Boss BR-1180 User Manual page 10

Woodwinds
For most woodwinds, aim a microphone about 1 foot away from its key holes. If you are
miking a section try pointing a bidirectional mike down over the section.
For miking a single flute place the mike a few inches away from the head joint between
the mouthpiece and the left hand. You can also mike directly in front of the mouth piece
if you want to capture more of the breath sounds. You might need to use a pop filter for
this scenario
Acoustic Grand Piano
There can be several different possibilities for recording an acoustic grand depending on
your situation. To capture a solo piano performance in a concert hall you will also want
to capture the sound of the hall itself. Open the piano lid to its highest peg and ideally
you will want to place a stereo pair of mics approximately 7 feet away and 7 feet high.
Experiment with distances closer or farther away to find the desired reverb amount.
To capture a jazz or pop performance there are some close miking techniques that will
probably work better for you. If you are using only one mic, try placing it about 12 inches
above the middle strings and about 8 inches horizontally from the hammers with the lid
in its most open position. Ideally, removing the lid altogether will reduce possible
"boominess."
With two cardioid or even two omni directional condensers you can place one mic center
over the upper strings and one center over the bass strings. Again, place the microphones
about 8 inches horizontally from the hammers and 8 to 12 inches above the strings.
Acoustic Upright Piano
Most of us typically do not have grand pianos at our disposal so if you want to record
that upright piano sitting in your den here are a few suggestions.
• Move the piano away from the wall remove the top lid. Then position a stereo pair
of mics about a foot above and a foot in from of the top of the piano.
• Remove the front panel and place a mic approximately 8 inches in front of the
bass strings and a second mic 8 inches in front of the upper strings.
• Mike the back of the piano using dynamic microphones positioned a couple of
inches from the soundboard. Put one of them in the bass area and the other in the
treble area. Make sure the piano's back is facing out into the room.
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