Recording A String Instrument - Roland CD-2e Manual Book

Recording a string instrument

Get a rich sound by allowing
distance from the instrument
The distinctive resonance of string instruments
such as the violin is created by the combination
of the sound of the strings themselves with the
resonances of the instrument's body. The point is
that you should place the mics where the string
and body resonances are well-balanced. Placing the
mics 80–120 inches (2–3 meters) from the front of
the instrument (for a violin, facing the musician) will
produce a well-balanced recording. Once you've
become familiar with recording string instruments,
you can try varying the distance and height of the
mics to obtain other tonal characteristics.
Emphasize
the sound of the strings
If you want to emphasize
the sound of the bow on the
strings, move the mics close
to the bridge. When doing
so, adjust the input level to
prevent distortion from
occurring.
Clear
Mellow
Rounded
10
Bright
Use distance and
height to adjust the tone
A distance of 40–80 inches (1–2
meters) from the instrument
will produce a bright tone, and
a distance of 120–160 inches
(3–4 meters) will produce a
rounded, mellow tone. Placing
the CD-2e on a chair to gain
some height will give the
sound more clarity.
Emphasize the body or strings
to capture your unique tone
If you want a deeper sound, aim the mics at the
f-holes from which the body resonances escape.
On the other hand, if you want to emphasize the
scraping of the bow on the strings, position the mics
in front of the instrument and move a bit closer.
In particular, moving the mics close to the bridge
will allow the bow movements to be captured
realistically.
Emphasizing
the sound of the body
If you want to capture a
de e ep and rich tone, aim the
m m ics at the f-holes, which
emit the body resonances. em
One-Point Advice
Use the internal tuner to check
the pitch before recording
The CD-2e contains a built-in
chromatic tuner. You can tune to a
reference pitch, and there's also a
tuning guide that provides a visual
indication of the pitch.