bagpipes

[antichef]

that's completely dry - just recorded it in a medium sized room with a ribbon with the front of the mic pointed generally at the player at about chest level about 5 feet away. I've done this a few times now, and I find that, as long as the mic is pointed in the right direction and outside the radius of complete annihilation (about 3 feet), mic placement is much less important than ear protection, and sometimes restraints to keep you from grabbing the pipes and jumping up and down on them.

 

[didgijimmy]

u win

I have to say anyone who plays bagpipes is my hero, so consider yourself on that special list. How does one learn to play the pipes? sorry for just jumping in ur thread.

 

[gecko zzed]

I've done this a few times now, and I find that, as long as the mic is pointed in the right direction and outside the radius of complete annihilation (about 3 feet), mic placement is much less important than ear protection, and sometimes restraints to keep you from grabbing the pipes and jumping up and down on them.

Awesome sounding pipes!

Here is a snippet from a song featuring a multi-tracked set of bagpipes, again, using a simialr technique. Not a ribbon, but. A Rode NT1a about the same distance, and me hiding in the kitchen. It's a bit squawky but my defence is that it was done a few years ago, and I've learnt more since then (principally to not record bagpipes at all!).

I had an advantage . . . there was only a limited number of takes the guy could do before falling over in a dead faint . . . so he had to get it right quickly!

http://www.box.net/shared/ttyuvztk44

 

[antichef]

I think that sounds pretty good, zzed!

It' my 13 year old son who's the player (he turns 14 on Saturday) - he's been playing for maybe 3 years - very serious pipe & drum program at his school -- they've taken the world championship a few times. He's way into it, and, inexplicably, the neighbors love it -- of course, our house is oriented so that the inverse square law protects them from the worst of it. I've walked the dogs and heard him playing from several blocks away -- sounds good from there. He's even had hot high school chicks in the neighborhood inquiring, so I guess it's working like a mating call or something. Who knew?

It's a workout, and as he developed his technique, he's gone through phases where he would nearly pass out, and would almost always wind up with a few limbs "asleep" after a couple of songs. Additionally, the Texas heat in the summer can make it very difficult.

We're considering moving to a neighborhood with much closer set houses - we'll see how things play out there

 

[true-eurt]

I love bagpipes! Your son did an excellent job. I can't imagine playing those myself, although I am known to be long winded...