Recording uprights

[Bjart Helms]

Does anyone have any tips on recording an acoustic upright bass? I haven't been able to find much online. Really, any thoughts will help. Room size or padding, mics and mic placement...

My band played around with mic positioning as much as we could when we quickly laid down a demo last winter, but since we were pressed for time, we had to settle. Nothing we did really sounding incredible. Passable maybe, but we'd not like to settle so much next time around. Our bassist is presently working on a way to muffle the pickups she uses live, because in the studio they picked up an unbelievable amount of sliding and plucking noises. But I think the pickup had too much of a piezo-ish tone for my tastes anyway, though it did add a little character when mixed in low with a mic.

 

[Tom Hicks]

The two most common placements I've seen are;
1)a large diaphragm condensor at bridge height about 1-2 feet in front
2)an omni wrapped in foam and shoved in the cavity behind the bridge
Depends on how noisy the room is as to which way I'd go.Quiet room=mic the room.Not so nice room=close mic the bass.Just my two cents.

Tom

 

[Joe E]

I aproach an upright simular to a acoustic guitar. Small- medium Diaphram condencer pointed just to the right of the end of the neck. Add the piezo to tasted if available. Take a large diaphram condencer about 24" back to add fullness. Mix to taste, but don't forget EQ a space for the kick drum

 

[Igormeister]

I mike it with two Neumann U87 - one right side at bridge height angled at bridge to catch punch and low end ( avoid resonator holes, it sounds dull ), and other left side at plucking height to catch that sliding and plucking tone. Panned left and right.
If it have piezo pickup , i pan it centre and use for fuller low end and presence ( only lows and highs, scoop out middle range ).
It is full stereo and sounds great.

 

[Bjart Helms]

Thanks!