Recording flute?

[drummerboy_04AP]

What are some of the popular methods for recording a flute? I really have no idea...

 

[pezking]

I like to use a spaced pair of KM84s, about 8" apart, 4 feet away, 2 feet above the flute and angled down towards it.

If the flautist is particularly breathy, you can mic from behind to use the head for some acoustic shadowing.

It's important to remember that the sound is not coming from the mouthpiece. The sound radiates omnidirectionally, so if you were looking at the end of the flute, the sound radiates concentrically.

Hope that helps.

 

[TimOBrien]

Yup, with woodwinds distance is your friend.

The sound from winds comes from the ENTIRE instrument.

(I'm a sax player and its the same....)

 

[dean1964]

I'm dealing with a flute / piccolo in a live recording situation right now. The damn thing bleeds into everything. I'm using an SM81 about two feet above the flautist's head as to not rely on the bleed and provide a bit of definition.

Also, I think breathy can sometimes be cool but not all the time.

 

[giraffe]

Yup, with woodwinds distance is your friend.

The sound from winds comes from the ENTIRE instrument.

(I'm a sax player and its the same....)

ding ding ding!
space is your friend.

 

[drummerboy_04AP]

alright, thanks!

 

[jpdubay]

I know I'm a few days late on his so you may have already recorded your flute, but I attended a "mic clinic" at my school that had to do with micing the flute:

http://wiki.fa.mtu.edu/wiki/index.php/Flute_Miking_Techniques

There are pictures and sound clips under each heading, so you can listen for the type of sound you might want.
Maybe it will help a bit.