, micing from above & behind, you'll be catching early reflections off that corner.

Doesn't cost anything to try!

[Harvey Gerst]

Here's the mic setup I used for a Grand Concert harp recording:

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

Here's the mic setup I used for a Grand Concert harp recording:

Nice pic. Nice harp too. Are those 81s?

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by mshilarious

Nice pic. Nice harp too. Are those 81s?

Yes, they're 81's, and she brought two or three to the studio, plus a smaller Celtic.

[warble]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Just a guess.... I'd put a mic or 5 where ever they sounded the best.

Just a thought. I don't mean to be a total smart ass.

Brandon

[mshilarious]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

Yes, they're 81's, and she brought two or three to the studio, plus a smaller Celtic.

Great, now I have harp envy It's a good thing I don't play it well, because it's already too much of a pain to tune the 29-string job I have!