Mandolin recording

doctorfish wrote on 12/2/2003, 3:10 AM
I'm doing a session this weekend in which I'll be recording a mandolin for the
first time. Since I've never recorded a mandolin before I wondered what
mics and mic placements others have used woth sucess with this
instrument. I have a Rode NT 1000, two Rode NT 3's, and two Shure
SM 58's at my disposal.

Thanks

David

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 12/2/2003, 6:09 AM
Skip the SM 58; they seem to pick up a buzzing sound when recording strings. Electret condenser mics are definately better in this situation. You'll want to get moderately close, within two feet probably, and have the mic pointing directly at the front surface of the mandolin. Closer is better for a purer sound as long as the musician doesn't feel uncomfortable. However, when you get this close it can also sound unnaturally dry and almost muted, so you may have to add a bit of reverb afterwards. This will still probably sound better than picking up too much ambiant room sound though. When i have the luxury of multiple tracks i'll usually record simultaneously from several different mics in different positions, then choose which one sounds best.
ramallo wrote on 12/2/2003, 1:02 PM
Hello,

Use your ears, where you listen a good and balanced sound, you will put the mic there, if you don't like the sound there, change the mic (Is a mic problem).

Best with small diameter capsules, best with condensers (Electrec or pure), best with onmi's (If you have a nice room)

Cheers

P.D. The microphones are a electroacoustic ears
doctorfish wrote on 12/2/2003, 6:05 PM
Thanks for the advice. I'd planned to start in close with one of NT 3 mics
and based on the sound work it out from there.

Thanks again.

Dave
doctorfish wrote on 12/6/2003, 4:59 PM
Chienworks, ramallo,

thanks again for the advice but it turned out for naught. The mandolin
was a custom built electric mandolin so I just recorded a direct signal
which blended very well with the acoustic guitars.

Not exactly the traditional mandolin sound but quite interesting nonetheless.

Dave
kilroy wrote on 12/6/2003, 5:44 PM

Huge tip for *all* acoustic strummed instruments...heavy picks equals a fatter sound and much less of that annoying "flicking" noise the pick makes with those silly thin plastic pletctrums most folks use. The best ones are natural tortoise shell, but because these fine animals don't deserve death just so we can have great instrument picks, get the fake tortoise shell Fender picks in at *least* a medium weight, and the heavy is even better. Those fat jazz stubbies will get you a huge sound.

If the client comes in with light picks then hand him/her a heavier one to try. Sometimes they whine about not being able to hang on to them, so make sure you drill a 1/4 inch hole in the center so they will not have a reasonable excuse to refuse using it. Because the instrument *will* sound much nicer.

Aside from that, new strings. Though it's not your problem, I would go and purchase a couple of sets of good strings just in case you have some crappy ones to work with.
You get the sound you want, the client is blown away by your forethought and shrewd preparation, and you could quite possibly come off looking a total hero *and* get the girl to boot.

Lastly, AKG 414s always worked for me on mandolin, mandola and bazouki. One close and one farther out in a well diffused room.