Accordion - recording tips?

IIII · 24th September 2007, 10:00 AM

I own an Italian Bellini accordion and I'm using it in my Irish folk recordings but I have some problems with it. I've tried to mic it with AKG C4000 and C414 but when I put a mic in front of the treble side of the accordion, the mic takes too much "air stream" from the accordion and the high frequences of accordion come unuseable. So I think a pickup system like this THOMANN ACM-01 - Thomann Verkkokauppa might solve the problem, but is this good enough for studio working?

Any other ideas to how to get a great accordion sounds are welcome!

tifftunes · 24th September 2007, 10:19 AM

Accordion is a tough instrument to capture. However, I'd take a KSM44 in omni mode (your C414 will be fine) and set it up about 2-3 feet in front of the accordion, and a foot or so higher, and pointed down at the instrument. Provided you have a decent recording room, this should get you 90% there. Any closer and you get key clicks, bellows squeaks and whistling, etc. Any further and you get too much room.

There are many of good mics to use here. But what's important is finding the "sweet spot" with your own ear first, then matching the mic to what you hear.

Good luck! And post your results (with sound bites if possible) when you're finished.

Edit: A ribbon mic would work well too!

vodka gimli · 26th September 2007, 10:55 PM

This link is a recording of an accordion into an AT4033 about 1 foot away and aimed at the middle of the instrument at head height. Click on the song "Cotton". Use a de-esser if you get too much bellows in the mix.

iordan · 4th October 2007, 08:19 AM

Hello. I am an accordion player and I record accordion most of my time. What works for me very well is just finding the sweet spot for that instrument and a Royer R-122. I have tried countless mics and I think it is the most natural for the instrument.

Greg Curtis · 20th July 2008, 08:00 PM

You are way too close if you are getting air noise!

I've had great results with an M49 on the button side, and a Coles 4038 on the keyboard side. Blend to taste.

Ribbons do suite the instrument very well.

I've also done a pair of x-y 414s that worked really well.

Greg

.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Recording accordion	Hope209	So much gear, so little time!	7	28th July 2007 02:30 AM
Pipes and accordion	ortrejos	Q & A with Kevin Killen	6	23rd February 2007 01:23 AM
Anyone Know an Accordion Player? In UK (London)	TEMAS	So much gear, so little time!	9	1st October 2006 04:45 PM
Weltmeister Accordion for HALion and NI Kontakt	precisionsound	So much gear, so little time!	0	9th January 2004 12:13 AM
Recording Accordion	Saucyjack	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	9	26th July 2003 09:51 PM

24th September 2007, 10:00 AM	#1
IIII Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Finland Posts: 1	Accordion - recording tips? I own an Italian Bellini accordion and I'm using it in my Irish folk recordings but I have some problems with it. I've tried to mic it with AKG C4000 and C414 but when I put a mic in front of the treble side of the accordion, the mic takes too much "air stream" from the accordion and the high frequences of accordion come unuseable. So I think a pickup system like this THOMANN ACM-01 - Thomann Verkkokauppa might solve the problem, but is this good enough for studio working? Any other ideas to how to get a great accordion sounds are welcome!

26th September 2007, 10:55 PM	#3
vodka gimli Gear addict Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 393	This link is a recording of an accordion into an AT4033 about 1 foot away and aimed at the middle of the instrument at head height. Click on the song "Cotton". Use a de-esser if you get too much bellows in the mix. __________________ "It's an exciting thing, saying: 'Come and join our show. Listen to us. We're a great band'" - Sir George Martin describing the title track of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. My Blog My SoundClick Page

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

24th September 2007, 10:19 AM	#2
tifftunes Gear maniac Join Date: May 2007 Location: Left Coast (El Aye) Posts: 209	Accordion is a tough instrument to capture. However, I'd take a KSM44 in omni mode (your C414 will be fine) and set it up about 2-3 feet in front of the accordion, and a foot or so higher, and pointed down at the instrument. Provided you have a decent recording room, this should get you 90% there. Any closer and you get key clicks, bellows squeaks and whistling, etc. Any further and you get too much room. There are many of good mics to use here. But what's important is finding the "sweet spot" with your own ear first, then matching the mic to what you hear. Good luck! And post your results (with sound bites if possible) when you're finished. Edit: A ribbon mic would work well too!

4th October 2007, 08:19 AM	#4
iordan Gear Head Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 54	Hello. I am an accordion player and I record accordion most of my time. What works for me very well is just finding the sweet spot for that instrument and a Royer R-122. I have tried countless mics and I think it is the most natural for the instrument.

20th July 2008, 08:00 PM	#5
Greg Curtis Gear addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 320	You are way too close if you are getting air noise! I've had great results with an M49 on the button side, and a Coles 4038 on the keyboard side. Blend to taste. Ribbons do suite the instrument very well. I've also done a pair of x-y 414s that worked really well. Greg .