Recording a Flute

BigJunk · 16th March 2007

I'm tracking a pop/R&B singer and she wants a live flutest to come and do some tracking. I don't even think I've ever even seen a flute close up, so you can understand I'm a little weird about recording one! Any tips?
Junk

andychamp · 16th March 2007

Try to use a mic/preamp combo with good "air", but no harshness.
Start with the mic in front of and above the player, aimed down at his mouth and the flute's mouthpiece (correct word?). About a foot away.
You want to hear the airflow, but not have the player's breath hitting your mic straight on.
Then you can start moving the mic towards the flute's other end, still aiming at the mouth, to set the balance between "breath" and "metal".
A good room with nice ambience helps, too.
Go out and buy some Herbie Mann and Jethro Tull albums.

d_fu · 16th March 2007

One of these pictures should give you the right idea of where to start... Avoid the air movement near the mouthpiece.

Berolzheimer · 16th March 2007

I'd mic a bit further away. The valve noise dies away quicker than the tone, so at about 3-4 feet above & out from the instrument you'll get more tone than mechanicals. If your room doesn't sound good though im might not be worth it.

16th March 2007	#1
BigJunk Gear addict Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 441 Thread Starter	Recording a Flute I'm tracking a pop/R&B singer and she wants a live flutest to come and do some tracking. I don't even think I've ever even seen a flute close up, so you can understand I'm a little weird about recording one! Any tips? Junk

16th March 2007	#2
andychamp Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Location: Basel, Switzerland Posts: 2,872	Try to use a mic/preamp combo with good "air", but no harshness. Start with the mic in front of and above the player, aimed down at his mouth and the flute's mouthpiece (correct word?). About a foot away. You want to hear the airflow, but not have the player's breath hitting your mic straight on. Then you can start moving the mic towards the flute's other end, still aiming at the mouth, to set the balance between "breath" and "metal". A good room with nice ambience helps, too. Go out and buy some Herbie Mann and Jethro Tull albums. __________________ André ___________________________________________ "Recording exactly what a musician hears turns out to be a really big deal." Bob Olhsson "Who cares about efficiency, when we're talking about music?" Rupert Neve "it'll sound different through a microphone, anyway" Keith Carlock "no room, no boom!" Michael Wagener

16th March 2007	#4
Berolzheimer Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2002 Location: El Lay Posts: 2,209	I'd mic a bit further away. The valve noise dies away quicker than the tone, so at about 3-4 feet above & out from the instrument you'll get more tone than mechanicals. If your room doesn't sound good though im might not be worth it. __________________ Purveyor of fine sounds since 1961. My very incomplete IMDB list: My very incomplete IMDB list I'm all ears.

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16th March 2007	#3
d_fu Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 2,420	One of these pictures should give you the right idea of where to start... Avoid the air movement near the mouthpiece.