Instrument
Ukulele
- Range
- C4–A5
- Overtones to
- about 5 kHz
- Sources
- 10 (8 independent)
Mics sources recommend
24 setups from 10 sources, 8 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
Close
- Audio-Technica AT20201 independent source
- Audio-Technica AT20351 independent source
- DPA 4006 (earlier version of the DPA 4006A) maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- DPA 4041-SP maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- Neat King Bee1 independent source
- Rode NT-USB1 independent source
- Rode NT1-A1 independent source
- Royer R-122 MKII / ribbon maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- Shure SM572 independent sources
- condenser2 independent sources
- condenser pair2 independent sources
- condenser, small-diaphragm (small-diaphragm condenser at the 12th fret, 6-12 in)1 independent source
- dynamic microphone1 independent source
- large-diaphragm condenser1 independent source
- small-diaphragm condenser1 independent source
Room
- condenser1 independent source
Main pair or array
- DPA 2015 Wide Cardioid maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
The 20 setups behind this: placement and quotes
- Close Shure SM57close, 8-10 in, aimed at the 10th or 12th fret, angled 30-45 degrees
"point a microphone diaphragm to the 10th or 12th fret"; "About 30° to 45° is a good angle"; "8″ to 10″ is the perfect distance".
1 - Close Audio-Technica AT2035close, 8-10 in, aimed at the 10th or 12th fret
The AT2035 is "a great condenser mic for recording" (same placement).
1 - Room condenserroom, far from the instrument, blended with a close dynamic for natural reverb
Blend a dynamic with a condenser placed "far from the instrument to capture the room sound".
1 - Close Neat King Beeclose, about 6 in from the ukulele, with a Primacoustic VoxGuard behind the mic
"The Neat King Bee, a large diaphragm condenser, won out"; "about 6 inches away from the ukulele produced the best results".
2 - Close DPA 4006 (earlier version of the DPA 4006A)close, at the sweet spot
With good acoustics, a "precise and highly detailed omni mic is ideal": the 4041-SP or the 4006.
3 - Close DPA 4041-SPclose
With good acoustics, a "precise and highly detailed omni mic is ideal": the 4041-SP or the 4006.
3 - Main pair or array 2 × DPA 2015 Wide Cardioidstereo pair (A/B pair)
For an A/B configuration, two 2015 Wide Cardioid mics make a good solution.
3 - Close condenserclose, 6-8 in from the soundhole (warmth) or aimed at the 12th fret (brighter)
"Position a condenser mic 6-8 inches from the sound hole for rich low-end"; aim at the 12th fret for brighter articulation; watch proximity effect.
4 - Close 2 × condenser pairpair, one near the bridge and one near the neck
Two mics, "one near the bridge and another near the neck", for width and depth.
4 - Close Rode NT1-Aclose, about a foot from the 9th-12th fret, angled toward the neck-body joint
"About a foot away from the 9th-12th fret and angled towards where the neck meets the body is a good starting point"; "I would probably buy an NT1-A".
5 - Close Rode NT-USBclose, about a foot from the 9th-12th fret
"I've been impressed with the Rode NT-USB."
5 - Close condenser, small-diaphragm (small-diaphragm condenser at the 12th fret, 6-12 in)close, 12th fret, 15-30 cm
MusicTech: use the one- and two-mic acoustic guitar techniques for ukulele, mandolin and dulcimer (paraphrase).
6 - Close Royer R-122 MKII / ribbonclose, about 12 in off the body
"One ribbon mic about 12 inches off the body delivers a warm, natural-sounding ukulele recording." (caption: pair of R-122 MKII)
7 - Close Shure SM57 or Audio-Technica AT2020close, home recording test
Tested on ukulele: gave "the most direct sound" with no frills (paraphrase). ... Tested on ukulele: "The instrument sounded natural and the detail was very clear."
8 - Close condenserclose, slightly above the soundhole, angled toward the 12th fret
"placing the microphone slightly above the ukulele's sound hole and angled towards the 12th fret".
9 - Close small-diaphragm condenserclose, aimed at the 12th fret where neck meets body, 15-30 cm (6-12 in)
SDC is "ideal for the ukulele's transient detail and natural brightness"; aim where the neck meets the body, 6-12 in away (paraphrase).
10 - Close large-diaphragm condenserclose, aimed at the 12th fret, 15-30 cm; adds body to a thin-sounding uke
A large-diaphragm condenser adds warmth and body, which can help a thin-sounding uke (paraphrase).
10 - Close dynamic microphoneclose, for noisy or untreated rooms
Dynamic is a fallback: "less detailed but more isolating".
10 - Close 2 × condenser pair (XY)pair, XY close together for a focused, mono-compatible image
XY gives a focused, mono-compatible image; double-tracking one mic "usually beats a stereo pair for a solo home setup".
10 - Close 2 × condenser pair (spaced)pair, spaced: one at the 12th fret, one near the bridge/body, panned apart
Spaced pair: one mic at the 12th fret and one near the bridge, panned apart (paraphrase).
10
On stage
Clip-on
- DPA 4060 CORE+ series maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
- DPA 4099 CORE+ maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
The 2 setups behind this: placement and quotes
- Clip-on DPA 4060 CORE+ seriesclip-on / close
4060 CORE+ miniature offers many placement options; many live situations benefit from close miking (paraphrase).
3 - Clip-on DPA 4099 CORE+clip-on, stage
The 4099 CORE+ is "the perfect choice for all live applications" (gain before feedback).
3
Studio and stage
Main pair or array
- DPA 4011 (earlier version of the DPA 4011A) maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
Close
- DPA 2012 Compact Cardioid maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
The 2 setups behind this: placement and quotes
- Main pair or array 2 × DPA 4011 (earlier version of the DPA 4011A)stereo pair, more isolation (X-Y pair)
If more isolation is needed, two 4011 cardioids in XY at the sweet spot (paraphrase).
3 - Close DPA 2012 Compact Cardioidclose, isolation
The 2012 Compact Cardioid is named as one good solution where more isolation is needed.
3
Advised against
- Close dynamic microphoneclose
"Dynamic mics didn't do justice to the transients."
2 - Contact contact microphonecontact, on the body
"Contact mics were out, because the body was too prone to pick up noise."
2 - Close condenserclose, pointed at the soundhole
"typically you don't want to point the mic at the soundhole" - a woofy sound.
5 - Contact built-in pickupdirect, pickup for recording
Pickups are "convenient for performing on stage" but "a vastly inferior sound" to a mic for recording.
5 - Close condenserclose, aimed straight into the soundhole
"don't point the mic straight into the soundhole" - boomy low-mids (paraphrase).
10 - Contact built-in pickupdirect, acoustic-electric uke's pickup
A uke's pickup tends to sound thin and "quacky" for recording; mic it instead (paraphrase).
10
Range
C4 to about A5262 Hz – 880 Hz
Re-entrant tuning G4 C4 E4 A4 (soprano/concert/tenor). A5 at the 12th fret of a soprano; concert and tenor reach C6-D#6 (15-19 frets). Low-G tuning adds G3; baritone uke D3-G3-B3-E4.
| Whole range | C4–A5 | bright, light; little bass because of the small body |
|---|
Overtones reach about 5 kHz (the highest harmonic within 40 dB of the strongest, at a moderate level; louder playing reaches higher)11.
The sound
Short nylon strings on a small body: little low end and a quick decay. Re-entrant tuning keeps all four strings within an octave and a sixth.
Where the sound goes
No ukulele-specific source found; assumed like the guitar (body and hole), not verified.
Recording it
A small-diaphragm condenser at the 12th fret, 15-30 cm (6-12 in), aimed between the neck join and the hole, as for the guitar (September entry; DPA's "sweet spot", Royer's 12 in).3,7
Playing techniques
- Strumming: all four strings, bright and percussive
- Chunk: a muted strum, a click without pitch
- Fingerpicking: softer, separate notes
Sources
- Apartment Recording: How To Record Ukulele (2023)
- Craig Anderton: How to Record Ukulele (2019)
- DPA Mic University: How to mic the ukulele
- Lanikai Ukuleles (instrument maker): Ukulele Mic Placement for Recording
- Live Ukulele (Brad Bordessa): How to Record Your Ukulele: DIY Guide (2023)
- MusicTech: The Ultimate Guide To Recording Everything - Acoustic Instruments (2017)
- Royer Labs: Recording Acoustic Guitar, Violin, Ukulele, Cello & Other Stringed Instruments
- Ukulele Magazine: What Type of Microphone Should I Use For Ukulele Home Recording?
- Ukulele Road Trips: Mastering the Sound - recording ukulele and voice (2024)
- Violet Recording: How to Record Ukulele at Home: Mic & Placement (2026)
- University of Iowa Electronic Music Studios, Musical Instrument Samples (steel-string guitar), as trimmed/normalised in tonejs-instruments; own FFT analysis