Recording banjo

[RinnyTin]

There's been a little talk about how to record banjo, but hoping to find out what setups people have had success with in terms of mics, placement, preamps, compression (if any).

http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_behin...ela/index.html

This MIX Mag article mentions using a U47 and KM54 on Bela Fleck's "Tales from the Acoustic Planet", I'm guessing the 47 on the head and the 54 on the neck? Not sure though.

Anyone with a success story? It'll be a rental session, so assume any gear within reason is available.

Thanks.

[Saucyjack]

I've used a ribbon(Aea r84)which sounded good...
.The banjo part was more in the background ala Neil Young's "Old man".I think I might shoot myself if I had to record lead banjo.

[doorknocker]

Don't know if this is in the right forum here but anyway:

After much speculation and accusations from all parties involved, weapons of mass destruction WERE finally found in Irak.





































2000 Banjos!

Andi

www.doorknocker.ch

[PlugHead]

As in many cases - it depends. What's the gig? Solo banjo? Frailing, clawhammer, plectra, etc.? Acoustic ensemble? Rock? Often I find SD condensers to be too bright, but moreso if the banjo is alone, and dependant on the player's style....

IME, I like ribbons on banjo - they present a much rounder sound, and can mellow out the zizz - my fav's are SF-1, and 4038 for ribbons - if you need the "sparkle" KM56's are really big sounding - tho another sleeper I've found is the Shure KSM44 - it can sound good on a good many things - mandolin, banjo, etc., so it also is worth a try...

Best of luck,

[RinnyTin]

It's more like a folk rock thing with banjo, so it may need to cut, but I'll definitely try a ribbon. any placement suggestions as a starting point? KSM44 is a really great mic, I agree, for the money it's tough to beat. Interestingly, I see them on stage now all the time for bluegrass stuff, on dobro, mando, etc.

[PlugHead]

Originally posted by RinnyTin
It's more like a folk rock thing with banjo, so it may need to cut, but I'll definitely try a ribbon. any placement suggestions as a starting point? snip...

Tracked "live" with the ensemble, or as an OD? If it's in with the beds, I'd start with a ribbon (R-121, Beyer 160/260/M500 etc., hyper-cardioid is great to keep bleed down) and focus around the top of the fretboard - 8-12 inches (to start - if as an OD, sky's the limit with no bleed) catching a bit of the top, move it around dependent on how much "bite", or "meat" you need. Second choices are many - KM56, DPA/B&K 4011, Schoeps, etc: I think sky's the limit with this: it really takes familiarity with the tools you know, or care to know - I only know what's worked for me, so take it FWIW. The rest (pre/comp. etc.) is a matter of taste. IME, mic and placement is 95% of the sound, so focus on that and the rest will fall together easily...

BR,

[David R.]

With banjo in an ensemble, I have used a sd condenser pointed between the bridge and the body, although it really depends on the player and instrument. I have also used a ld condenser a couple feet away. Also an RCA 77dx.

So much depends on the playing style and what will be with it in the mix.

Don't be afraid to EQ the heck out of it to make it stand out. You can never make it sound good, but you can make it sound like a banjo.

[RinnyTin]

Originally posted by David R.
You can never make it sound good, but you can make it sound like a banjo.

That is f-ing hilarious.

Thanks for the tips guys, guess I'll just have to take a stab. It will be an overdub, so that makes things a lot simpler.

[Bob Olhsson]

A C-451 placed right below the player's right wrist worked fine for me.

[brownmouse]

i used a cad e-100 on the last banjo i recorded..... it was ok..... i can't wait to try my new aea r-84 on the next one (which will probably be next saturday)....
joshua

[tINY]

I've had good luck with a SD condenser 1-2 feet from the head pointed at the junction of the head and fretboard (the head on the front of the body, not where the tuners are).

The big problem I ran into was the pre-amp overloading. When setting up chain, think "drum" - but don't compress it, it may sound good instead of like a banjo....



-tINY

[dale116dot7]

For folk (similar to slower Scruggs bluegrass) I like the Altec M11 positioned roughly to point at the rim of the banjo at the bottom of the banjo (below the player's right hand), about 3 cm away. The M11/21D mic is a pretty dark small diaphragm condensor, similar to a smooth dynamic or ribbon. It'll also take high SPL's.

For bluegrass I need to know the function of the guitar before micing the banjo. If the guitar takes a lot of breaks or needs to be bright (possibly to not make mud with the upright bass), then I make the banjo darker by using the Altec. If the bass and guitar are ok with a bit of a darker guitar sound then I'll use a CK61ULS on a 5840 tube body (though a C460 or C480 body would probably work too), or if I need more brightness then I'll use one of the new C451B's - they are bright. I usually position the mic about 20 cm away from the banjo, above the tailpiece, and move it around a bit from there. Each banjo speaks out differently and you need to find one of the good spots.

I haven't recorded plectrum or frailing banjo yet, so I can't help you there.

[dale116dot7]

Oh yes, a PZM can give a nice sound in a really nice room with a really nice banjo and a really good player. The most important thing I've found in recording banjo is the player needs to be in tune with the noises he or she is making. And the banjo needs to be in tune and retuned frequently.

[RinnyTin]

Thank you guys for all the responses, it's been very helpful. Will let you know how it goes.

[WDG]

Banjo's can be very problematic. Some have very strange overtones and I have also heard funny sounds fromk the metal picks hitting the metal strings. On that particular day I used a dull sounding dynamic to add bottom and kill the wierd overtones but this was kind of a low end project when I was starting out.

I am friends with several banjo players and talk to them about mics and stuff. One is Sonny Osborne he is one of the greatest banjo players ever. He says he won't use anything but an old 87 for vocal and banjo.

[Dave Martin]

I record banjos on a regular basis - at least once a month. For the last few months, I've used a THE mic with a 25mm capsule 6 or 8 inches from the body or a Neumann/Gefell M582 a bit closer through a Great River NV and (at least last week) an LA2A.