Condenser placement

[timbo101]

Hi all,
I have just upgraded from a SM57 to a Studio Projects B1 Condenser mic. I have never used a condenser before and have no idea what to do with it.I want to record Didgeridoo by the way. With the SM57 I just stuck the mic at the end of the didje and that was that but I lost all the high end that way and it was very dull and bassy so I was informed to get a condenser mic and I have also upgraded my pre from a behringer ultrgain to a DMP3. What I want to know is how do I place a condenser mic. Do I have it at the end of the didje as I did with the sm57 or does it go above the didje , further away, low down etc you get my drift. I have noticed that the mic picks up everything so there should be no need for me to have it directly at the end of the didje.Any help please as I want to get started recording....Thanks

 

[kahuna]

Well, I move mine around until it sounds good. Seems to work.

 

[TimOBrien]

There is no magic formula or placement rules.

Everything depends on the source of the sound, the angle and distance of the mic, and (most importantly) the room space you are in.

So in the end, it's (as kahuna said) move it around until it sounds good....

 

[XLR]

When recording myself and experimenting with mic positions it's pretty efficient to just set up the mic, hit record, then verbally describe the distance and angle of the instrument for a series of test plays as I move from spot to spot without stopping and starting the recorder.

The room is the biggest factor though in sound quality, I agree. If the room sounds good, there are many more mic positions that are likely to sound good, rather than just one or none.

Tim

 

[chessrock]

If the room sounds good, there are many more mic positions that are likely to sound good, rather than just one or none.

Exactly. And there are also more mic patterns that might work, including figure8, wide-cardiod, and even omni.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

I usually put the "dig" player on the floor in the corner, with their back against the wall. I mike the end of the "dig" around 12" out, about 6" above the end, and about 6" to one side. For more breath sounds, raise the mic about 12 - 18" and aim it more towards the mouth. I use a small diaphragm condenser mic, but there's no reason a large diaphragm condenser mic won't work there.

 

[Dags]

20/20 hindsight

I usually put the "dig" player on the floor in the corner, with their back against the wall. I mike the end of the "dig" around 12" out, about 6" above the end, and about 6" to one side. For more breath sounds, raise the mic about 12 - 18" and aim it more towards the mouth. I use a small diaphragm condenser mic, but there's no reason a large diaphragm condenser mic won't work there.

Man, I wish I knew all this stuff before I recorded the didge on my album three years ago

Mind you, I didn't have a condenser back then either.
Stuck an sm58 almost inside the end of it to reduce room noise (was a small, hot, noisy room - kind the size of a walk-in robe in some larger houses) and ramped up the delay/verb in the mix.

Oh well, its all part of the learning experience, eh?