Recording strings, any mic suggestions?

[AllAboutTone]

I have always liked the u87 on strings.

[Jeancab]

Hi,
personally: Schoeps 221, U67, Km84...
and sometimes, ribbon.

[ITJ]

Originally Posted by Jeancab

Hi,
personally: Schoeps 221, U67, Km84...
and sometimes, ribbon.

+1 thumbsup KM84

[Fletcher]

I really like the Royer SF-1 for strings... and while I haven't had a whole lot of opportunity to do strings with our KM-69 yet... it has shown through very nicely. It has the "silk" of a KM-84 with a tad more 'air' which originally gave me cause for pause [bow noise] but worked out surprisingly well.

Peace.

[bent sounds]

Earthworks QTC-1, Schoeps CMC6 with MK2H caps & DPA 4006s are the clean, hi-fi mics of choice for me. Royer 122s are also quite nice.

If ya wanna go a bit more old school, then a pair of Coles 4038s in blumlein works very well too (good enough for the beatles)

All the best,
Bent

[audiosuperheroes]

Originally Posted by bent sounds

Earthworks QTC-1, Schoeps CMC6 with MK2H caps & DPA 4006s are the clean, hi-fi mics of choice for me. Royer 122s are also quite nice.

If ya wanna go a bit more old school, then a pair of Coles 4038s in blumlein works very well too (good enough for the beatles)

All the best,
Bent

Coles was a cool suggestion! Haven't tought about taking that route on the production which will actually work really well! cheers for that advice mate

[John Willett]

I would use MKH 40 or the new MKH 8040 or an MS pair of MKH 30/.40.

[Legacy]

While I really like using ribbons on violin, I'm not a fan of any I've tried on cello. Using ribbons as a main pair on an orchestra makes some sense to me (its usually a strong, dark coloration in my experience but a pleasing one) but on a solo cello it is often too dull / muddy sounding to me (without serious HF boost EQ).

In other words if you are talking about a single violin and a single cello (or a small section) in a studio I'd definitely recommend different mics for each. Ribbons for violin and a large diaphragm condenser (U67, Brauner, U47) for cello.

If its 'au naturale' classical orchestral you are recording its a different beast.

Hope this helps,
Silas

[Ollie]

My favorites on violins are either the KM64, KM264 ac701k tube mics, or a royer SF-1, SF12(need more gain)

Cello, I have found that the KM84 works very well.

Ollie

[JEGG]

Originally Posted by John Willett

I would use MKH 40 or the new MKH 8040 or an MS pair of MKH 30/.40.

What differences do you hear between your 8040s and 40's on cello and violin-or strings in general?

[vernier]

77 / tube pre.

[Kronos147]

Originally Posted by bent sounds

...a pair of Coles 4038s...

There ya go.

[jimmyjimjim]

Coles, Blumlein, +1

[Corran]

Originally Posted by Legacy

While I really like using ribbons on violin, I'm not a fan of any I've tried on cello. Using ribbons as a main pair on an orchestra makes some sense to me (its usually a strong, dark coloration in my experience but a pleasing one) but on a solo cello it is often too dull / muddy sounding to me (without serious HF boost EQ).

In other words if you are talking about a single violin and a single cello (or a small section) in a studio I'd definitely recommend different mics for each. Ribbons for violin and a large diaphragm condenser (U67, Brauner, U47) for cello.

Hmm, I love my Oktava dual ribbon mic on cello. I've recorded a couple concerts by the cello professor at my college with it and I love the results. Not exactly a high-end mic but it works fantastically.

I have sample but it's a large file and I'm not on my workstation computer...if interested I'll post later tonight.

[Michiel H]

nobody mentions it.. but Josephson C617SET is great on strings - also on lower range strings like cello and bass. (you have a point Silas..)

And don't let the 'omni' characteristic fool you, it has a fairly warm, gentle sound compared to other omni's, with great punch and tone.

michiel
product support
joystick audio

[audiosuperheroes]

Thanks guys. A lot of good suggestions. I'll go for the Coles because I think it might lend itself to the production. If it doesn't work out as I think it will, I'll get some more obvious alternative out of the wardrobe :-)
I'll let you know how it worked out.
cheers and thanks for your time

[Nahuel]

I know from an ol spanish engineer that some DPA microphones are kind of (high quality) standard for classical strings recordings.

[Legacy]

Originally Posted by Corran

Hmm, I love my Oktava dual ribbon mic on cello. I've recorded a couple concerts by the cello professor at my college with it and I love the results. Not exactly a high-end mic but it works fantastically.

I have sample but it's a large file and I'm not on my workstation computer...if interested I'll post later tonight.

Hi Corran,

I'm sure there are exceptions but with the darker old ones I've tried (Coles among them) it wasn't working for me as a spot mic. As a stereo pair I suspect I'd like them a lot more.

To Michiel - I agree the 617 is a nice mic. I bet its a very nice choice for a natural violin sound especially.

-Silas

[JohnRodd]

Originally Posted by audiosuperheroes

Hi, Any suggestions on mic's for recording Cello and Violin?

There are many, many good mics for recording a cello (or is it a celli section you're recording?) and a violin (or is it a section?)

I find the acoustics of the recording space to be very important as well, of course.

[crypticglobe]

Just finished up helping a producer set up and record a string quartet at the studio tonight. He was using the AEA stereo ribbon mic and the AEA mic pre..... both on demo from Vintage King... which is across the street.

I was VERY, VERY impressed. Sounded just lovely. We put the pre out in the room with the mics and used short cables from the mics to the pre's. Very good level, no noise.... just great. This combo is definitely on my wish list now!

[klaukholm]

First choice for me would be a pair of neumann M150
Other good options include the SF12 and Schoeps M222 mk2h/40mm APE.

[rob S]

221B's
67's
km 84's

sf 12

[Chris Wilson]

If a spot mic for cello is in order, the 122v can also be quite nice. The gentler response (compared to a Brauner at least) can do a bit to tame the added scratchiness close micing a string instrument tends to add. This, while (in my opinion) imparting all the benefits of an LDC tube mic, especially when matched with a fast micpre.

Though I agree ribbons can call for a bit of eq, I have found that with the sf-12 at least, a decibel or maybe two around 3.5 or 4k can really be plenty.

[andy_simpson]

Originally Posted by Chris Wilson

If a spot mic for cello is in order, the 122v can also be quite nice. The gentler response (compared to a Brauner at least) can do a bit to tame the added scratchiness close micing a string instrument tends to add. This, while (in my opinion) imparting all the benefits of an LDC tube mic, especially when matched with a fast micpre.

Though I agree ribbons can call for a bit of eq, I have found that with the sf-12 at least, a decibel or maybe two around 3.5 or 4k can really be plenty.

Yep, trying to eq out the 'scratchiness' is much more of a problem than eq'ing in some hf!

Andy

[doug_hti]

While I think mic selection matters greatly for most any source, I think mic position really trumps mic selection, where I would argue the opposite on most voices.

My suggestion is to not look and think about mic position, but listen. Put some headphones on close your eyes and move some mics around until your source(s) sound the best. many times on a violin its going to be slightly off axis. Your vertical placement is most of what matters for both cello and violin. Don't be afraid if the mic is at or below the plane of the violin. Going off axis can really help get you through a player with a poor quality instrument and/or poor tone/intonation. Lots of folks tend to immediately place a mic 1m above the violin. With the wrong player this can sound awful...and you have to eq so much that you destroy the integrity of the track.

Then consider proximity and room interaction, which completely depends on the track type (pop, classical, rock, etc). How relaxed of a sound or edgy of a sound are you looking for.

[dylansmale]

Ribbon mics possibly. I would use a room mic or two.

[Keire]

ive used a m160 on cello and upright bass and loved both.
u47 sounds gret on both too.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by JEGG

What differences do you hear between your 8040s and 40's on cello and violin-or strings in general?

The 8040 has an extended bottom end so it picks up more of the "warmth" that is in those lower 10Hz that the 40 misses - the 8040 also extends to 50kHz and does not quickly roll off just above 20kHz like the 40.

(It's also £400 cheaper )

[Westmalle]

I used the AEA R-88 with TRP on cello and it sounded fantastic.