Room Micing/Ambient Micing

[shanghaitang]

What type of mics have good results in ambient micing (LDC, Tube micrphones, etc)? What technologies in certain microphones give them an advantage as a room mic? What techniques or stories do you have yielding good results while designing space with a room mic? Most importantly, why do these techniques work positively in a recording? Im not looking for a brand name or Microphone product testimonial, but feel free to comment as you wish. I just recently started experimenting with adding an extra microphone in the room to attempt to enhance the depth of field in my recordings and I would like to educate myself about it.

[mdsmith64]

Ambient micing to me is a funny business. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. At least for me anyway. I would add to your list humble dynamic mics like a Shure SM57 and a Radio Shack PZM. Not too long ago I was reading about a famous engineer/producer who had set up a 57 as a talk back and had accidently left in turned on and discovered that it was the perfect ambient take. As for techniques, I had the pleasure of working with Matt Wallace (Maroon5, http://www.recordproduction.com/matt-wallace.html ) in the early eighties and he had a cool way of capturing ambient sounds. He would open the back door of his studio and lean a few cymbals against the walls of the building in the alleyway. Next he'd set up a couple of mics and roll tape. I remember he got some huge drum sounds that way. Again, from my point of view, it simply takes some experimentation to get good ambient sounds. It doesn't seem to be as calculated as, say, micing a guitar cabinet (you know, stick a 57 on the cone and sweep around until it sounds good kind of thing). I could be wrong about that and maybe someone else will chime in with a method! Anway, good luck.


Best Regards,

Mike.