Record a recorder?

[LoganCoykendall]

What's the best way to record a recorder? I'm referring to the woodwind instrument. For extra clarification:



Whenever I try to record my sopranino recorder it sounds shrill and annoying. Whenever I try to record my tenor recorder it sounds hollow and distant. My soprano sounds decent half the time but it often sounds quite distant as well.

I have an LDC (Rode NT2-a), 2 SDCs (Rode NT5) and 2 dynamics (Shure SM-57 and SM-58). What do??? It's incredibly hard to find accurate results on Google for "How to record a recorder".

 

[Massive Master]

A couple feet in front of the player at about mouth level is a nice place to start. As simple (the NT2a on its own) or as complicated (the NT2a center and ORTF NT5's up high) as you want.

Keep in mind that the room is going to have an absolutely gigantic impact on the sound... If the room isn't under control, the recording won't be either.

 

[mjbphotos]

If your room is marginal, the SM57 6-9" from the mouth of the player might be best. Something behind the player to absorb sound reflections, too.

 

[John Willett]

What's the best way to record a recorder? I'm referring to the woodwind instrument. For extra clarification:

View attachment 82189

Whenever I try to record my sopranino recorder it sounds shrill and annoying. Whenever I try to record my tenor recorder it sounds hollow and distant. My soprano sounds decent half the time but it often sounds quite distant as well.

I have an LDC (Rode NT2-a), 2 SDCs (Rode NT5) and 2 dynamics (Shure SM-57 and SM-58). What do??? It's incredibly hard to find accurate results on Google for "How to record a recorder".

With woodwind instruments the lower frequencies radiate at 90° and only the highest frequencies come out of the end.

Here are the radiation diagrams of the Oboe and Clarinet to give you an idea of how a woodwind radiates at different frequencies:-


OBOE


CLARINET



It's all down to using the right microphone and putting it in the best place.

Acoustics and the Performance of Music is an excellent book to help understand these things.