recording cello

[PaRaNoId]

I searched and hade no luck thus far...Any tips/ creative ideas on how to mic up a cello? This will be for a sparse, slow, acoustic rock session. Going for the clean, realistic tone this time...

[enharmonic]

Try a condenser about 6' back. Set it up tp be level with the f-holes. That way you will be sure to get the sound of the entire instrument. You can move in closer if you need a more present sound, but you won't be getting the sound of the entire cello. Cello's have a really big voice .

Good luck.

[NathanEldred]

Ribbons are nice too.

[squidsquad]

I remember seeing a series of diagrams showing how different frequencies radiated out from a cello in different directions.

Unfortunately, I can't remember where. I'll have a look — has anyone else seen these?

It could be of use if you find your mic positioning is lacking, or has too much of a particular frequency.

As ever, listen in the room to the sound coming off the cello from various angles and distances, and try a different mic position if you don't hear what you wantthrough the monitors.

[jajjguy]

The main sound source areas to be aware of are the f-holes and the bridge. You can get in close, if you like, as long as you pay attention to the balance between these. This usually works best coming in from the right side (from the listener's perspective), as the left side over-emphasizes LF at the expense of clarity. Use height to control how much bow noise you get in there -- usually i prefer less bow noise, and keep the mic just below bow level.

I'd agree that more distant placement is best, but only if your room is up to it.

[lowswing]

hi,
i record cello (and strings) quit often and from my expirience mics in fig8 really work great (if you record cello solo ,ótherweise the b-polarity might lead to spill problems) my go to mic is c12 (in fig8) , rca 77dx is more a speciall case but do the job and helps to mellow bow noise.
for close but realistic sound i start ca 1m infront of the instrument ca. 10cm above bridge hight and a bit to the left (player view), getting close brings more bass, where the mic is "looking" define the attack charcteristic of the recording.
for even closer sound i use b&k4006 VERY close,sounds great but useally pron to a lot of mechanical news from bow etc..
hope it helps,

[Ethan Winer]

Squid,

> I remember seeing a series of diagrams showing how different frequencies radiated out from a cello in different directions. Unfortunately, I can't remember where. <

Yes, I've seen that too, and I don't remember where either.

As a cello player I know that information is correct. And it's not just cellos that radiate different parts of the sound in different directions. That's why it's good to pull the mikes back at least 3 or 4 feet when recording many orchestra instruments. A hard floor is always good for recording seated string players, but a small room with many nearby walls is not so good.

--Ethan

[Ribbonmicguy]

I had good luck with R84 on twice occasion for cello recording.

The positioning work best when it's a few feet away (if natural is what u desire), when it gets too close, proximity problem and mechanical noise from the bow.

Six Pence None The Richer use R44CX for their cello recording which sounds awesome as well :D

[David R.]

Walk around the cello while it is being played and listen. Choose the place where it sounds the best for what you are recording and put a mic there. Then listen to the mic and make finer adjustments as needed.

Or, the first time I recorded a cello I had one mic by the f-hole and another smaller one by the "fretboard." I was recording it like a stand-up guitar. On mix, I panned the tracks hard LR and it sounded great.

[Messiah]

Originally posted by Ethan Winer
As a cello player I know that information is correct.
--Ethan

Ethan, how can you play a cello with a 'Real Trap Absorption Cat(TM)' stuck to your chest?

















Sorry Ethan, couldn't resist.

[not_so_new]

Ethan, how can you play a cello with a 'Real Trap Absorption Cat(TM)' stuck to your chest?

LOL... almost fell off my chair....

[Ollie]

I have had a couple of experiences with cello for a pop song.
I used two mics, one closer to the instrument: a Neumann KM264 which treats strings very well and a M49 set in omni further back.
Took these mics into a Neve pre. I tried other pres that I like better than the Neves for lots of sources, but the Neve sounded best for this.

I could see the C12 sounding great also. Something about the CK12 capsule sounds great. I have some C12B's that I will try next time.

[Ethan Winer]

Carl,

> how can you play a cello with a 'Real Trap Absorption Cat(TM)' stuck to your chest? <

Good one!

Fortunately "the cat in the trap" is full removable for washing!

--Ethan

[Tousana]

This is one of the few instruments that I like to use a 414 on,usually about 3 to 4 ft.back and above angled down towards the f hole, usually centered on the instrument. Sometimes in figure 8 so you can catch a bit of the room,but usually in cardioid. If the room is good a dedicated room mic such as a C24 or the like is also good.