Tracking Harp

[drewharris]

Any recommendations for tracking harp?

[joeq]

first make sure the harp is in tune
if there is any time left over, set up a mic and record it quickly before it goes out of tune again.

[joelpatterson]

I've found that the sound swells up, up and away from the wide, flat "base" or whatever you call it, the big, sloping part. Maybe two or three feet out from that, an LDC or whatever facing down at it. Of course, a big part of the traditional "harp" sound is the way it fills the hall, but then I'm one of these people always tending to close mic to get crispness and definition. And I always have some kind of ribbon out in the room, for lushness and beauty and general mushiness.

[drewharris]

Ha well let me clarify, mic selection and placement and any other relevant information like that.

[TXDigi]

There are differnent types of harps but of this is classical/orchestral harp it will most likely not have pickups. If you are going for a true image of harp placement in an orchestral enviroment then a single mic 2-4 feet away will do great. I like large diaphram mics to aid in the pickup of the low end of the harp. The low end doesnt speak well at all even on the best harps. For solo harp or smaller ensembles I stereo mic with earthworks or Neumann KM's. I like to be closer towards the big end of the harp(lo strings) pointing the mics more toward the player just slightly. Adjust the stereo image to taste.

Harps work very musch like a guitar where a lot of the sound comes from the soundboard but its the combination of strings and board together that makes it what it is.

Most harps will have quite a bit of pedal noise. You can't get rid of it.

With the EW mics, the flaat unEQ'd recordings work very well. Harps are not very bright sounding anyways. Very lush and beautiful though.

[bukarin]

The stereo technique mentioned above has worked for me before but have found that combining that with a LDC around a foot from the base of the sound hole will provide a fuller sound that still has excellent prescence and imaging. Like any multimicing the phase relationship between the mics is critical and some experimenting with positioning maybe required here for the LDC. The blend is down to taste but you won't need much of the LDC to fill out the sound (just be careful not to record an overly boomy bottom end).

Acoustically harps can be fairly quiet and so sensitive mics and low noise pre amps are definitly recomended (mainly the SDCs). I have had good results using a pair of DPA 4011s with Millenia Pre Amps for the stereo pair and a 414 for the soundboard mic.

On the several occasions I have had the pleasure to record harp its always been great, probably one of the most impressive looking instruments you'll ever see and they sound incredible in the flesh!!!!

[PhilE]

The only time I've ever had a Harp to record I paced around it a lot as it was played the went (if memory serves) for pair of 414s - one about 2 feet above and behind the performers head and the other about 2 feet from the base of the resonant spine. sounded great and got some lovely comments from very pleased player and producer.

[Greg Curtis]

I'm debating whether to use a Soundelux U99 (U67 copy) or a Schoeps CMC6/4 on a harp in an upcoming session. Any thoughts?

Other possible choices: 414ULS, 414XLS, TLM170, MKH40, KMi84, KM184, 451EB, 452, U87, U87ai, U89, U47fet, U47, M49, R121, Beyer 160, 4038.

I prefer to place it near the top, and looking down the length of the instrument. Mono. Part of a small wind and perc. ensemble (think Stravinsky's "Soldier's Tale.")

Greg

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[Dysanfel]

When I mic'd a concert harp for an old project of mine I used a large diaphragm room mic, a small diaphragm condenser mic near the strings to get the attack of the strings, and a PZM mic that attached to the soundboard.

[Mr. Liszt]

Originally Posted by joeq

first make sure the harp is in tune
if there is any time left over, set up a mic and record it quickly before it goes out of tune again.

Ha! That's so true! Your great!

[adisc]

Try to record stereo with two mics , one very close and one for ambience somewhere in the back . Naturally , an acoustic sound needs his own acoustic space .

PS: That's why video is stupid because they film always "mono" .