#505683 - 12/30/03 05:19 PM
Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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jlsjls
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Registered: 07/29/02
Posts: 14
Loc: ottawa
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Hello all,
Does anyone have any tips for recording mandolin ?
ie. Mics , eq , effects ?
I 've been using small and large condensers ... but I sure am having trouble getting satisfactory results )-;
Thanks a ton in advance,
John.
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#505684 - 12/30/03 08:59 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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dtobocman
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Registered: 09/26/02
Posts: 6559
Loc: los angeles
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4033, 451, U195 have all given good results (I've used Summit and focusrite platinum preamps). I just recorded one with a 4033 and U195 in XY into the Summit TPA-200B tube preamp, and it sounded nice. I was recording myself, so I just moved the mando around on the mics until it sounded well balanced (not too much "plink", not too much nosey bridge sound). A 451 not too close has always sounded good, and the 4033 is a favorite mic for the mandolin among Nashville guys of late (Lynn Fuston recommended it to me originally).
I think that the trick is to get enough distance on the mic (at least a foot, if not 2 or 3). Like all acoustic guitar-like instruments, there's tons of hamonics coming off of every part of the mandolin, so you need to BACK OFF to get a good blend of harmonics (or you run the risk of it sounding pretty banjo-ey). If you're tracking with a group of other live players, it might get a little bleedy, but that's not necessarily bad. Of course, the further you get from the mic, the less proximity effect (unless you're using an omni), so the less LF content, but that's okay because it's a MANDOLIN.
What kind of problems have you been having? What mics, preamps, and placements have you tried? What kind of mando is it? Mine's a center-hole, guitar style Appalachian model, not an Italian f-hole (what did you just call me?) variety....
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#505685 - 12/30/03 11:10 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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ddk
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Registered: 12/30/03
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I have had great results
using my Royer SF-1
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#505686 - 12/31/03 02:56 AM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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Chuck Moore
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Registered: 09/11/03
Posts: 724
Loc: Nashville
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Yeah a 4033 from a couple of feet back is good, switch to omni if you want more room, provided you are in a nice room. I've also had good results on a mandolin using two small condensers in an ORTF stereo pattern ie 100 degree angle outwards with about 7 inches between the capsules. Set this up about 3 feet back, gives a great sense of depth. Usually like KMs for that, but lately been using a pair of Rode NT-5s.
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Chuck Moore
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#505687 - 12/31/03 12:12 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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where02190
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Registered: 11/06/01
Posts: 5402
Loc: Weymouth, Ma. USA
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Originally posted by Chuck Moore:
Yeah a 4033 from a couple of feet back is good, switch to omni if you want more room
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Hope this is helpful. NP Recording Studios Analog approach to digital recording.
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#505688 - 12/31/03 12:40 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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kaipiranha
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Registered: 10/02/02
Posts: 21
Loc: 45883 Gelsenkirchen, Germany
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....except for the DPA 4033, which is omni only... 
Happy New Year to all!
Kai
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#505689 - 12/31/03 12:47 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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Dave Martin
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Registered: 03/17/03
Posts: 959
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Royers can be nice (if you want more of a warm ,woody sound - what the mando actually sounds like inthe room), but I generally go with either an M-582 (for a more traditional mando sound) or a THE mic with a 25MM capsule for a more aggressive comtemporary sound.
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#505690 - 12/31/03 03:01 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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Chuck Moore
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Registered: 09/11/03
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Loc: Nashville
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quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Chuck Moore:
Yeah a 4033 from a couple of feet back is good, switch to omni if you want more room
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 4033 is a cardiod pattern only.
_________________________
Chuck Moore
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#505691 - 12/31/03 03:39 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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jlsjls
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Registered: 07/29/02
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Loc: ottawa
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Hi and thanks to all so far ...
I am surprised more folks aren't using ribbons cause things get scratchy ... even with Elixir strings !!
My mando is an F-style Lebeda ... pretty nice actually ...
Right now my mic cab is pretty slim ... R84 ribbon , sd AT 873r , 2 sd marshall 603's ...
ADESIGNS MP2 Tube pre ...
I thought I saw Marty Stuart playing his mando in front of an SM57 the other night live on TV ... sounded very nice ... anyone using the Sures ?
I have tried a bunch of things but seem to have poor results when I back up past a foot - low gain is an issue when using the ribbon - maybe its because the mando is such an important part of these sparse folk mixes (often no bass) al a Gillian Welch ...
I think I will try the ortf w the 603's (again?) and cross my fingers.
Thannks again to one and all,
John.
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#505692 - 12/31/03 07:19 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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Dave Martin
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Registered: 03/17/03
Posts: 959
Loc: Nashville
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Your R84 should work just fine, as long as you have a decent pre. I used an R84 on a mandolin with a Great River NV (No problem), a Great River PM-2 (again, no Problems) and a Vintech X-73 (no problems). Generaly, I'll use a Tube Tech CL-1B for light compression and any etra gain makeup needed.
Another issue you may be dealing with is the instrument and the player. In the right hands, good mandolins are fairly loud instruments - at least as loud as an acoustic guitar...
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#505693 - 12/31/03 10:57 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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remainanon
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Registered: 09/11/00
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You know I've had some good results with Shure microphones - also I've used various lavalier microphones right up close - I'm real bad at remembering the numbers... But I think there was a Sony one and a Sennheiser one...
Also older ribbons are very nice on Mando - depending of course on the style - if you're talking about a rolling bluegrass type thing I tend to use bigger sounding mikes - strums, chords, for a more rocking sound I'll put up either a KM84 (keep it on the neck side) or a modern ribbon or maybe even a Shure beta 57a - for a more country (I mean way out in the country up in the mountains etc) I love using very very old mikes - BK5, original 44, various Altec mikes. The older/thinner the better - I've even used a Shure 55 on mando with great effect.
Everything also depends on what else you have going on in the room and whether or not your player will also be singing.
JADP...
J
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#505694 - 01/01/04 02:57 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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jlsjls
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Registered: 07/29/02
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Loc: ottawa
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I am also interested in the AEA R44c remake ... so maybe that's the ticket for the mando !
Everything i've read about 44's suggests that it would be excellent on mando's.
If i could only find a rich relative (-;
thanks,
jls.
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#505695 - 01/01/04 03:28 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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henryrobinett
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Registered: 11/06/01
Posts: 3375
Loc: Sacramento,CA,UNITED STATES
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That AEA44 is da bomb! It sounds great on everything. I had one for about 3 months last year. I nearly cried when I had to give it up.
I'm still looking for that long lost rich relative who loved me as a baby.
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All the best,
Henry Robinett
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#505696 - 01/01/04 06:11 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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Fred Forssell
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Registered: 11/24/00
Posts: 1
Loc: ,,UNITED STATES
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I tend to use DPA 4041T and 4003 when I can use omnis, and DPA 4011 and TLM-170 when I need cardio pattern mikes for mandolin.
I use my own preamps, either the JFET-Tube hybrid called the FetCode or the all JFET JMP-1 or (new) JMP-2. All are transformerless preamps.
Mostly I am recording great players playing really good instruments...3 different 1924 Loar F5s, a really good sounding Dudenbostle, several different Givens (F and A5 models), and recently some couple of good sounding Sullivans. That maybe a big part of getting a good sound (the players and the instruments), but I do not think you can go wrong with those mikes coupled to really good mike preamps.
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#505697 - 01/01/04 10:19 PM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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slantbar
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Registered: 01/17/01
Posts: 39
Loc: Colorado, USA
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Spent many a session recording Sam Bush. Favorite is always a KM54, with a KM84 used in a pinch. Placed kinda below the mando looking at the lower F hole. Sounds great...
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#505698 - 03/29/04 12:14 AM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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Griffini
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Registered: 03/28/04
Posts: 3
Loc: Columbus, Ohio
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I have recorded lots of mandolins and have owned and played 2 original Lloyd Loar mandolins.
Ribbon mics can sound great. Royer 121, 122 or stereo all sound great. Coles sound good but I prefer the Royers. The 122 has plenty of gain and is great.
Schoeps CFC6 with cardiod or hyper cardiod also great. Many great players have used KM84's with good success.
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#505699 - 03/29/04 08:16 AM
Re: Tips for recording MANDOLIN ?
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axis
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Registered: 08/15/00
Posts: 866
Loc: Denmark
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In preperation for a new project starting next week..we..just tryed varius mics on madolin... shure sm57/81, Akg 451, AKG C-414, Neumann U-87´, B&K 4006/11´, R-84´s, Neumann KM56, schoeps 221b
It a tough call...at the moment a combination of the Neumann KM56, or R-84 and B&K 4006 as room mics is what brings the most smiles on peoples faces..which I happen to like a lot..*S*
Kind regards
Peter
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