Topic: Recording The World's Biggest Pipe Organ

[rmx]

I've been asked to record the organ in my house. Never done this on such a big scale like this and I need some tips.

DPA 4006's x2
MetricHalo 2882
MacBook Pro

I'm thinking a ortf pair somewhere in the middle of the room??? Decca tree maybe???


http://www.acchos.org/html/main_organ.html

Peace

[Will_S]

Unless you have additional gear not listed above, I don't see how you could run ORTF (requires cardioid mics, the 4006s are omnis) or a Deca tree (requires three omnis, you only list two)?

I'd think Jecklin disc is the way to go if you just have the two omni mics.

[rmx]

Unless you have additional gear not listed above, I don't see how you could run ORTF (requires cardioid mics, the 4006s are omnis) or a Deca tree (requires three omnis, you only list two)?

I'd think Jecklin disc is the way to go if you just have the two omni mics.

My bad on ORTF cardioids yes. I have two AT 4050's I could use in ORTF.The room is a 14,000 seat concert venue with a 3 second decay time. The Jecklin disc may the way to go. Since I don't own one, where can I buy one? Or can I make one?

Peace

[Gutbucket]

I'd use the 4006 omnis and go spaced.  There aren't multiple instruments that would benefit from the more precise imaging of the baffle and a larger spacing than a baffle allows should offer a more enveloping stereo sound at lower organ fundamentals.  Spaced will likely sound airier for the top octaves reflecting all over the room too.   Enveloping ambience is a big part of what the organ is all about to me.  Move around if you can to find the best room location and mic spacing. Like Moke says (and he's made some outstanding pipe organ recordings), you are truly inside the instrument so the location of various room modes will profoundly affect the quality and quantity of the lower registers. Spacing the mics may also help optimize that aspect even though it is less of an issue as the room gets bigger.  Sounds like a big room.   

My second choice would be a Jecklin disc, mainly if you need a single stand setup.  If you haven't played around with one to get familiar with it, I'd suggest going spaced.  There are several threads here at TS on building DIY Jeckin disks of various degrees of poetic license and a google seach will pull up the more traditional ones.

[eric.B]

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,27771.0.html

[Gutbucket]

^^^^
How'd that one work out?

I love Blumlein, but I'd be hesitant to use it for a pipe organ only because the fig-8's roll more off the bottom octave than any other pattern and that's the very part that gives the pipe organ such immense gravity.

Is there really any sharp imaging in the center of a cathedral?  Restricted to one stand, I might even try something wacky like both omnis on the same stand separated vertically instead of horizontally.  To me it's about mostly about capturing that massiveness and hall ambience.

[Will_S]

I'd also recommend against Blumlein.  As much as I love the imaging, it always disappoints me when it comes to the bass.

IMO, spaced omnis would be ideal if you can get in a couple practice runs where you record from various locations and spacing and see what sounds best on playback.  Of course things will change a bit when the audience fills up, if the final recording will be made at a live performance.  Whereas personally if I was flying blind, I'd run a Jecklin disc where the live sound was best to my ears.

[rmx]

^^^^
How'd that one work out?

I love Blumlein, but I'd be hesitant to use it for a pipe organ only because the fig-8's roll more off the bottom octave than any other pattern and that's the very part that gives the pipe organ such immense gravity.

Is there really any sharp imaging in the center of a cathedral?  Restricted to one stand, I might even try something wacky like both omnis on the same stand separated vertically instead of horizontally.  To me it's about mostly about capturing that massiveness and hall ambience.

Here's the venue:

http://www.acchos.org/qtvr/main_hall/main-hall_sm.mov

Peace

[Craig T]

PM me if you're interested in adding a few more mics/channels.  We've got a Schoeps arsenal over here in Philly and I'm sure some of us would love to hear that organ.

[Matt Quinn]

I have organ recordings with bass notes that register at an increasing amplitude at 15hz, where my spectro-graph runs out of chart.  Thats the stuff! Natural bass bombs!

Anything public? Would love to hear that!

[Gutbucket]

and,... be aware -- run your levels conservatively!

..officially recognized by The Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest pipe organ and the biggest and loudest musical instrument ever constructed.