These opinion-based articles share my thought on the best microphones for certain applications.
The violin (also known as the fiddle) is a beautiful instrument. It’s the smallest, highest pitched instrument in the violin family that sees regular use in music. The violin can be heard as a key member of orchestra, chamber, and string ensembles, as well as in many other genres of music, notably folk, country, bluegrass,…
The viola is a wonderfully warm and dark member of the violin family. Though “duller” sounding than the other string instruments in its family, the viola has found its place complimenting orchestra, chamber, and string ensembles, as well as in some modern genres and as a solo instrument. When recording the viola or reinforcing it…
The cello is a beautiful sounding string instrument that belongs to the violin family. It is the second largest string instrument after the double bass. The cello finds itself in orchestral, chamber, and string ensembles, as well as in some modern genres and as a solo instrument. Recording this beautiful instrument starts with the microphone….
The clarinet is a popular member of the woodwind family due to its versatile sound and usefulness in orchestral pieces. There are two main choices of clarinet: one in B♭(which we’ll discuss today) and another in A (a semi-tone lower). The clarinet family ranges from the BBB♭ octo-contrabass to the A♭ piccolo clarinet. Again, we’ll…
The flute is a beautiful reedless woodwind instrument. With its full, bright, and whimsical sound, the flute sees important roles in classical, jazz, and many other genres. When it comes time to record the flute or to reinforce its sound live, we either start with pickups or microphones. What makes for a great flute microphone…
The tuba is the largest and lowest pitched instrument in the brass family. The instrument appears regularly in orchestral ensembles, big bands, brass bands, and marching bands. What microphones would work best for capturing the awesome sound of the tuba? Whether in a studio or live setting, this article will answer that question! Let’s talk…
Though perhaps not always the standout instrument, the trombone plays a vital role in many ensembles. Whether it’s classical, big-band, ska, or any other genre that would benefit from a trombone, it’s crucial to capture as true a sound as possible for this beautiful (though slightly awkward) horn. So what microphones will sound best on…
In Jazz, Classical, and many other genres, there’s a chance for the sound of a trumpet to shine through. After a listening session of Miles Davis and Chet Baker, I figured I’d look into the best microphones for trumpets. Though I don’t play the trumpet myself, I’ve had the opportunity to work with trumpeters live…
Classical guitar (when played well) is one of the most beautiful sounding instruments on the planet. There are plenty of microphone placement techniques to capture the beauty of the classical guitar. There are also a plethora of microphones used to reproduce the sound of well-rehearsed classical guitarists. But is there a best microphone for classical…
So it’s time to record or perform live and you’re wondering which microphone(s) best capture the beautiful tones of an acoustic guitar. When choosing a microphone (or pair of microphones) to capture the sound of an acoustic guitar, look no further than the famous Neumann KM 184 (link to check the price on Amazon). This…
So it’s time for you to step into the world of recording electric guitar. You’ve got your amp sounding exactly how you want it and now it’s time to capture the magic! What microphone(s) should you use to record yourself and other guitarists in order to get the best results? As a guitarist (and audio…
So you’ve decided relying completely on your guitar amplifier just isn’t working at live gigs or in the rehearsal space. Though your amp sounds excellent, you need your guitar to come through the mains and the monitors. You need to mic that guitar cabinet up! The Sennheiser e906 (link to check the price on Amazon)…
