have a session coming up with violin .. it has a pickup,
If it's an acoustic with a pickup, it's assumedly not a very good instrument as most violinists wouldnt be caught dead using one. That said, the sound of a pickup might be appropriate for certain genres. It won't hurt to experiment, but I would just ask the fiddle player. If he/she has a pickup, I can only assume they want that sound and not a mic'ed sound.
First question might be what perspective -A few instruments, wide/'real' or stereo capture for a sound stage'/room effect -or a mono placement within a denser mix?
A pickup?? Is it an electric? If so, the fiddle won't make any sound, the sound will come out an amp.
If it's an acoustic with a pickup, it's assumedly not a very good instrument as most violinists wouldnt be caught dead using one. That said, the sound of a pickup might be appropriate for certain genres. It won't hurt to experiment, but I would just ask the fiddle player. If he/she has a pickup, I can only assume they want that sound and not a mic'ed sound.
I've done a bunch of Americana with violin. I used a c414eb ldc and a km184 sdc in a 14x22 living room with wood floors and an 8.5 foot ceiling (has a couch and chair it it). It came out great but the artist is an amazing player (Megan Palmer from Columbus, OH). I avoid using the pu in any accoustic instrument. I'd post an example but I'm not sure how......