Mic Archive

Instrument

Celesta

A keyboard idiophone resembling a small upright piano; hammers strike metal plates or bars (chime bars). Other name: celeste.1,2

Range
C4–C8
Sources
7 (7 independent)

Recommended mics

Mics sources recommend

16 setups from 7 sources, 7 of them independent of any mic maker. Each mic shows how many sources name it for that role, and how many of those are independent. Listed alphabetically: there is no ranking.

Studio

Top

  • Neumann TLM 1071 independent source
  • microphone array (four mics)1 independent source
  • Schoeps XY pair1 independent source

Outside

  • Violet Black Finger1 independent source

Spot

  • AKG C414 EB1 independent source
  • cardioid condenser1 independent source
  • spot microphones1 independent source

Main pair or array

  • AKG C451 E + CK 221 independent source
  • Schoeps Colette1 independent source
  • Schoeps Colette1 independent source
  • Decca tree2 independent sources

Close

  • Neumann large-diaphragm condenser1 independent source
  • Neumann microphone (model not named)1 independent source

Overhead

  • Violet Audio Flamingo1 independent source
  • Violet Audio Flamingo Stereo1 independent source
The 16 setups behind this: placement and quotes
  • Top 2 × Schoeps XY pair
    top, XY pair over the instrument
    Top - Schoeps XY + Neumann spaced pair (sample-library maker's own session)3
  • Top 2 × Neumann TLM 107
    top, spaced pair over the instrument
    Schoeps XY pair and Neumann TLM 107 spaced pair (photo caption)3
  • Outside 2 × Violet Black Finger
    outside, pair at the back of the instrument
    Back - Violet Black Finger pair3
  • Spot 2 × AKG C414 EB
    spot, pair of close spot mics (placement not given)
    Spot mics with AKG C414EB4
  • Main pair or array 3 × AKG C451 E + CK 22
    main, Decca-style array for room sound
    Decca mics with AKG C451E-CK224
  • Close Neumann large-diaphragm condenser
    close, about 10 cm from the tines (mono)
    A Neumann large membrane microphone for close (about 10 cm from the tines)5
  • Overhead Violet Audio Flamingo Stereo
    overhead, stereo mic at the mid position, captured from above
    a Violet Audio Flamingo stereo microphone for the mid position ... Overhead is a wider, stereo sound captured from above5
  • Main pair or array Schoeps Colette
    room, stereo set on the balcony
    a Schoeps Colette stereo set on the balcony ... Balcony is the most ambient sounding position5
  • Spot spot microphones
    spot, close-up dry sound
    'Spot' brings you the instrument's unadulterated dry, close-up sound6
  • Main pair or array 3 × Decca tree
    main, Decca tree for room ambience
    the traditional 'Decca' miking adds abundant room ambience6
  • Top microphone array (four mics)
    top, set of four mics above the instrument
    a set of four top mics ... [capture its] sparkling tone (paraphrase)7
  • Main pair or array microphone array
    outside, rear array at the back of the instrument
    the slightly brighter-sounding rear array ... wonderfully close-up and intimate (paraphrase)7
  • Close Neumann microphone (model not named)
    close mono (sample library session)
    A sampled celesta was recorded from three perspectives: close mono (Neumann, unspecified), overhead stereo (Violet Audio Flamingo), balcony stereo (Schoeps Colette).2
  • Overhead Violet Audio Flamingo
    overhead stereo, mid position
    Overhead stereo perspective: Violet Audio Flamingo (sample library session, SOS review).2
  • Main pair or array 2 × Schoeps Colette
    balcony stereo, far (stereo set)
    Balcony stereo perspective: Schoeps Colette; the hammer impact was more apparent on the balcony mic than on the close mic.2
  • Spot cardioid condenser
    spot, on the celesta
    Spot microphones in cardioid or wide cardioid ... piano, celesta, soloist(s)8

Range

C4 to C81262 Hz – 4.19 kHz

four-octave model; sounds an octave above written pitch; sizes run from three to five and a half octaves

Written C3 to C7; the range above is sounding pitch.

Recording it

No engineering guide found. The only evidence is a sampling session (Sonokinetic, reviewed by SOS): a medium-sized, high-ceilinged studio with a close mono mic (Neumann, model not named), an overhead stereo mic (Violet Audio Flamingo) and a balcony stereo mic (Schoeps Colette). The reviewer heard less hammer noise than expected on the close mic and more on the balcony mic; the close and overhead mics sounded slightly soft and distant, and boosting 130 Hz and 1.5 kHz brought out more hammer sound.2

Problems to watch

Hammer impact noise is audible, and may be more prominent from a distant mic than a close one.2

About the range

A transposing instrument that sounds one octave above written pitch. Sizes run from three to five and a half octaves; the four-octave sounding range is generally given as C4 to C8, and the top fundamental is 4186 Hz. Four- and five-octave models have a damper pedal; the three-octave table-top models do not.1

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, Celestareference · en.wikipedia.org
  2. Sound On Sound: Sonokinetic Celesta review (Nick Magnus, 2014)magazine · soundonsound.com
  3. Soniccouture: G68 Celeste (sample library recording notes)engineer · soniccouture.com
  4. Sonicstate: A Celesta For Kontakt (Chocolate Audio Celestial, 2019)magazine · sonicstate.com
  5. Sonokinetic: Celesta Reference Manual (PDF)engineer · sonokinetic.net
  6. Sound On Sound: Chocolate Audio Celestial review (Dave Stewart, 2019)magazine · soundonsound.com
  7. Sound On Sound: Soniccouture Celeste review (Dave Stewart, 2021)magazine · soundonsound.com
  8. SoundGirls: Recording an Orchestraeducational · soundgirls.org