Violin

[MadAudio]

In a couple of weeks, I'll be recording a violin track for my steadiest client, and I'm wondering what others may have done in this situation.

I have a decent variety of mics to try (though I'm thinking the first I'll hook up will be the MXL V69M), but I'm wondering how much capturing room tone will be important for this considering guitars and vocals are the predominant forces on this particular song. My main room doubles as a rehearsal space and is fairly dead.

Thoughts?

 

[Ironklad Audio]

personally, i would look to the finest SDC you have, or a ribbon mic if available...and i know that in classical settings, natural acoustics/reverb is much desired, but that might not be the case here

 

[Han]

The V69M may sound a little too bright, so try to cut some high end. I agree with Ironklad about the SDC, a Neumann KM84 or a Schoeps will be near perfect.

A ribbon like Beyer M160 or 260 may please you very well too.

 

[Halion]

Personally, for none-classical strings (small ensembles or solo) I like some decently small reverb. No bedroom type stuff but something like the size of a living room. The strings on most Jamiroquai songs are really really dry, but they don't pop out as anoying, it seems to work really well. When I listen to Lost Prophets (nu metal), the strings are big, airly, filmmusic type stuff. It's all up to you mate, but I think your room will do fine.

 

[BigRay]

I like mixing a ribbon and a SDC. I also have had fantastic results with 2 omnis on a jecklin disc.

I love a good amount of reverb, but if your room is dead..

 

[guitar junkie]

i just got the v67G MXL mic and use it now on fiddle but before that i used an AT4040 which was a lot sharper more crisp sounding.... reverb is a tool with strings but if you have a decent room to record in then i would say use what is around you, EQ till you have the right tones...

remember not to mic the bow up too close because that is where you can any hiss or squeak from the player... i have been known to record fiddle with my back to the mic even with decent results... but really even micing the peg box or neck seems to get some nice warm sounds....

good luck.

 

[mshilarious]

Thoughts?

The biggest issue will be the desired tone. Somehow it seems to me that violin is one of the most radically affected instruments when you change mics and mic positions. Perhaps that's because some people are very allergic to it potential for screechiness, whereas other people (like me) are addicted to it

Anyway, you will find that placement above, below, or at the level of the soundboard has a HUGE effect on tone. I somewhat prefer a slightly bright mic at the level of the soundboard. A more "fiddle" tone can be derived from a ribbon placed overhead.

Of course flat-response omni mics could be interesting too

 

[slidey]

best violin sound I ever got was 2x SE2200a's in top corner of the room with the player in the centre of the room

I'm just about to embark on another violin recording & I plan to use a Neumann KMS105 about 6-10 inches from the instrument & a TLM103 in the room, probably facing away from the player

I'm still angling to buy a ribbon

 

[MadAudio]

Great food for thought - thanks everyone. I realized I didn't mention that the genre is rock.......

Unfortunately I have no ribbons in my locker, and a recent G.A.S. attack has crippled me as far as buying new gear soon. But I think I'll be better armed now...

 

[up-fiddler]

I know that they are cheap mics but I have had good results with the MXL 991. If I am playing and recording myself then I use a 991 way off axis pointed from my shoulder toward the pegbox and a couple of feet out from me and then I use my Studio Projects T3 out about 8 feet for room and blend the two. As MSHilarious says, placement is probably more important than mic choice. I remember geeting a great sound a few years back on a fiddler with only a SM58 into a four track cassette in his garage but I dinked around with placement for about 25 minutes before we pressed record. He still thinks it's the best he has ever sounded. Good luck.

 

[MadAudio]

Well, I ended up using the V67 from above the soundboard. The mic was already set up from the last session I did so I decided to try it first, and right off the bat it was just the right tone for the song. Even the player was pleased with the sound.

But she kept calling it a "fiddle."

 

[slidey]

But she kept calling it a "fiddle."

I said this before BUT, I'm gonna say it again & then fill you full of negs to take you back to 2112

I knew a guy was crap on the violin but played a mean fiddle

haw haw