Topic: How to close mic a cello?

[Kevin Straker]

My sister wants me to record some cello tracks she is doing for a band. What's the best way to mic this thing? I'll be using mk4's.

Thanks-Kevin

[audBall]

My sister wants me to record some cello tracks she is doing for a band. What's the best way to mic this thing? I'll be using mk4's.

Thanks-Kevin

Found this: http://www.silver-dragon-records.com/recording_unusual_instruments.htm
It covers a few different instruments.


Also found this: http://www.akg.com/products/product_tipps/powerslave,mynodeid,186,nodeid,1,id,17,_language,EN,pid,261,_view,tips.html
Cello & Bass

[Kevin Straker]

cool, thanks and +t

[audBall]

cool, thanks and +t

Sure, no prob.  I should note, though, that I have not tried this before. 

Hope it works out well for you guys.

[MattD]

Having done this with DPAs (Matt Haimovitz), the answer is: It depends on what you want to accomplish. I miked from WAY up close (18" from the bridge) and as a result, lost a lot of the natural reverb of the instrument and the room. The recording was very clean and detailed, but not the most pleasant thing to listen to. For a stand-alone recording, I would have been better off moving back to about 5 feet. I would have lost some detail (but that's a good thing - losing fingers on the strings and the initial attack of the bow), but would have gained a lot in what the characteristic sound of that cello was.

However, since this is for tracking, I recommed you do almost exactly what I did - record up close, as whoever's mastering the thing will likely add their own reverb. Adding reverb is easy, but taking it away is probably impossible.

[jnorman34]

i tracked some solo cello parts for the last CD i did for the group RoseWynde.  i used an AKG c480/ck61 on some tracks and a DPA 4011 on others (the two mics sounded almost identical in this application) out at about 3 feet, just above and looking down on the body of the cello.  i agree with the commetn above - if i had had access to a better space to record this, i would have pulled back further to give the instrument a chance to interact with the room more, but the tracks came out just fine - very clean and detailed with a lot of body.