From the course: Audio Recording Techniques

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Recording an acoustic string instrument

Recording an acoustic string instrument

From the course: Audio Recording Techniques

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Recording an acoustic string instrument

Miking a fiddle, violin, or viola is pretty easy when you know the secret, and that's what I'm going to show you in this video. Place a directional condenser mic pointed at where the bow hits the strings, but tilt it a bit towards the neck, at a distance of about 18 inches. (music playing) Move the mic back a foot or so if you want to hear more of the room or less of the bow or chair noise. (music playing) After you've found the place that sounds the best, replace the mic with another directional mic, but this time try dynamic. Let's hear what it sounds like. (music playing) Now replace the directional mic with one with an omni-directional pattern. Listen to what it sounds like. (music playing) Choose the mic that gives you the best sound for the track, then place it where the instrument has the best combination of frequencies and the best balance of direct or ambient sound. That's how we mic a fiddle, violin, or viola. Start with the directional mic about 18 inches from where the bow…

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