Recommended reading on chamber music recording?

[anabolique]

HI guys, this is my first post in this section of gearslutz... I have some experience with mics and recording rock bands in studio. This type of recording (both live and studio) is totally different. Although I could imagine some possible problems and solutions and I have some stereo miking techniques knowledge, I need some books on this specific subject.
I read some "generally recognized" books about recording. There are some ideas for miking/recording various acoustic instruments but that usually applies to recording them individually. I need some books/articles about recording chamber music, also with tips and tricks, practical examples... Any ideas? I know, I can learn a lot from this section of gearslutz, but thats not easy when You dont have anything specific to search or ask

[boojum]

My "go to" is Recording Music on Location by Bartlett. It is the best all around book for me. It is very clearly written and knowledgeable. He covers it all.

Cheers

[Teddy Ray]

The Eargle Books

(Handbook of Recording Engineering, Sound Recording)

are really, really great. I consider them to be the gold standard. Eargle was an engineer at DELOS, and won many awards while there,all classical/chamber music. Since he worked in the classical recording realm, he talks about the various scenarios one encounters while on a recording Job. The books have a clear Classical/Chamber bent. Very in depth explanations, great examples...

The Bartlett book is good too, although I get the feeling that it is geared more toward the non-classical/band recordists.


The New Stereo Soundbook is also great, as is The Microphone book.


Mr. Eargle was involved with several CDs in the 90s that are unique in that that go into great detail about how each piece(on the aforementioned CDs) was recorded, why it was recorded that way(Symphonic Sound Stage I and II, Engineers Choice, King of Instruments)..It wasnt just a "I recorded this with schoeps mics and a xxx desk" but talks about mic pattern choice, placement, even arrangment of players.

[jnorman]

"The Microphone Book" by John Eargle.

[WVUtubadude]

Originally Posted by boojum

My "go to" is Recording Music on Location by Bartlett. It is the best all around book for me. It is very clearly written and knowledgeable. He covers it all.

Cheers

I recommend that book, as well. I picked it up for a plane ride at a Borders and learned a couple new things that were really valuable.

It also comes with a CD so you can hear how different techniques sound compared to each other.

[Plush]

May I recommend two great books?

Tonmeister Technology translated by Stephen Temmer (out of print)
and
Spatial Hearing by Jens Blauert

Both are very valuable for all types of recording.

[DCtoDaylight]

I can heartily recommend the Williams paper, "The Stereophonic Zoom":

http://www.microphone-data.com/pdfs/Stereo%20zoom.pdf

It's a quick read, works from basic principles, and provides an excellent method for starting the process of positioning the main stereo pair for concert recording. It's helped me a LOT!

[WVUtubadude]

I also forgot to mention the For Dummies book. I stumbled upon it when I was looking for the Microsoft Excel one (I gave up and kept on going with Numbers).

[Syncamorea]

I thought there were some useful tips on Reference's web site, but a quick look didn't turn them up. Keith Johnson has written some useful articles about mic placement and I would have sworn they were located here:

Information about Reference Recordings, "Prof" Keith O. Johnson and HDCD Recordings

But I can't find them there anymore. The Professor knows his stuff.

[John Willett]

Another excellent book is Acoustics and the Performance of Music by Juergen Meyer. Recently been updated and re-printed in English.

Excellent book - it had diagrams showing the polar pattern of musical instruments and how they radiate sound at different frequencies.

Essential reading, I would say.

I have the 1st edition and recently purchased the updated latest edition.

[Mark A. Jay]

Originally Posted by Plush

May I recommend two great books?

Tonmeister Technology translated by Stephen Temmer (out of print)
and
Spatial Hearing by Jens Blauert

Both are very valuable for all types of recording.

Thanks for those, Plush...

On the subject of Blauert...I highly recommend this text as well (Communication Acoustics) - filled with great information, and very well explained:

Communication acoustics - Google Books

Honestly...this is one great read as well as resource.