Instrument family
Mallet percussion
Marimba, xylophone, vibraphone and glockenspiel: tuned bars spread over a wide frame, so one mic rarely covers them evenly. Mallet type changes the spectrum and the attack.
Members: Glockenspiel, Marimba, Vibraphone, Xylophone.
- Sources
- 4 (3 independent)
Mics sources recommend
5 setups from 4 sources, 3 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
Main pair or array
- Neumann KM 841 independent source
- condenser, small diaphragm (Schoeps, model not named)1 independent source
The 2 setups behind this: placement and quotes
- Main pair or array 2 × Neumann KM 84stereo pair, room and image; large concert rosewood marimba
Smaller-diaphragm mics like the Schoeps, B&Ks and the KM84s capture the room and give a nice stereo image (Narell, paraphrase)
1 - Main pair or array 2 × condenser, small diaphragm (Schoeps, model not named)stereo pair, room and image
Smaller-diaphragm mics like the Schoeps, B&Ks and the KM84s capture the room and give a nice stereo image (Narell, paraphrase)
1
On stage
Distant
- AKG C451 (earlier version of the AKG C451 B)1 independent source
Close
- Shure KSM109 maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- Shure KSM137 maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- Shure KSM141 maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- Shure KSM27 maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- Shure KSM32 maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- Shure KSM44 maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- Shure SM81 maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- Shure SM94 maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
The 2 setups behind this: placement and quotes
- Distant AKG C451 (earlier version of the AKG C451 B)live (orchestra pops); about 7 ft above, over the low end, aimed toward the high end; one per pitched instrument
I mike from above, at about seven feet, over the low end of the instrument and aimed toward the high end (Colby)
2 - Close 2 × Shure KSM44 or Shure KSM32 or Shure KSM27 or Shure KSM141 or Shure KSM137 or Shure KSM109 or Shure SM81 or Shure SM94pair 1.5 ft above, 2 ft apart, aiming down (mallets list)
Two microphones aiming down toward instrument, about 1 1/2 feet above it, spaced 2 feet apart
3
Studio and stage
Bottom
- Condenser pair (unnamed)1 independent source
The 1 setup behind this: placement and quotes
- Bottom 2 × Condenser pair (unnamed)12 in under the resonator tubes, spaced between high and low bars
evenly spaced between the high and low bars, about 12 inches under the resonator tubes
4
Sources
- Mix (1997) Recording Jazz Combos (Andy Narell on recording Dave Samuels' marimba and vibes)
- Mix: Sound Reinforcement for the Boston Pops: Miking the Orchestra (BSO live mix engineer Steve Colby)
- Shure: Microphone Techniques for Live Sound Reinforcement
- Hogan, J. & T. (2016) Accordions & Didgeridoos: Mic Techniques For 'Exotic' Instruments, Pro Sound Web