recording banjo

  • Thread starter Thread starter robin2
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robin2

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Howdy folks... total newbie here.

Well, some would ask WHY, but I am resolved to record banjo out in WA state-- recording onto a Tascam 244, it's an eclectic duo project, alternating between acoustic guitar, accordion, mandolin, banjo, etc...

Mic-ing the banjo has been a major difficulty. Whatever/Wherever we've tried, we get a buzzy/plinky sound very different from what we hear in the room, as well as bleed-over from other instruments.

We've been using a s57, a medium-price s58 look-alike, and a Very Cheap Realistic Condenser like you'd use w/ a walkman. Tried everything from 3 feet out to clipping the mic onto the tailpiece. The condenser seems a little better, but none of them get a smooth or sweet sound.

Any tips on 1) what mic 2) placement?

Thanks for any/all tips, Robin2
 
The fact that the banjo was just about the first instrument recorded should tell us something, and that is just about anything will work. I've got four banjos but only use two to record; an open back long neck and a resonator 5-string. My Oktava 012's seem to do about the best job. A 57 is good too. Funny thing, the Studio Projects C-1's don't like the resonator banjo at all, it's almost like phase cancellation, very flat sounding.
 
In my limited experience, I've found that the farther way you mic the banjo, the better it sounds. So if you placed the mic somewhere in Idaho... :p

More seriously, the banjo seems so full of overtones and harmonics coming from different parts of the head, body and resonator if it has one, and from the back reflected off the player, that it would seem if you want to capture what you hear "in the room" that the mic needs to be "in the room." I know this causes problems with bleed, but the banjo is so overpowering (as usually played) that I'd think it wouldn't be too serious.

I don't know what kind of mic - if mic'ing at a distance then a cardioid or hypercardioid would probably be best for some off axis sound rejection - I'd think the SM57 would be OK. Maybe an external preamp would help the sound too.

Hopefully Harvey or others with extensive banjo recording experience will chime in.
 
From robin2's description of his current equipment, it sounds like he's on a tight budget. He might wanna try the Behringer ECM8000 at $35, but he'll need some kind of phantom power.

He could make a little outboard supply that uses a pair of 9 volt batteries in series, a couple of capacotors, and two resistors to power the mic. I posted the basic circuit somewhere on this forum a while back.
 
What's the difference between a banjo and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle? You can tune a Harley.

On stage you'll find most banjo players positioning the mic to the lower top of the head and far enough away to catch both the head and resonator.

How can you tell if the stage is level? The drool comes out both sides of the banjo players mouth equally.

For me, I mic the resonator banjo fairly close (which is probably why the C-1 goes nuts) for Scuggs style and the long neck further away for lower tunings, traditional and frailing styles.
 
A friend of mine, legendary WA banjo player Harley Bray often mics the banjo with the AKG C3000 at the height of his head, about 3 feet in front of him pointed at the head of the banjo. His sound is terrific, but his playing is so good, he would sound great under any conditions.

Harley has come up with many ways to mic Scruggs style banjo. They are explained in the book "Professional Microphone Techniques" by Phil Williams. If you are going to be recording any accoustic music, look for this book.

By the way, I was at his house today playing guitar on Gary Lee Moore's fiddlin project. Phil had an interesting set up for us. He miced Garys fiddle with a AT 4060 Tube mic ovet the headstock about 1 1/2 feet, pointed at Garys chin (this is my prefered micing position for fiddle as well). On my Gibson Advanced Jumbo, a KM184 in fronT of the sound hole, but pointed the mic at the front of the fingerboard. He then had an older Sony large diaphram condenser mic an a Neuman large diaphram condenser in a figure 8 pattern, which were blended. The sounds were great.
 
Thanks everyone... that gives me some things to try!!! Not to mention practicing more! Thanks, robin2
 
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