Keep It Simple
For my violin session, I used a single mic (large-diaphragm condenser) through my Presonus Eureka preamp.

I set the mic up about two feet above the violin and about two feet in front of the violinist.

Could I have used 2 mics? Absolutely, however if the violinist moves around (most do), it would have caused all manner of weird phase issues.

Besides, the violin is a small instrument.

One microphone tends to capture the sound just fine. I didn’t mic the violin too closely, because violins don’t sound particularly wonderful when they’re close mic’d.

They tend to sound much better from a distance. That’s why I moved the mic back a few feet from the instrument itself. This is where having good acoustic treatment in your room really helps when you don’t want to close-mic something.

When the violinist was warming up, I moved the mic around just a little bit to find a spot that sounded good. I recorded a quick practice take and played it back.

It sounded quite good to me, so we jumped in and started recording. I didn’t waste unnecessary time trying out different techniques. Rather, I guessed at one setup, it worked, so we moved forward.

Some Quick Tips
If you’re recording an unfamiliar instrument, here are some things to keep in mind:

• If you’re using a directional mic, you can adjust how bass-heavy the signal is by adjusting the distance between the mic and the instrument. The closer the mic is, the more bass it will record (proximity effect).

• If the instrument is fairly large (piano, upright bass, orchestra), you’ll want to think about using multiple microphones. Keep in mind that the more mics you use, the more mindful you’ll want to be of phase issues. (See 3:1 Rule.)

• Use your ear first. Stand in front of the instrument and find the spot where it sounds best to your ear, then put the microphone there.

• If things aren’t sounding great, try using a different microphone. Changing from a condenser to a dynamic or ribbon can provide a whole new range of tonal options.

Have you recently faced the challenge of recording an unfamiliar instrument? Let me know in the comments below.

 
Joe Gilder is a Nashville based engineer, musician, and producer who also provides training and advice at the Home Studio Corner.

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