recording classical solo flute

[mark rachelle]

ok its not band camp

just keen to here of a few different techniques for a classical gig i've got comming up

[jkhuri44]

ive read techniques relating to recording saxophone...slightly different, but according to the theory...its related to sound holes...so im pretty sure it will relate some how.


its probably coolest to record maybe using 3 mics.... 1 spot mic which is aimed somewhere around the flautist's fingerholes...to pick up most sounds emminating out of the soundholes. But, when i say spot mic, i mean i little further than usual.

and throw up a stereo pair, in any config that tickles your fancy....until you get a killer stereo image you like that works in the room youll be recording in. Probably best not to record too far away from the flautist.

if the room's good, that is usually nice enough to go with, if you lack note definition, mix in the spot mic to taste...

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DPA do a few instrument style lapel mics (out of interest), especially for classical spot micing, not sure if youve got those mics, or can be assed buying them, hehe....

[Chris H]

I often mic using an M/S pair, four or six feet back, depending on how the room sounds and how much room you want, closer if the room is on the small side. I make sure the mic for centre sounds great on it's own for mono. If the room is not very live i use the side for room ambience and early reflections and use a convolution reverb for the concert hall type reverb and that can be used to create some stereo dimention as well. Logics space designer is great. I also stay away from mics that have a bump it the highs. I also make a point of recording at lower levels to digital leaving 6 dB or so and making up gain later mixing or mastering. I never use compression when tracking but sometimes do minimum compressing for the mix. I use an Amek 9098 preamp. Classical guys use B&K mics as the off axis sound in cardoid sounds natural etc but i use a Neuman KMi85 for flutes for the centre and a U89 for the fig 8

[Ausrock]

Mark,

A lot can depend on the flute itself........if possible, have the flautist play and just walk around listening for the "sweet spot". The only flute I have recorded was insured for a value that could easily buy a nice little car BUT the sound was enough to make my jeans becoming tightish................or maybe that was because of the gal playing it :-)...........a friend of my son's.

Anyways, I tried a few mics, etc., and settled for a T3 about 12" - 18" out aimed halfway along the instrument. Too close to the mouth and you'll end up with too much "breath"......think Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull.

[chris p]

Depends a lot what you want to do with it, of course - how many other things will be in the mix, whether its a flute solo, etc etc etc.

The sound of the flute comes primarily from the mouthpiece, so that's your main target point. It's also the place where all the "breathiness" happens, and depending on the piece / player, there can be a LOT of breathiness.

For a one mic solution, I'd be looking at a nice cardioid pencil condensor (I've used at AT3031 with great results), above the player, pointed straight down at the sound hole. Bringing the mic down in an arc away from the player (but still pointed at the sound hole) increases the breathiness, so play with this until you get the sound you want.

Two mics, I'd be going for Chris H's MS solution.

Three mics, I'd combine the above.

I personally find the fingerholes less easy to fit in - the "tap" of the fingers is annoying and some weird harmonic/phasing things can make it difficult to mix with other mics on the same source. JK might have some different experience.

[rick]

what you do is you get a little hammer and a big vice and...
err... i mean
single km 84 up close and if she stays fairly still a large condenser about three feet away at the long end
if she does not stay still
when you mix it you are going to wish she did


the flute player is a girl right...? :)

[davidspearritt]

I would try to find a top class ribbon mic, like the Coles 4040 or AEA. See this thread for some nice sounding samples.
http://gearslutz.com/board/showpost.php ... stcount=18

[heathen]

[quote="rick"]
if she does not stay still
when you mix it you are going to wish she did


the flute player is a girl right...? :)[/quote]

Gaff tape her feet to the floor.