trumpet micing, compression and reverb

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chazvic

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what are people's approaches to compression and reverb for recording trumpet?

I'm trying to get better at self-recording.
I'm a trumpet player doing trumpet recording work from home (via wezimple). I play various styles from jazz, funk, rnb, rock, even balkan and north african.
 
dynamic or ribbon mic, about 3 ft. back from the horn

if things sounds a bit shrill/piercing, compress a couple of db's with a fast attack, and if that doesn't work, maybe slap a shelving EQ on the high end and drop it a couple db's

reverb, of course, depends on one's taste...
 
i really like the sound of a mxl v67 for trumpet 2 - 6 feet away. a low budget ribbon will probably do well also but dont rule out large diaphragms. the v67 might be a little darker then you would typically want for a jazz but it is smooth and balanced. Closer and directly faced into the bell will give a brighter with more attack but can get a little too harsh. Id go with 2-3 ft and slightly off axis if your doing solo work.

I think a fast attack on horns is too noticeable and makes it a little sterile. I would go anywhere between 30 to 60 milliseconds on the attack time and somewhere between 140-320 millseconds on the release depending on the tempo and agressiveness of the song. 2.5:1 to 3:1 on ratio and hold the threshold just hitting the stop of softer notes (use your ears with this). If your louder notes are really aggressive and shooting past 6dbs of compression over the softer notes then balance it with a good sounding medium between slightly lowering the threshold and changing ratios to get the sound balanced dynamically without sucking out what your trying to do dynamically with the music. I usually like using a lower ratio with a little more squashed ratio to make this sound natural.

Try to get things good to this point before you mess with EQ too much. Mic placement is more important then EQ if you have the means of getting it right the first time. Dont use compression until after you do it dry. Try and get the dynamics right pre compressor so the compressor sounds smoother. Then just add your prefered reverb.
 
For a scream horn, in front of the bell about a foot out with a Crown CM-31. Have a look at AMT mics too but they like their stuff and it's a bit spendy if you ask me. An SM57 should sound pretty decent as well.

For tastier, smoother playing styles, I too go for a ribbon.

I'm a Ferguson fanatic, but play a Strad model 37 and an Al-Hirt Jet-Tone. You think the sun is bright?! I'll put yer eye out and make your ears bleed.:D

Compression and reverb? I like to use it into the monitor headphones but not onto the recording. The compression and reverb give the player (me) more sense of depth and a flightier feeling. It's a confidence builder mostly when reaching for that upper "G". After the recordeing, I fix up the dry capture as neccessary. Bottom line, record dry, add the effects later.
 
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