hard indian guitar: sitar

[Pilepoile]

Hello,

Do you know what is the best mic for sitar in live situation?
the sound is very weak so it's very diffult!!!
room mic? or dynamic mic? ribbon mic?

thanks!

[xj32]

I have done a few sitar sessions (as I am a big Indian music fan)...anyway I found that I got my best results with pencil condensers like sm-81's and KM-84s.

Unlike guitars sitars put out a very wide soundfield all at once due to the drone of the sympathetic strings.

I used two mics and placed 1 about 6 - 18" from the body/bridge and used the other one to mic the resonant guorde on the top. I will look and see if I have pics of the sessions somewhere.

Paul

[Pilepoile]

so I would like to try with two 414 tl2 or two oktava mk012, or maybe one tlm 193!
thanks for your answer, if you have some picturs!!!

[Baithak]

Hi Pilepoint,

I only record classical Indian instruments and as the other poster said, they produce a wide sound field which is significantly affected by the room as well. Secondly they have a rather big harmonic which approximately coincides with the proximity effect of most cardiod mics so you end up with mud.

A well placed ribbon (I use Royers) in a good sounding room is a good choice

An omni placed even closer in a perfect room is the best choice (I use DPA/Schoeps) especially if there is no sound reenforcement.

If the room is not that great or you don't have too much time for setup, the best option is a Schoeps CMC6 with MK41 capsule about 3 feet away and foot and a half off the floor pointing downwards between the hand and the end of the gourd (NOT towards the strings). If you move the mic around a bit you will be able to get a very different set of tones, depending on what you are looking for, all the way from pure tizz (not recommended) to rounded, mellow honey (what I look for). Any closer than about 2 and a half feet and the proximity effect will significantly alter the sound.

I use Millenia preamps going but on location I also use the preamps in Cranesong's spider.

Hope this helps,
Baithak

[T.RayBullard]

The jecklin technique works very well, as does baffled 8s.

I prefer Gefell m296s and secondary(for this application) , Schoeps MK2S. No proximity affect, and the slight HF rise suits it perfectly.

I like a bit of mojo on stringed instruments, and pendulum mdp-1 sounds fantastic.

DAV pres sound amazing too.

[Pilepoile]

yes I think royer 121 is good for recording but It's for live situation!!!

thanks for your answer, I will try with my oktava

[Remoteness]

I've used R121s in live situations...

You need to be careful when positioning the mic minimizing the leakage factor.
I've used them with my handmade "micro gobos" with very good results.

[matyas]

I used Oktava MC012's on a sitar once, and it sounded pretty good. Ribbons would be cool, too, although I didn't have access to any at the time.

[wyndrock]

i deeply love and appreciate middle eastern music of all genres. i find it extremely relaxing. i enjoy the instrumental music more than the stuff i can't translate. i always imagine them singing about something really beatiful.

the song from the beginning of "black hawk down", that's some nice stuff. i'd like to know who did that one. my guess it's an american composer, but they sure did a nice job emulating true middle eastern music.

ask your client if they'll let you post a little snippet of the session. i'd like to hear the outcome.

have fun! let us know how it goes!

lee