recording flute in a rock band

DirkB · 3rd September 2005

Yep, I'm recording a rockband next month with a good singer that also in some songs plays the flute... Which is a first for me.

In this kind of setting, what would your approach be? I'm going to try some stereo micing and some mono LD, dynamic, ribbon options, but am looking for people with experience on this one.

Greetings,
Dirk

84K · 3rd September 2005

Aqualung my friend, a ribbon can make things easy.

Don't you have a few ribbons (Royers, and Coles)??

Definitely a nice room mic is in order. Tube and ribbon combo is a winner for me.

unseen hand · 3rd September 2005

i recorded a flute in a loud rock band just last week. one coles ribbon did the trick beautifully. i doubled the flute, but decided to use the single track. (more detail). i spent all of 5 minutes getting it mic'd up and worked percectly....

wilcofan · 3rd September 2005

I did lots of folk/rock with flute and my regret is trying to get too close to the mic in too dry a setting.

In the future I'd try to capture the flute in a more ambient yet contained setting. I think the mic is less important than giving the flute some size with some reflections.

dokushoka · 3rd September 2005

Is Ron Burgundy playing this flute??

ChrisCasso · 3rd September 2005

Hello,

This is my first message here on Gearslutz. I have recorded a flute in a rock band before. It was about 5 years ago. I remember placement was critical. We used 2 mikes on the flute 1-2 feet apart and about 1-2 feet away from the player. Plus a stereo mike approximately 6 feet back with the capsule facing a wall made of rocks (that was in the live room). The player faced that rock wall. It took a long time in adjusting microphone placement. Probably 20 minutes spent moving the mikes around. I can't remember which mikes served as the close ones, but the distant stereo wall mic was a C24. The final sound was quite luscious, I must say.

jdunn · 3rd September 2005

"SM-58, Don't you start away uneasy....."

Peter Gabriel recorded a lot of flute with early Genesis, and I'm thinking he probably just used an SM58 like he did live. Though maybe not. I'm totally guessing.

klaukholm · 3rd September 2005

If you can isolate the player a little it will be easier to mic and he will have an easier time making a good sound and playing in tune. flute can be tricky to mic and given sufficient isolationa and space you might want to use a spaced pair.
certain notes on the flute cna almost dissapear on one mic for acoustical reasons, but will often come through strong on the other mic. why is a little complicated.
Nice to get some distance from it as this will help balance and evenness on the flute itself.

good luck
kjetil

3rd September 2005	#1
DirkB Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 1,722 Thread Starter	recording flute in a rock band Yep, I'm recording a rockband next month with a good singer that also in some songs plays the flute... Which is a first for me. In this kind of setting, what would your approach be? I'm going to try some stereo micing and some mono LD, dynamic, ribbon options, but am looking for people with experience on this one. Greetings, Dirk __________________ -progress takes away what forever took to find- Dave Matthews

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3rd September 2005	#2
84K Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2004 Location: right coast Posts: 3,857	Aqualung my friend, a ribbon can make things easy. Don't you have a few ribbons (Royers, and Coles)?? Definitely a nice room mic is in order. Tube and ribbon combo is a winner for me.

3rd September 2005	#3
unseen hand Gear Head Joined: Mar 2005 Location: phoenix Posts: 53	i recorded a flute in a loud rock band just last week. one coles ribbon did the trick beautifully. i doubled the flute, but decided to use the single track. (more detail). i spent all of 5 minutes getting it mic'd up and worked percectly....

3rd September 2005	#4
wilcofan Gear addict Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Dieppe, Canada Posts: 426	I did lots of folk/rock with flute and my regret is trying to get too close to the mic in too dry a setting. In the future I'd try to capture the flute in a more ambient yet contained setting. I think the mic is less important than giving the flute some size with some reflections.

3rd September 2005	#5
dokushoka Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2004 Location: San Francisco / L.A. Posts: 1,092	Is Ron Burgundy playing this flute??

3rd September 2005	#6
ChrisCasso Gear interested Joined: Sep 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 5	Hello, This is my first message here on Gearslutz. I have recorded a flute in a rock band before. It was about 5 years ago. I remember placement was critical. We used 2 mikes on the flute 1-2 feet apart and about 1-2 feet away from the player. Plus a stereo mike approximately 6 feet back with the capsule facing a wall made of rocks (that was in the live room). The player faced that rock wall. It took a long time in adjusting microphone placement. Probably 20 minutes spent moving the mikes around. I can't remember which mikes served as the close ones, but the distant stereo wall mic was a C24. The final sound was quite luscious, I must say.

3rd September 2005	#7
jdunn Head of Bumping Security (B.S) Joined: Feb 2004 Location: in the hills of Southern California Posts: 2,944	"SM-58, Don't you start away uneasy....." Peter Gabriel recorded a lot of flute with early Genesis, and I'm thinking he probably just used an SM58 like he did live. Though maybe not. I'm totally guessing.

3rd September 2005	#8
klaukholm Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Location: EU Posts: 2,431	If you can isolate the player a little it will be easier to mic and he will have an easier time making a good sound and playing in tune. flute can be tricky to mic and given sufficient isolationa and space you might want to use a spaced pair. certain notes on the flute cna almost dissapear on one mic for acoustical reasons, but will often come through strong on the other mic. why is a little complicated. Nice to get some distance from it as this will help balance and evenness on the flute itself. good luck kjetil