recording cello - suggestions?

[Fab4ever]

I am interested in recording a cello for use with an acoustic folk style song. Can you give me any advice on recording it? The player is a member of a local symphony orchestra. My humble recording space is a spare bedroom.

Of course, my main question is which mic/pre to use? Here are my choices:

Marshall V-67G
Marshall 603S (x2)
Studio Projects B-1


Joe Meek MQ3
M-Audio Omni Studio (with DMP-2 pres)

I record onto my computer hard drive via Sonar 2.0XL.

Thanks in advance,

Fab

[Michael Jones]

There's some great info here:
http://www.dpamicrophones.com/eng_pub/MicUni/268.html

[t_chance]

If you have a friend that can play in your space try blocking one ear and "roaming" around the cello with your unplugged ear while he/she is playing and find the "sweet spot". that's where to put your mic. you may try using two, one 603 at the 6-8" off the strings and your 67 at the back to pickup the resonance

[H2oskiphil]

Originally posted by t_chance
If you have a friend that can play in your space try blocking one ear and "roaming" around the cello with your unplugged ear while he/she is playing and find the "sweet spot". that's where to put your mic. you may try using two, one 603 at the 6-8" off the strings and your 67 at the back to pickup the resonance

Wow...NOW I know who taught Harvey that trick...

[t_chance]

It worked great for me last week with a dulcimer I needed to mic for a live folk songwriting gig. Always a good idea to let the performer know what your doing first. It may have looked a little funny to the audience but it DOES work. There is a Spot that does jump out. I don't know if I read it here first, I doubt it, but it was re-enforced here. Thanks folks

[Sennheiser]

The fundamental range of the cello is from C2 to C5, or from 56Hz to 520Hz with overtones up to 8kHz.

If your musicians line of sight is taken to be 0 degrees, then the main direction of sound from the cello lies between 10 and 45 degrees to the right.

The mic is usually placed level with the cello and directed towards the sound holes. Working distance is usually from 6" to 3'. Of course this will vary with the mic and the room.

"Modern Recording Techniques" fourth edition, Huber und Runstein.

This oughta get you in the ballpark as far as placement but you'll still have to experiment a bit.

I've never had to mic a cello but it sounds like an interesting challenge.

[Harvey Gerst]

I did a pretty nice recording of a cello last year for Charisse Lowe. It's a song called "Taillights", and you can hear it at her website:

http://www.charisselowe.com/record.html

I used an RCA 77DX, about 2-1/2 feet away, about 3 feet off the ground.

Used the 77 on her voice and guitar, and the Audix TR-40 (like the ECM8000) on the flute. Very little effects. Recorded in a very small quiet room.

I thought it came out very well. I kept the arrangement very simple.

[littledog]

I definitely prefer the "low angle" approach to the cello, (3' or less from floor) to minimize the performance noises that some cellists make (gasping, humming, etc.)

Unless it is "rock cello" (whatever that is) I wouldn't get closer than 12" (and only that close if there are other instruments in the same room). Otherwise you get too much resiny scraping noise from the bow, and you are capturing only a piece of the cello instead of the whole instrument.

I don't know any of your mics or preamps, so i can't recommend any. My personal taste runs to an AT4060 or a Lawson L47 through an API or TubeTech. When it comes to cello I love mellow!