Recording a "whirly-tube"...

[_john_]

Hi there,
I'm trying to record a "whirly-tube" (one of those long, flexible, ridged, tubes that make a sound when quickly spun around & around)...but I'm having trouble getting a clean sound.

Regarding placement relative to the mic...
- orientation to the mic - parallel (so mic & tube end become face to face on each spin), or perpendicular (so mic & tube end are at a 90degree angle on each spin)?
- OR, better to keep the other end of the tube in front/near the mic, so the sound is equidistant from the mic at all times during the spinning?

Any other tricks to get a strong but clean sound out of this whirly-tube?
For instance, will boosting reverb help pick it up better? Or will that be balanced out by the extra ambient 'noise' picked up.
I'm trying to add some delay as well...better as pre- or post-?

My setup:
Whirly-tube -> Peavy PVi Mic ->
[BossFX Comp. CS-3 -> Shifter PS-5 -> Delay DD-2 -> Delay DD-6] ->] TonePort KB37 -> GearBox software (on eMac) & recorded onto GarageBand.

Any help with recording things like this, and other "acoustic" instruments would be very helpful.
I have a lot of instruments I'm interested in using for minor parts in various songs - whirly-tube, kalimba, toy piano, Wod (Thai), Kaen (Lao), & other various Asian "reed pipes" - and I'm trying to find good settings and 'tricks' to getting good & clean recordings of these.

Thanks in advance,

_john_

 

[tarnationsauce2]

I would use an omni for such an "instrument". They move so far that a directional mic would only pick up part of the whirl. Or for extra effect, you could use a stereo pair for cool L-R doppler sound effect.
I'd also use a room with little ambient noise, and keep the mic kind of far away, 8-10ft.
Reverb and delay won't help the sound you record, so do not even think about those effects until you record the tube with a good, solid sound you think is good. Don't use delay or reverb as a crutch unless that's your last resort. Or if that is the effect you want.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Usually with percussion you want the mic perpendicular to the plane of movement. In other words you don't want the source getting closer and farther from the mic. You want it moving sideways to the mic.

 

[Snazzy Q]

This is kind of a stupid suggestion, but what if you strapped the mic to your wrist so the handle-end opening of the tube was close to it?
It might sound pretty interesting

 

[Freddy]

You know, this may be a great use of those binaural mikes that Danny.Guitar has!

That probably doesn't help much

I'd go with setting up a mic (or a pair) and moving around to see what I got. I suspect that there will be a difference between spinning it around overhead and spinning it around to one side of you.

The idea of 2 mics (one either side) and getting a doppler effect sounds fun too.

However you do it, what a great idea!

 

[prestomation]

This is kind of a stupid suggestion, but what if you strapped the mic to your wrist so the handle-end opening of the tube was close to it?
It might sound pretty interesting

I would definitly try that

 

[MadAudio]

I once read about Bill Bruford recording one of these for his band Earthworks. IIRC, they used 4 mics placed at north, south, east and west outside of the source (Bruford twirling the tube thing). As for what kind of mics they used and how they panned it in the mix I couldn't tell you, but it sounds pretty cool on the record.