Recording woodwind instruments

  • Thread starter Thread starter rwing
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rwing

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Hi there,

I'm going to be recording a soprano and alto sax in the next week or so. I would appreciate any help on the proper mic type and placement. FYI, I have 2 Marshal 603S's, 1 Audio Technica 3032, and a couple of SM58's. I have limited funds with which to purchase another mic, if it's necessary.

Thanks,

Rob
 
A great instrument mic to use is the Shure SM-57.

Audio-Technica also has instrument mics.....

You could probably get a used Sm-57 for around $70-80...

Check e-bay...local music stores and pawn shops...
 
Your mics will do OK. Just make sure you back off a couple of feet with them..... the sound of a sax doesn't just come out of the bell, but also the key holes too.

I've had good luck using a dynamic (57/58) out from the bell and then a condenser mic out a couple of yards (head high) and then mix the two together.

Experiment with your space.
 
The Sennheiser e604 is also really good for Brass and Woodwind instruments.

To record its good idea to do what Tim O'Brian said, although if you only want to use one mic just above the bell and facing slightly toward the keyholes usually sounds okay.

Neil
 
I just recorded my dad's clarinet by backing a condenser off about two feet and about two feet above the bell. The room was medium with high ceilings and had wood floors, so I used omni for some natural reverb.
 
Well, the snow here in Denver kinda put me behind schedule, but I finally got the recording done. This was my first attempt at recording somthing other than vocals and guitar. Good experience. Let me know what you think.


Thanks for the help. I used an SM-57 at the bell, and a Marshall 603S about 3 feet above the sax.

The musicians are:
  • Dave Erickson - Taylor 810 LTD (mine)
  • Brian Counterman - Alto Sax
  • Me - Producer, Sequencer, and Engineer
 
I'm a long time sax player........it's a nice recording but the sax sounds very tinny. I find the most common error lots of people make is to record horns with too many highs in them. I virtually always roll the top end off on my sax to avoid that. The real tone and beauty of a sax, or a trumpet for that matter, is in the full body of the tone and all you really get from this one is the top-end. But you can probably EQ it away. I'd start by cutting the highs by about 3 or 4 db and if it were my horn.. I'd want to add a small boost aroung 500hz...maybe boost it there a couple of db. Then, if it doesn't cut through, turn it up 'till it does rather than turn up the highs. I'd like to hear it again with the eq different. This is some fairly nice playing, especially the guitar although the sax is nice too.
 
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