Recording classical guitarist

[BVB]

Hi all,

At the moment I'm recording a classical guitarist (solo).
Setup is a front mic and a shoulder mic.
I have run a test recording and this is what I've noticed :
The front mic (KM 184) is picking up a lot of nasal breathing (emotional reactions whilst playing).
Is there a way to avoid (or at least minimize) those noises ?
All suggestions are welcome (except putting a clip on his nose - lol)

Thanks
Paul

[ssaudio]

I only ever record Classical Guitar from the front and never closer than a minimum of 1.2m. Mic choice and whether stereo/mono depends on the venue and end medium

As to the 'nasal breathing', your player needs to learn how to record, there's not much more to it than that

[Ihsahn1981]

Ive had problems with this too.


This is what works best for me:

Keep your mouth open when recording. This makes it almost impossible to breathe through the nose. Have lots of water on hand though because you dry out quickly

Try to face away from the mic.

Wearing some piece of cloth in front of the mouth helps too.

[Oli_W]

I also record classical guitar with a pair of KM184s, but usually as a stereo pair a few meters in front of the guitarist. Need a large room though! Far enough back and i doubt you'd hear the breathing

has your guitarist heard what you've recorded so far? usually they'd be shocked when they hear their breathing, and so try and control it themselves thereafter.

[Cornvalley]

I keep thinking of Chris Parkening needing to learn how to record.
Sometimes it's just so much part of the performance
A little huffing and puffing can sometimes be a nice effect, sometime not so much.
Waddaya gonna do?
I'd lose the shoulder mic position for starters.

[ElMosca]

Originally Posted by BVB

...I'm recording a classical guitarist (solo).
Setup is a front mic and a shoulder mic.
I have run a test recording and this is what I've noticed :
The front mic (KM 184) is picking up a lot of nasal breathing (emotional reactions whilst playing).
Is there a way to avoid (or at least minimize) those noises ?
All suggestions are welcome (except putting a clip on his nose - lol)

Suggestion #1: Fix it in the mix: Use mostly the shoulder mic for your final sound.
Suggestion #2: Play back your recording to the talent and suggest to him/her that they should adjust the breathing. Heavy breathing is a technical issue that classical guitarists can and should work to improve.
Suggestion #3: Place a physical barrier between the performer's face and the front mic. I have used a (sheet) music stand lined with soft material with OK results.

Good Luck.
++aldo

[BVB]

Thank you all for the suggestions.

The shoulder mic isn't the problem. I was able to solve that with a practise drum pad between his head and the mic.

He has the test recording to evaluate at home. I'll tell him to practise with his mouth open.

Also the stand with a soft cloth could work.

Many thanks to all of you.

Greetings
Paul

[pkautzsch]

Fig-8 mic from slightly above the guitar, with the null facing the mouth, could work, too. Plus a more distant pair - after all you're recording a classical instrument in hopefully "natural" acoustics
Most classical players will not tolerate weird things like sheets around their heads or on stands between instrument and ears.