Recording a french horn

[moosamix]

hellooo guys...

i would like to ask if i can record a french horn in a vocal booth measured
4.5 meters * 7 meters approximately.

how to mic it "?

am i going to face problems while recording ? any useful procedure and tips ?



Thanks alot

[Roland]

In this situation your options are limited, so I would place a mic around 4ft from the bell at a slightly oblique angle, not directly down the horn itself. In live situations the sound most often heard is the reflected sound, but this is unlikely to be very practical in your situation. As always be prepared to experiment a little and take advice from the player to get the best possible result.

Regards


Roland

[John Willett]

A French Horn (like most brass) really needs a lot of air around it.

I once recorded one in an empty school hall with the mic. about 6 meters away from the horn - wonderful.

If you are stuck for space - try putting a board on the wall where the bell is pointing and record by reflection.

[Shadow_7]

How big is this booth? Brasses really should have a big(er) room to play in. In small(ish) rooms and where the player is facing strait at a wall you actually get standing waves that cancels out some of the generated sound waves. In the case of the french horn, it is played facing to the players rear and with the right hand inside the bell. From the audience perspective reflected or ambient sound is what is heard. Close micing isn't an option, there's a hand in the way.

Off axis would probably be best. Behind and to the right of the player/instrument. In a cramped booth that may not be an option. You might also capture from in front of the player for the ambience side of the sound, assuming a good room. Since what comes directly out of the bell isn't what the audience hears.

Not that I have any experience micing one. But I played one for a very short stint in the Army Band. Only one french hornists and his wife just had a baby, and I was an MOS Trombone player with 4 other Trombone players. So I subbed in to give that hornist a day off. And I played a marching french horn in Drum Corps for one season. A completely different animal, but related.

[JEGG]

Not knowing exactly what you're recording and the genre:

If you're stuck in an overly small place, you could do the opposite of usual: Use a boundary mic on one of your, um, boundaries. That can have the effect of removing the boundary-it can really open up small spaces. You can use any conventional mic, BTW.

Worth a try.

[Ken K]

Try putting a piece of plywood 3-4 feet behind the horn player and mic it from the front.

[mljung]

Originally Posted by John Willett

A French Horn (like most brass) really needs a lot of air around it.

I once recorded one in an empty school hall with the mic. about 6 meters away from the horn - wonderful.

If you are stuck for space - try putting a board on the wall where the bell is pointing and record by reflection.

I agree - I have also had good results with French Horn at a simlar distances.

French Horn can in smaller rooms can be very, very thick sounding. If the booth is what there is and if the player cannot 'adjust' to it, be prepared to use EQ, [possibly more than you dream of] this can, in my experience really help to open the top [freq wise].
But I would wait and and take that decision in the post-production.

[moosamix]

Thanksssssss guys for the help...useful info i will do sometest and let you know ...

i will try to post up more info about the vocal booth that might help.


thanksss

[sonare]

You did not say WHY you are using the booth-- if it is a leakage thing you are MUCH better off to overdub the horn. Since he must use headphones in either case you are no worse off. Otherwise, expect the player to react the same as if you suggested a phone booth, because that is what it will sound like.

Rich

[bremusound]

As a professional french horn player, i can tell you that most of the broadcasting stations here in Germany use a cardioid SDC for the french horn section in the orchestra, between the music stands of the 1st an 2nd player, as an overhead mic (h= about 2 meters). Hope this helps.

Regards