Recording Church Bells

[superpenguin79]

'afternoon everyone, was just wondering if any of you have gotten the opportunity to record musical church bells by chance before? I found out that there is a church across the road from where I live that plays awesome sounding music on the bells and I asked permission to record them and am awaiting a reply. I could probably just stick a microphone out the window and capture them if I could find out the schedule of when they play them, but figured it more fitting to ask.

Definately believe that I should set up atleast a couple mics if they give me permission to record them caus the sound is just amazing how they ring out. anyone ever do something crazy like this before?

[lemix]

What permission ? It tolls for everyone.
You don't want to get up-close. All that tone mixes in the air. I'd do it with spaced omnis.
bob

[superpenguin79]

good point man.. The only reason I really asked them is caus I wanted to know if they are on at a certain time of day caus I think they usually come on once in the morning and once in the afternoon, but I haven't been able to catch the exact time.. This would help me to setup and be ready to capture the event. hehe yeah, I have a perfect spot right from my back porch pretty much to mic caus its maybe 30-40 yards from the front of the church across the st. I'm guessing and you get a nice clear ring. As for the Omni's, unfortunately I don't own a pair... Probably my Oktava or SM57 would be my best bet with the mics I have in posession.. Maybe I could trade in that Apex and the 57 copy and put down towards a nice Omni caus I have been wanting to experiment with those on the Didg anyways. Thanks for the tips man

[lemix]

This is what you should have...

[superpenguin79]

Hmm.. attempted to price those and I take it I'd have to go through Mercenary if I were to track down a pair eh? They don't seem to be an item in your local music shack...

[superpenguin79]

ok, just tracked down the "used" price of these at one of my sources and all I can say is: a little rich for my blood dude, but maybe in a couple years or so depending on events.

[ijnad51]

My pal has a pair: Absolutely excellent. Stuck with same proba s you vogelmann.

[superpenguin79]

alright guys, here's a first crack at it with my Oktava MK219 aimed out my back door towards the church. I did a little bit of noise filtering and a bit of EQ work to take out some of the traffic best I could (I live on a busy st. close to a college and business district) and here is the result: cross st. church bells I am going to try to setup shop around 5:30/6pm again and see if I can catch the musical ones if traffic dies down a little. I think the noon ones are just the normal single bell or something...

[K.B.]

Very evocative.

Maybe it's quieter on a Sunday morning?

[superpenguin79]

yeah, I am thinking about taking the 6am plunge on Saturday morning if I get to bed early enough on Fri. night to see if I can catch them. The musical ones only play at 6pm to the best of my knowledge.. hopefully they do some musical ones at 6am also.. I might wait though and get a good shotgun mic and a longer XLR cable and see what I can't get accomplished..