Topic: micing a harp??

[setboy]

this is all i could find about micing a harp http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=16322.msg204884#msg204884


has any one done this? got some tips?


and do you think it would work micing a harp with hypers?


Thanks for any help


Raphael

[goose]

Depends on the location.  What do you have in mind?

[setboy]

i am thinking 1 by the low strings and another by the high strings about 1' to 5' from the harp


but i dont really know. im going to have lots of time for expierimenting


if you got any Ideas let me know


Raphael

[goose]

Why do you have to be that close?  What kind of room is it in?  Nice sounding?  You could also try far-micing.

[setboy]

Why do you have to be that close? 

i dont it was just guess

What kind of room is it in?  Nice sounding? 

its good sounding but its not blow your mind good.  

You could also try far-micing

what do you think would be a good way to do that



Thanks for all the help


Raphael

[setboy]

what kind of harp?
A celtic harp is going to be a lot quiter than a classical concert harp, which can be very loud.

i dont know which she wants me to tape. i think she has both.  i'll have to ask


Thanks Ts+

Raphael

[goose]

Lots of time experimenting (as you note) will provide best results, but I don't see why the typical stereo configurations mentioned on this site would not work well from about any distance from a foot to ten feet from the harp.  You may experiment with raising/lowering the pair and in/out from distance.

I would think (personally) that splitting the mics on the string location would not work well in playback.  I would suggest trying to get the full range of the instrument in both mics, by stereo micing from a chosen distance.   

[MattD]

Harps have sound holes. The sound is richer coming out of there because it has to travel through the whole instrument. I'd say to only mic the strings if you have a second pair of mics.

[goose]

Moke (mfrench) is the man to know - listen sharply.  My only experience taping harp is alongside that "knower of all acoustic."  He certainly will give better reason/actual instrument information.

[setboy]

Ask the artist what kind of sound they want. close and sharp, or distant and a teence more warm and fuzzy?

i found out that she will be playing a classical harp with pedals

i should try XY moke?

i still need to ask her what she want it to sounds like. if i could ask, what would i do to get close and sharp or teence  and more warm and fuzzy?


Thanks

Raphael

[setboy]

I hate to keep drilling you w/ questions, but,....

Is this a solo performance or an accompanied performance?


I've never mic'd a solo harp, always in accompaniment of other instruments, and with the need to find a good ambient blend point.
I've had very good results with concert harps (with other insruments), from as close as 5', to as far as 15'+. The recording at 15' was as accompniment to a flute and viola, and the harp was very loud in the recording (not too loud, but definitely very present).
In an orchestra, the quiet instruments are closer to the conductor, and the louder instruments are further away, with the loudest being the outer most ring of players. The grand harp is typically in the outer 75% ring.

ask all the questions you need

it will be a solo performance


Raphael

[setboy]

thanks moke



Raphael

[jnorman34]

here are a couple of threads on this topic from rec-audio.pro.
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.audio.pro/browse_thread/thread/db8aec9696041eb0/6882b14382689ebf?q=harp&rnum=4&hl=en#6882b14382689ebf
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.audio.pro/browse_thread/thread/a5f72bfdd20fb04b/f04db2b38a33a92b?q=harp&rnum=5&hl=en#f04db2b38a33a92b
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.audio.pro/browse_thread/thread/da29bcc2a2035259/006e7ab322f007d4?q=harp&rnum=6&hl=en#006e7ab322f007d4

i've done four CDs for the flute and harp duo, RoseWynde - email me if you have some specific questions i can help with.

[setboy]

here are a couple of threads on this topic from rec-audio.pro.
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.audio.pro/browse_thread/thread/db8aec9696041eb0/6882b14382689ebf?q=harp&rnum=4&hl=en#6882b14382689ebf
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.audio.pro/browse_thread/thread/a5f72bfdd20fb04b/f04db2b38a33a92b?q=harp&rnum=5&hl=en#f04db2b38a33a92b
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.audio.pro/browse_thread/thread/da29bcc2a2035259/006e7ab322f007d4?q=harp&rnum=6&hl=en#006e7ab322f007d4

i've done four CDs for the flute and harp duo, RoseWynde - email me if you have some specific questions i can help with.

Thanks

i did it today. from hearing it on headphones it dont sound that bad


Raphael