Recording Accordion

Saucyjack · 21st July 2003, 11:33 PM

Recording an Accordion this weekend,never miced one up before....Tune is a slowish/Americana/atomospheric type thing.
Any suggestions on Mics/Pres...
I have available

Royer 121
Aea R84
Senn 421,441
Soundelux U195,U99
Octava MC012
Beyer 201
AT 4050

Pres

Great River NV
Phoenix DRS
API
Sytek

De chromium cob · 21st July 2003, 11:50 PM

I'd go with-
Royer 121,
Aea R84
Senn 421,441.....into the Phoenix DRS.

OKden · 22nd July 2003, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by De chromium cob
I'd go with-
Royer 121,
Aea R84
Senn 421,441.....into the Phoenix DRS.

yep.. what he said.

littledog · 22nd July 2003, 04:11 AM

I'd go with the large diaphragm condensers (maybe the two Soundeluxes) - one on either side the instrument, about 18" away from the keys and the bass buttons respectively.

Bernd G · 22nd July 2003, 04:38 AM

I recently did a Tango session with a Bandoneon recorded close mic'ed in a concert hall. Not that these instruments are the same, but there are similar issues. Generally you will need at least two microphones. I would stick with the same types, ie. Ribbons or Condensers for bass and treble. Keep in mind that the accordion moves in and out, therefore technically causing a phase shift between the mics everytime that thing plays. Solution might be to use a small diaphragm capsule extension that is fixed to the instrument with a contraption to keep the distance constant - i.e. the mic moves with the instrument (Schoeps or MBHO makes them, but I guess these are not part of your arsenal). I would go with clean preamps with high gain for the Ribbons - the Syteks or Great Rivers. I have had great results with some Beyer Ribbons and the Syteks, but for this session I believe I used my small diaphragm AudioUpgrades-altered AKG 460Bs. I do not own the Great Rivers. If you want a more "athmospheric" sound, perhaps a simple ORTF or XY pair in front of the player would do the trick - this will depend on the recording environment and aesthetic (as always). If you don't need isolation and want a low bass sound try some omni on the bass to mix in. I would be curious to hear about your results - please post!!
Cheers

Dave Martin · 22nd July 2003, 06:04 AM

I just did an album with the accordionist playing a full sized Weltmeister; we miked it on the keyboard side about 18" away with a U67 through a Phoenix DRS-2 and a Vac Rac compressor. A nice sound, but we had some issues with the mechanical click of the keys. It's the nature of the instrument, though, so after discussing it with the player, we simply got over it...

Alécio Costa · 23rd July 2003, 03:24 AM

Accordion is one of the instruments I recorded mostly in my engineering career. I have even a few albums released by major labels .
Try this:

Keyboard side > At4050 cardioid
button/bass side > Beta 57 cardioid
You can also add the line out of the instrument just for a little blending

(A Neumann 87 can also do a nice job, even fuller than the at4050 for this application).

Also ya can check the GT55 for the bass side.)

Put the microphones so as to not pick to much key/button noise. A nice revised instrument is a must-lol

Make a few passages to look for dynamics; do not compress too much.
If you end up with 4 tracks, let us say, two groups of stereo lead accordion, separate them in the stereo.

Another technique: Some players prefer to play just the left hand and afterwards the right hand.

Adding hi-shelf over 5.3k will generally bring too much key noise.

Key frequencies: 2.9k, 4.7k, 5.3k, 800, 1.3k, 240, 120.

You can also highpass at 80hz for the AT4050 side ( key side), but do not cut on the bass/button side.

Add a little reverb room, maybe a vry low hall and a slight stereo chorus.

Try this. You will not get regretted!
If ya want you can PM and I send ya some prestes of eq, based on Waves Q4 .

Hope it helped ya.

--------------------
Eng. Alécio Costa
Recording Engineer/Musician/Singer
br.geocities.com/studiodigitalp

Saucyjack · 26th July 2003, 08:12 PM

Ok did the session last nite.....
Accordion sounded real good thru Phoenix DRS and AEA R84.I miced it up about 2feet away at chin level and hit record....max gain on the DRS(Player was playing quiet).
Great realistic sound...sits in the mix nicely.
Thanks for the suggestions.

Alécio Costa · 26th July 2003, 08:19 PM

you´re wellcome!
Nice weekend

De chromium cob · 26th July 2003, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saucyjack
Ok did the session last nite.....
Accordion sounded real good thru Phoenix DRS and AEA R84.I miced it up about 2feet away at chin level and hit record....max gain on the DRS(Player was playing quiet).
Great realistic sound...sits in the mix nicely.
Thanks for the suggestions.

Yeah! I win, I win! IN YOUR FACE CONDENSER LOVERS!!!

(just kidding)

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21st July 2003, 11:33 PM	#1
Saucyjack Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Knoxville,Tn Posts: 569	Recording Accordion Recording an Accordion this weekend,never miced one up before....Tune is a slowish/Americana/atomospheric type thing. Any suggestions on Mics/Pres... I have available Royer 121 Aea R84 Senn 421,441 Soundelux U195,U99 Octava MC012 Beyer 201 AT 4050 Pres Great River NV Phoenix DRS API Sytek __________________ If you really want to make orginal results,work fast and cheap,because there's more of a chance that you'll get somewhere that nobody else did. Brian Eno

21st July 2003, 11:50 PM	#2
De chromium cob Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 3,344	I'd go with- Royer 121, Aea R84 Senn 421,441.....into the Phoenix DRS. __________________ "I know that most men, including those at ease with problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom accept even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others, and which they have woven, thread by thread, into the fabric of their lives." Tolstoy Scott Benson www.syborgstudios.com www.myspace.com/tennesseehollow

22nd July 2003, 04:38 AM	#5
Bernd G Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY Posts: 335	I recently did a Tango session with a Bandoneon recorded close mic'ed in a concert hall. Not that these instruments are the same, but there are similar issues. Generally you will need at least two microphones. I would stick with the same types, ie. Ribbons or Condensers for bass and treble. Keep in mind that the accordion moves in and out, therefore technically causing a phase shift between the mics everytime that thing plays. Solution might be to use a small diaphragm capsule extension that is fixed to the instrument with a contraption to keep the distance constant - i.e. the mic moves with the instrument (Schoeps or MBHO makes them, but I guess these are not part of your arsenal). I would go with clean preamps with high gain for the Ribbons - the Syteks or Great Rivers. I have had great results with some Beyer Ribbons and the Syteks, but for this session I believe I used my small diaphragm AudioUpgrades-altered AKG 460Bs. I do not own the Great Rivers. If you want a more "athmospheric" sound, perhaps a simple ORTF or XY pair in front of the player would do the trick - this will depend on the recording environment and aesthetic (as always). If you don't need isolation and want a low bass sound try some omni on the bass to mix in. I would be curious to hear about your results - please post!! Cheers __________________ BG

22nd July 2003, 06:04 AM	#6
Dave Martin Moderator emeritus Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 3,165	I just did an album with the accordionist playing a full sized Weltmeister; we miked it on the keyboard side about 18" away with a U67 through a Phoenix DRS-2 and a Vac Rac compressor. A nice sound, but we had some issues with the mechanical click of the keys. It's the nature of the instrument, though, so after discussing it with the player, we simply got over it... __________________ Dave Martin Java Jive Studio www.javajivestudio.com Cuppa Joe Records www.cuppajoerecords.com Nashville, TN

22nd July 2003, 04:11 AM	#4
littledog Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Boston area Posts: 872	I'd go with the large diaphragm condensers (maybe the two Soundeluxes) - one on either side the instrument, about 18" away from the keys and the bass buttons respectively.

23rd July 2003, 03:24 AM	#7
Alécio Costa Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Brazil, Florianópolis/SC Posts: 1,187	a little help from the Brazilian friend Accordion is one of the instruments I recorded mostly in my engineering career. I have even a few albums released by major labels . Try this: Keyboard side > At4050 cardioid button/bass side > Beta 57 cardioid You can also add the line out of the instrument just for a little blending (A Neumann 87 can also do a nice job, even fuller than the at4050 for this application). Also ya can check the GT55 for the bass side.) Put the microphones so as to not pick to much key/button noise. A nice revised instrument is a must-lol Make a few passages to look for dynamics; do not compress too much. If you end up with 4 tracks, let us say, two groups of stereo lead accordion, separate them in the stereo. Another technique: Some players prefer to play just the left hand and afterwards the right hand. Adding hi-shelf over 5.3k will generally bring too much key noise. Key frequencies: 2.9k, 4.7k, 5.3k, 800, 1.3k, 240, 120. You can also highpass at 80hz for the AT4050 side ( key side), but do not cut on the bass/button side. Add a little reverb room, maybe a vry low hall and a slight stereo chorus. Try this. You will not get regretted! If ya want you can PM and I send ya some prestes of eq, based on Waves Q4 . Hope it helped ya. -------------------- Eng. Alécio Costa Recording Engineer/Musician/Singer br.geocities.com/studiodigitalp __________________ Alécio Costa Studio Music Production/Mastering http://www.aleciocosta.com Listen to my album at: http://www.audiostreet.net/artist.aspx?artistid=38915

26th July 2003, 08:12 PM	#8
Saucyjack Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Knoxville,Tn Posts: 569	Ok did the session last nite..... Accordion sounded real good thru Phoenix DRS and AEA R84.I miced it up about 2feet away at chin level and hit record....max gain on the DRS(Player was playing quiet). Great realistic sound...sits in the mix nicely. Thanks for the suggestions. __________________ If you really want to make orginal results,work fast and cheap,because there's more of a chance that you'll get somewhere that nobody else did. Brian Eno

26th July 2003, 08:19 PM	#9
Alécio Costa Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Brazil, Florianópolis/SC Posts: 1,187	hi you´re wellcome! Nice weekend __________________ Alécio Costa Studio Music Production/Mastering http://www.aleciocosta.com Listen to my album at: http://www.audiostreet.net/artist.aspx?artistid=38915

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