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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: checht on April 07, 2019, 10:14:34 PM

Title: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: checht on April 07, 2019, 10:14:34 PM
Recording a house concert tomorrow night, using Schoeps MSTC64. Will only have a boom mic stand because travel, and likely will have to be close to the cellist.

Any/all advice appreciated!

TIA
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: DSatz on April 07, 2019, 10:38:37 PM
Unaccompanied, or with a keyboard instrument?
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: checht on April 07, 2019, 10:45:04 PM
1 piece with, one without.
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: DSatz on April 08, 2019, 12:26:47 PM
The reason I asked is, unaccompanied instruments can be miked somewhat more closely, because you only need to consider the balance between direct sound and reverberance. But the addition of a keyboard instrument creates several problems.

Number one is the balance between them in terms of clarity. For a baroque 'cello, the keyboard instrument would most likely be a harpsichord (or less likely, a clavichord) and the range of size and projection among different harpsichords is considerable. But there is a miking distance in reverberant halls beyond which the sound of any harpsichord degenerates into mostly noise. And depending on the lid position, you may have only a limited range of elevations to choose from.

I would definitely want to record (or at the very least, listen to) a rehearsal in the hall, and have a definite idea of the physical setup of the players, before deciding on the mike setup for the concert. Is that an option for you? If not, then can you at least talk to the players and make some napkin sketches to get an idea of where your mikes could go?

Also, what's the hall like, in terms of its sonic character?
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: checht on April 08, 2019, 12:34:36 PM
Not sure this is going to go well, the hall is my father's living room in Berkeley. 9' ceiling, 500 square foot rectangle.

He's 85 today, and his friends from Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra are playing for him.

He's always wondered about my recording hobby, and I thought this'd be a fun way to share it with him.

Might be that I just focus on the solo cello pieces, and try my best to get the placement right for the piece with the harpsichord.

Appreciate your help, as always!

Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: yug du nord on April 08, 2019, 01:04:47 PM
Happy Birthday to the big #85!
Cool that you can share your hobby with him today!

I'd say find a safe place to set up your mikes so nobody bothers them or trips on them and hit record and enjoy recording some nice music in your dad's living room.
Don't stress over it..  set levels conservatively so you don't need to obsess over watching levels.
Take it as a nice opportunity to record with your dad...  and hopefully you'll end up with a recording that you can play for your dad which might just justify your crazy taper tendencies.   ;)

...or go for the best recording that you can make!

Either way..  good luck.. and enjoy!
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: lsd2525 on April 08, 2019, 01:13:42 PM
Go for Baroque!!!
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: checht on April 10, 2019, 03:57:44 AM
Amazing music and wonderful time.

Editing recording, sounds very nice. Ended up positioning mics prioritizing the cellos, worked nicely with and without piano.
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: checht on May 21, 2019, 10:29:12 PM
Forgot to come back and post a link. i got lucky with mic placement, and guests were quiet. Sounds nice and fun to have such a stereo soundstage.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/25ps38dmjkuviri/AAAqFuXjQ6gqdKrjOO11r3WKa?dl=0

01. Giacobbe Basevi Cervetto c.1682-1783
    Divertimento in G, Op.4 No.1
    Adagio - Andantino

02. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756-1791
    Rondo in A minor k. 511

03. Ludwig Van Beethoven 1770-1827
    Sonata No. 4 in C Major, Op. 102
    Andante - Allegro Vivace

04. Salvatore Lanzetti c.1710-c.1780
    Sonata in A Minor, Op.1 No.5
    Adagio Cantabile - Allegro

05. Jean Thomas (written in 1735, Paris)
    Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 1
    Adagio - Allemanda

[edited to add setlist]
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: mandodon on May 22, 2019, 11:26:09 AM
Is there any instrument more beautiful sounding than the cello? Maybe only the mandolin.  ;D

Did you try a just a tiny touch of reverb? It's a little dry for classical, but that's the room/situation you had to deal with. You got a nice balance of the piano and cello. Those musicians know how to play together.

That's a beautiful recording you made for your dad. I can imagine how much he'll enjoy listening to it over and over. Glorious music. Thanks for sharing.

Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: checht on May 22, 2019, 11:47:26 AM
Yes, those 3 have decades of playing together. The cellos are 300-400 years old and strung with gut.

Didn't think of add anything, assumed that the aesthetic in classical is to go un-processed. I'll play a little, thanks for the tip!
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: mandodon on May 22, 2019, 12:20:26 PM
Most classical recordings are done in large reverberant spaces with microphones back further to capture some of the room sound as well as the direct sound. You didn't have that luxury. A bit of reverb might help, but it might sound fake too. I'd try a small room reverb (since you were in a small room) and just so you hardly notice it. It might be better dry, but since you have such a beautiful recording, it's worth giving it a try to see if it adds anything to it.

Lovely textures on those cello pieces with the sound of the bow on those gut strings. You captured that very nicely.
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: illconditioned on May 22, 2019, 11:45:39 PM
Amazing music and wonderful time.

Editing recording, sounds very nice. Ended up positioning mics prioritizing the cellos, worked nicely with and without piano.
excellent.  acoustic chamber music ... in your living roomThanks for posting :)
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: jerryfreak on May 28, 2019, 03:18:09 AM
couch tour rules, heres why
Title: Re: Baroque cello concert using period instrument, mic placement tips?
Post by: morst on May 28, 2019, 02:27:04 PM
This came out really nice! Thanks for sharing!
 8) :headphones: 8)