gtr-flute calssical duo

[guy]

I'm invited to engineer a recording session for calssical-guitar/ flute duo playing classical pieces and tango works written for this ensamble.

I know the studio it gonna take place in, the room is not great and for mic preamp there are only the mackie desk ones and focusrite isa110 (one unit).
I'm bringing these mic for the session:
c414,beyer m160(x2),km84(x2),schoeps cm640-tube,akg c12.

any expiriences recording such an ensamble?
thanx, I allways love hearing other people techniques before doing a classical session.
guy

 

[TexRoadkill]

Are they going to play individually or together?

 

[Beezoboy]

I say use the C12 or 414 on flute and the Beyer m160 on the Classical Guitar. Should work good whether they play together or not. I would say your best bet though, would be to convince them to record in a nice room, or a nice church and just use the two KM84's.

 

[guy]

thanx,
the musicians gonna play together (as normal for classical music),
whould you really use the 84 as a room mic and not the m160?

 

[Roel]

I'd use em both... Stereo pair and one mono mic. There's some setups for that, I read it somewhere but don't remember.

But you should try and get to record it in a good room. Especially when using room mics!!

And for the hell of it, put those other mics in too. That would still be only five tracks. See what you can get from it...

So... Europe aye?? Where?

 

[TexRoadkill]

Unless you have some kick ass reverbs I would try for a good room also. Close mic each instrument and get a nice stereo room recording.

 

[lilcapn]

phasing an issue?

i'm curious -- when close mic-ing a couple things like in this case, and then having stereo room mics, are there phasing issues between the room mics and the close mics, or are they so far from each other that it's not an issue (as opposed to, say, a close mic on a guitar amp, and one just a few feet back on the same amp)?

thanks!
mac

 

[Beezoboy]

The reason I was thinking the Beyer is because they are ribbon mics and tend to have a very smooth sound and are good for delicate insturments like the classical guitar. The C12 and 414 are both damn fine mics and with proper placement should sound great on the flute. Just in case the flute sounds a bit harsh, you might consider reversing and trying the c12 on the guitar and the beyer on the flute. I just think ribbon would be the way to go for both of these instruments. However, when you get to the tango songs, you might want to try a different mic technique for a more aggressive and powerful sound.

The reason for the km84's as room mics is because they might be all you need in a good room. But since the room is not so good you are using the other mics as reinforcement, or as an option to cut out the room mics completely. Finally ask the people you are recording to bring some recordings of people they listen to. I think if you listened to a few of their recordings, then you could try and replicate a sound close to that on the recordings. Or at least you could have a nice base to work from. And if all else fails, blame it on the room and convince them to record at a church or a nice performance hall. Did I see that you are from Europe?? If so I would think you should have no problem finding a nice old church to record in. And best of all, you'll come out cheeper renting a church for a couple hours than a studio. The church may not even charge at all.

Beezoboy