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Hello!

Next week I'm going to record a classical string quintet (2vl-vla-cl-bass) and I have some doubts about the best miking technique to use. I'm definitely using two spaced omnis as main stereo pair, that's sure, I like this array very much for this type of instrumental group and room (I already know the hall where the recording is going to be made).

The problem that IMHO this two spaced omis technique has is, that some details like attacks, presence, are lost, and I'd like to keep them, but I wouldn't like to spot mic each instrument. On other ocassions for a similar group (string quartet) I've used the main omni pair plus:
- A second ORTF pair placed very close to the quartet. It worked more or less satisfactory (Didn't sound bad, but it could sound better).
- Two spot mics, one for the violins and another one for the viola/cello. This thechnique is used by a radio technician here, I like the presence and detail that is obtained in this way, but I found that the spot mics had somehow an adverse effect on the final stereo image (And this time there will be five instruments).
For this recording I've thought about three cardioids at a 90° degree angle from each other placed in the centre of the semicircle formed by the musicians, 3 or 4 feet above them (L/R mics at 180°, at a distance of more or less 15-20 inches from each other, plus a center mic at 90° placed about 10 inches forward), but I'm not sure if I'm going to become phase problems with this array.
Or should I simply spot mic each instrument? I wouldn't like to do this, but perhaps It's a solution.
Do you know a good way of keeping the detail in this type of recording without having too many problems with phase, stereo imaging, etc (Given that I'd like to keep the spaced omnis as main pair?
Thank you very much!

13th August 2012	#1
rvla Gear interested Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 14 Thread Starter	Best way to spot mic a string quintet. Hello! Next week I'm going to record a classical string quintet (2vl-vla-cl-bass) and I have some doubts about the best miking technique to use. I'm definitely using two spaced omnis as main stereo pair, that's sure, I like this array very much for this type of instrumental group and room (I already know the hall where the recording is going to be made). The problem that IMHO this two spaced omis technique has is, that some details like attacks, presence, are lost, and I'd like to keep them, but I wouldn't like to spot mic each instrument. On other ocassions for a similar group (string quartet) I've used the main omni pair plus: - A second ORTF pair placed very close to the quartet. It worked more or less satisfactory (Didn't sound bad, but it could sound better). - Two spot mics, one for the violins and another one for the viola/cello. This thechnique is used by a radio technician here, I like the presence and detail that is obtained in this way, but I found that the spot mics had somehow an adverse effect on the final stereo image (And this time there will be five instruments). For this recording I've thought about three cardioids at a 90° degree angle from each other placed in the centre of the semicircle formed by the musicians, 3 or 4 feet above them (L/R mics at 180°, at a distance of more or less 15-20 inches from each other, plus a center mic at 90° placed about 10 inches forward), but I'm not sure if I'm going to become phase problems with this array. Or should I simply spot mic each instrument? I wouldn't like to do this, but perhaps It's a solution. Do you know a good way of keeping the detail in this type of recording without having too many problems with phase, stereo imaging, etc (Given that I'd like to keep the spaced omnis as main pair? Thank you very much!