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

Recording a brass instrument
Minimize noise by
avoiding wind pressure
When recording a brass instrument, placing the mics
directly in front of the bell may cause noise to appear
in the recording. This is a distinctive type of noise
produced by the mic due to the pressure of wind
blown out of the bell. To avoid this, it's important to
place the mics at an appropriate distance for record-
ing. Woodwind instruments played by pressing keys
will also allow some sound to escape from the keys
themselves. Place the mics slightly to the left or right,
rather than directly in front of the instrument.
80 –120 inches 80 –120 inches
(2–3 meters) (2–3 meters)
Distance the mics to
reduce noise
Key noise may be a concern
when recording sax or clari-
net. If so, aim the mics at the
entire instrument and keep
them at a distance.
Use distance to adjust the
character of the ensemble
Placing the mics at a distance will
produce a unifi ed and balanced
recording of the entire ensemble,
while moving the mics closer will
allow the sound of each instru-
ment to be clearly distin-
guished.
p
40 –80 inches 40 –80 inches
(1–2 meters) (1–2 meters)
Keep the mics at a distance
to minimize breath noise
When recording a brass instrument, you may notice
unwanted sounds such as the opening or closing of
the keys, or breath sounds. Moving the mics away
from the instrument can minimize these sounds.
Since brass instruments produce a fairly high vol-
ume, you don't need to worry that the level of the
instrument itself will be inadequate. On the contrary,
keeping the mics at a good distance will let you re-
cord the rich resonances of the entire room.
Minimize noise by avoiding
direct sound
For instruments that have a forward-
facing bell, such as a trumpet, wind
pressure may cause noise to occur.
Tilt the mics upward or downward
to soften the direct sound.
Use headphones to check
the noise level of the room
Be aware of often-unnoticed sources
of noise in the room, such as refrigera-
tors or air conditioners. Listen through
headphones before you start record-
ing, and turn off sources of noise that
can be turned off .
Individual clarity Individual clarity
Blended ensemble Blended ensemble
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