Recording Piano, Cell & Violin?

[malfunction]

This weekend i have to record a trio with piano, cello & violin...the only condensor mics i have are a pair groove tubes gt 33's, rode nt2, and an nt1000. Last weekend i recorded a piano & violin with just the gt33's in an ORTF set up but the piano was a little too far in the background so this weekend i was thinking of micing the piano with the two gt33's (about 2meters apart, 30/40 cm's away from the semi-open hood) , nt2 on the cello and the nt1000 on the violin (about 1.5 meters distance)...i would be grateful for any opinions on this mic set-up...
Thanx
Grant

[con_ritmo]

I wouldn't advise this as then you'd be doing the mixing for the trio...

I'd stay with a stereo pair and then add spot mics if needed.

[tINY]

The spot mic on the cello doesn't need to be a condenser. A flat dynamic should work fine.



-tINY

[malfunction]

how about an sm57 as a spot mic?Also on the other violin?

[weedmaker]

Well, don't be offended if following is familiar to you

Before you even think about microphones check the venue acoustics. THE MOST IMPORTANT PART if you do classical/acoustic music.

After you verify good acoustics, let the musicians warm up, treat them as a single source and try to find the sweet spot with your EARS and not by the predefined rule; like - I should put mike 0.7m in front of piano or whatever! Aim for the spot where the direct and reverberant sound field are nicely balanced. Put your stereo pair there. Check and re-adjust distance to performers to taste over loudspeakers (you'll need to be in separate room for this to judge correctly - headphones may help). Your aim is to get best balance of direct/reverb. Now, place the spot mikes at your performers (whatever you have at hand).

Hopefully, your artists will balance themselves so use spots just to add accent and presence. If you can hear the spot mike you've overdone it. Watch out for phase, i.e. delay spot mikes to be in phase with main stereo pair...

Hope it helps!
Cheers

[hociman]

Originally Posted by weedmaker

Aim for the spot where the direct and reverberant sound field are nicely balanced.

This location is known as the reverberation radius.

Put your stereo pair there. Check and re-adjust distance to performers to taste over loudspeakers (you'll need to be in separate room for this to judge correctly - headphones may help). Your aim is to get best balance of direct/reverb.

What he said.