Mic'ing an Organ

[TroyHutson]

When coupling an organ with only an acoustic guitar and vocals, do you all think a dynamic mic or a condenser would work best?

[peritus]

I'm nobody special..


but


I'd say that it depends on what role the organ is playing in the song... For instance...

If the organ was the centerpiece of a driving rhythym (ala Deep Purple's Lazy), I'd prolly go dynamic...

But..

If it were a background etheral thing, I'd go condenser (ala Led Zep's No Quarter)...

Just my worthless 2 cents...

[TroyHutson]

Originally Posted by peritus

I'm nobody special..


but


I'd say that it depends on what role the organ is playing in the song... For instance...

If the organ was the centerpiece of a driving rhythym (ala Deep Purple's Lazy), I'd prolly go dynamic...

But..

If it were a background etheral thing, I'd go condenser (ala Led Zep's No Quarter)...

Just my worthless 2 cents...

Basically, the role the organ is playing is a drone in the background. I want a deep, bass sound with a lot of resonance, if that makes sense.

[peritus]

I think I'd go condenser then.. or maybe ...MAYBE.. bass drum mic...

[TroyHutson]

Originally Posted by peritus

I think I'd go condenser then.. or maybe ...MAYBE.. bass drum mic...

Condenser it is! (since I don't have a bass drum mic... Too poor! haha) Thanks man

[Track Rat]

Personally, I like a single dynamic like a 545 or a 57 on Leslie, back about 4' and about two thirds the height of the cabinet from the floor. It sounds like the Leslie and seems to be easier to mix. YMMV.

[$a1Ty]

what about a pipe organ?

[cpl_crud]

Pipe organs are more of a room instrument. As a result, you'll never have to mic one live.

To mic one to record, your best bet would probably be a high-quality omni, either condensor or ribbon.
If the organ is playing with other instruments, then you may have issues. You'd probably have to close mic clusters of pipes, or just accept that you're going to have bleed from the other instruments in your organ send.

[TroyHutson]

Originally Posted by $a1Ty

what about a pipe organ?

man I WISH i had a pipe organ haha. I was given a hammond soundster from the 70s (i'm guessing 70s, that is). The volume pedal doesnt work so it is SUPER LOUD all the time

[guttapercha]

I have seen a pair of e609s on a Leslie with good results, spaced far apart on one side of the aperature for the horn. By the way, the keys on "No Quarter" is an electric piano. I admit however, that it does not change the point being made there.

Good luck,

JD

[peritus]

Originally Posted by guttapercha

I have seen a pair of e609s on a Leslie with good results, spaced far apart on one side of the aperature for the horn. By the way, the keys on "No Quarter" is an electric piano. I admit however, that it does not change the point being made there.

Good luck,

JD

lol good catch..

[RideTheCrash]

I have a Farfisa console organ and I mic'ed it with a dynamic and I didn't like it too much. I found for myself that my omni condensors work better. Now I typically run the organ direct.