Hi!

Need urgent technical advise:

I want to make a recording of chamber trio: 2 flutes + cello. I have to procure a microphone suitable for this (I have to use only one micro, no stereo necessary). I cannot spend much, maybe 150$ top.

If anybody has experience in this type of settings, please advise:

- what brand/models could I look for? AKG, for example?
- Should it be omnidirectional type or cardioid could do?
- should it be condenser type or dynamic could be OK?
- large diaphram is necessay or small could do?


Planned setup:

Large room with lots of people. (very dry acoustics as for previous experience)

I will be using a laptop with Audacity 1.2.6, an USB /adapter preamplifer with 48V phantom power available so condenser microphones could be OK.

Several months ago we had a very interesting discussion here about this type of setup, for home recording, but I cannot retrieve the thread or remember who posted initially. I know that he/she had made a recording using a nice condenser micro and we talked about phantom power and the like.

This is just for my personal use I do not need sublime quality, nor have it the money to afford high end equipment.

I know the Snowball by Blue is a very nice USB microphone. It was used to record some band pieces played in high school by my old director and thats how I found out about it.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/TF238LL/A

jose_luis,

If you already have a scheme where you don't need to use a USB mic, better then. I often hear that USB mics are not so good as a regular one, although for home application it's fair enough.

Other thing is that you are recording a group. You may have two different approaches: a mic per each (totals 3) or one mic for the whole group. In this last case, you would by a more expensive mic, non directional (afterwards you're recording three instruments at the same time...). But the price range could really vary in terms of the other characteristics you could find in a microphone.
If your approach is to record each member with one mic, then things change a little and you should opt for directional and smaller mics. Though I think the final cost would be grater than with one mic only.

It's obvious that if you want top quality studio recording, you'll have to invest much more money than you cited. AKGs are vey reliable and top quality, but more expensive too.
The snow ball is an excelent home option. And there are the Samson too.

I don't know if I coud help you, but your urgency made me write something :-)

good luck,
Zevang

Thank you. I can have the Samson CO3 USB for about 180 Eu here; but right now I feel more inclined to the Audio Technica AT2050, it is more expensive but has a switchable pattern (cardioid, omnidirectional and double eight). What do you think of it?

I can only use one microphone for the whole three instruments so I guess an omnidirectional pattern should be better, but I'm not sure.

These switch-able pattern types have about 10 dB less sensitivity and lower signal/ noise ratio, but still they could be the choice. I can buy it here for 250 Eu or for 180Eu + shipping in USA.

I have discarded USB mikes because of their lack of flexibility (can only be used with a PC)

I will check the snowball by Blue but I had not heard of it.

<Added>

Checked the Snowball and I think it is not what I am looking for. Thank you anyway.

I checked www.lexon.net and the AT2050 seems to be perfect for your application. I could not find (yet) the price, but as it is a "novedad", maybe you have a similar cheaper option from the same manufacturer.

Zevang

They also carry other microphones as well, not just USB. they are fairly economical (I dont have a PC but their USB mics seem to work with my computer). I would check out their website.

Good luck finding what you need

The best microphones for this sort of use are dynamic cardioid mics. They aren't as inexpensive or as small as other technologies, but they tend to produce a very good sound.

The issue of course is mounting and a very tight pattern. For most instruments, this isn't an issue. But for a flute, it's a problem as you can't exactly put a typical shotgun mic on your flute.(like you can, for a sax or drum)

http://www.audiogear.com/AMT-Microphones.html
Pricey.

The best that I have found are very old school, actually:

The Shure Unidyne are about $50-$100 used and are very good for recording on a budget. You will need some sort of stand, though.

The one you want says: "Shure Brothers Incoporated Model SM57 Unidyne III" in old 1960s era fonts. These are the originals and are much better than the new ones. These are used in the White House briefing room, btw. Very good sound for not a lot of money.
(note - almost all of them are the same from this era, what's important is that it's made in the U.S.A.)

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/5ba440a1ecab4982/index.html
The Audio Technica ATM650 is also a good choice.(sells for well under MSRP(roughly $100) if you shop around)

The only in-flute mic that I know of that's any good(replaces the headjoint cork) runs about $400.

The sad fact is that almost anything new that's decent is going to cost a chunk of money.

<Added>

EDIT - the Shure "Harp" models are also great. They run about $150 or so used, last I checked. This would work well for recording the whole group if you sit close to each other.

Thanks Pletko.

I am not going to record a single flute but a group of instruments (two flutes + cello), all with a single microphone. The more I read, the more I am convinced that the cardioid pattern is not the most adequate for this specific application. The setup will be a little improvised and I have no space to put more equipment. As I play in the Trio, the recording procedure must be simple and fast as I will be very busy with much more important things...

As you say, cardioid pattern is better for recording a single instrument like my flute and I also intend to do this soon.

For this reason my present choice is the Audio Technica 2050. It is a double, big gold sputtered diaphragm condenser studio microphone, with selectable patterns. So I could choose omnidirectional for my chamber music and a cardioid pattern for individual playing.

The price is a little too high here in Europe, but it is about half the price when shopping around in USA. In addition to this I will need a decent micro to USB converter with phantom power (as required by condenser microphones) and I am looking for a suitable device in addition to the mike.

I already have a Yamaha dynamic microphone, cardioid type but it is not good for longer distances recording, it is designed for singers and voice, so that the distance to the micro is normally about an inch or less. As I have read, all cardioids also suffer from a distorsion in the audio response, they have less and less output level on the lower frequencies as the distance from the source increasses. This could be a serious drawback for the cello with its low frequency range

I also have an electrect type and it is better than the dynamic Yamaha, but not good enough for a Trio recording, I am afraid.

You might look into a piezo mic. But they will also pick up every sound in the room as well.

HI Jose

I have a barcus berry that clamps on to the headjoint, works great and was not too pricey, I found it on EBay

Thanks. I am looking for a microphone to record a small group (a Trio), not just my flute. But right now the concert is too close and I gave up this idea for the moment. Probably I will try again for my next audition in June so I have plenty(?) of time to check options and decide.