string quartet recording

[doylemusic]

Hey, i need to record a string quartet in a couple weeks. What miking approach would you use? Stereo pair, individually miked or combination of the two? It's been a while since I've had to record strings and I haven't really had to do them in a "controlled" environment, where I can mic as I pleased. Thanks

[badperson]

I think a good stereo pair is how the pros do it,


but maybe it would be cool to have, say, the violins face the viola and cello and put a stereo pair on each.

but I'd say one stereo pair would be the place to start from.

bp

[Gene Backlin]

I recently recorded a quartet playing Shostakovich and I used a pair of Studio Projects C1's.

http://s94545301.onlinehome.us/music/06_Shos8Op110.mp3

This was recorded in the reception area of their auditorium, the performance hall was being used for an upcoming play.

Take Care,
Gene

[doylemusic]

Thanks guys. Yeah, i'm thinking of starting with the stereo pair and see what happens from there, adding mics, if needed. I think I'll use the Apex 435's. Maybe stick my NTK on the cello if I don't get enough. Thanks

[brl]

I recently recorded a quartet playing Shostakovich and I used a pair of Studio Projects C1's.
http://s94545301.onlinehome.us/music/06_Shos8Op110.mp3
This was recorded in the reception area of their auditorium, the performance hall was being used for an upcoming play.

i enjoyed listening to your recording. how did you position the musicians and the c1's? the imaging is nice, maybe favoring the violins a little, to my ear.

anyway, would love to hear more about how you made this recording.

bruce.

[SoNiC-LaBs]

Here's a string 4tet I recorded in a small studio.

T.H.E. Audio KR-2C mics ORTF into Phoenix Audio DRS2 preamp, added a bit of reverb.

http://www.sonic-labs.com/media/Brandenburg.mp3
http://www.sonic-labs.com/media/Manha_De_Carnaval.mp3

Individual spot mics were also setup but I ended up not using them. I wish I had more room to get the stereo pair a little further from the ensemble though.

[Gene Backlin]

i enjoyed listening to your recording. how did you position the musicians and the c1's? the imaging is nice, maybe favoring the violins a little, to my ear.

anyway, would love to hear more about how you made this recording.

bruce.

Thank you for listening ! Believe it or not these are high school kids !

I had the pair up around 6 feet and back about 5 feet set up ORTF. Yes the violins are a bit dominant, these kids were really wailing on them.

The evening also featured a few piano trios also, thus the quartet was a bit off center because of the piano being there on the left, and the cellist was the furthest back from the mic.

I would have loved to have them in their auditorium, but I was pleased with results.

Thank you again for listening !

Take Care,
Gene

[brl]

quite amazed to hear that i was listening to high school students. they play with such passion.

in a way, i think it's good that they weren't in the auditorium. with this kind of group, doing this kind of music, i appreciate a drier environment. just me...

thank you for the mic placement info. i've been interested in stereo mic-ing techniques, as of late. been recording individual instruments x/y, experimenting with m/s. so many ways to use two microphones.

thanks again for sharing your recording.

cheers,

bruce.

[PsyCoNo]

If you have the track count and the mic locker to do it definately a good stereo mic technique and spot mics... so you can sweeten individuals if necessary, but I would use mostly stereo pair in the mix if it sounds good.

[Ruben_B]

I recently recorded a quartet playing Shostakovich and I used a pair of Studio Projects C1's.

http://s94545301.onlinehome.us/music/06_Shos8Op110.mp3

This was recorded in the reception area of their auditorium, the performance hall was being used for an upcoming play.

Take Care,
Gene

Hi Gene,
Sounds good mate. Thanks for the info. Do the C1's come as a matched pair or did you use 2 singles? Also did you use the digi pre's for this recording?

Cheers,
Ruben