tips for recording horns and strings

[ryland b]

I'm going to be adding a trombone, maybe a sax, and a viola to some mixes and am wondering if anyone has any tips/tricks in mic placement/effects, etc?

Thanks in advance-

rb

[Mike Tholen]

use ribbon mics.
coles 4038
royer
rca
beyer
aea

[abraxas]

For recording sax, I have gotten some nice recordings using a tube U47's. U 87 works fine as well. Position the mic pointed at the body of the sax (where the keys and players hands are), not at the bell, at a distance of about 6 inches. The bell can be a bit honky, you'll get a much more controlled sound from the body. Fet 47's work for the trombone. TLM 193's too. Point the diaphram at the bell. The distance will depend on how dynamic of a part the trombone player will be playing.

Depending on the sound you want for the sax you might also try a 414 TLII.

[ August 29, 2001: Message edited by: abraxas ]

[ryland b]

Thanks for your input, looks like i'm suffering in the mic department. Where does one get ribbon mic's? Looking around I couldn't find any of the mentioned above. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places?

abraxas, thanks for the placement tips, those will be useful -- I'm so used to tracking guitars and vocals, this will be interesting [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img],

thanks again,

rb

[Mike Tholen]

http://www.wesdooley.com/

[mikeoxbig]

In my experience, the room is just as important as the mic choice when recording horns. I also love the sound of the RCA 44bx.

Good luck [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Don Geppert]

We also have an old RCA 44A (ribbon) which is wonderful on brass. These are vintage mics and not cheap.

[ryland b]

From the link above I noticed that even the reproductions aren't cheap. Why don't any manufacturers like akg make a new version of these mic's? Just not cost effective? No demand? Looks like these mic's will be something I'll have to add down the road..

[Mike Tholen]

AKG never made a ribbon mic.
Royer makes new mics that are somewhat more affordable and sound just as good.
Beyer makes some ribbons in the 500 USD range.
[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[ryland b]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Mike Tholen:
AKG never made a ribbon mic.
Royer makes new mics that are somewhat more affordable and sound just as good.
Beyer makes some ribbons in the 500 USD range.
[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

mike,

so they do make new versions! Do you know of any links to the Royer/Beyer mics? Thanks much-- [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

rb