Mic technique for recording rain stick?

[Dave Peck]

Anybody got tips for recording a large rain stick (about five feet tall, 5" diam)? My first results sounded too harsh and clinical. I then tried more mic distance and changing to omnis, but then it sounded kinda like white noise. I tried a search on the topic & didn't find anything. Thanks!

DP

[Jim vanBergen]

Originally Posted by Dave Peck

Anybody got tips for recording a large rain stick (about five feet tall, 5" diam)? My first results sounded too harsh and clinical. I then tried more mic distance and changing to omnis, but then it sounded kinda like white noise. I tried a search on the topic & didn't find anything. Thanks!

DP

I had great luck recording a medium to large rain stick with good omni's (B&K 4007s) ORTF, in close proximity (same distance from stick as length of stick) from the side, as well as spaced top and bottom at about 18" from the stick in the vertical plane. Though I also think that a cardioid would be fine as long as it was not too close. I think if you are over 9' away, you'll need a shotgun mic, youll get plenty of seed and little body but the attack can be too sharp. A large diaphragm dynamic (sm7, RE20, Senn 421) is also a pretty safe bet, but make sure it's not too close (proximity effect). For instruments like this, I like to put a preamp in the studio and put an inline headphone amplifier so I can wear cans listening to just the mic. you then move the mic to find the perfect location and balance. It's time consuming, but really worth the effort.

[T.RayBullard]

Originally Posted by Dave Peck

Anybody got tips for recording a large rain stick (about five feet tall, 5" diam)? My first results sounded too harsh and clinical. I then tried more mic distance and changing to omnis, but then it sounded kinda like white noise. I tried a search on the topic & didn't find anything. Thanks!

DP

Blumlein! or HRTF!