Mic Archive

Instrument family

Woodwinds

Flute, piccolo, clarinet, oboe and bassoon (the saxophones are their own family). Most of the sound comes from the tone holes along the body, not the bell, so sources aim at the holes.

Members: Bassoon, Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, Piccolo.

Sources
3 (2 independent)

Recommended mics

Mics sources recommend

3 setups from 3 sources, 2 of them independent of any mic maker. Few independent sources so far, so the mics are listed without counts. Listed alphabetically: there is no ranking.

Studio

Spot

  • Royer ribbon microphone

Contact

The 2 setups behind this: placement and quotes
  • Spot Royer ribbon microphone
    spot, close mics on the woodwinds
    Royer ribbon mics on the woodwinds and low brass1
  • Contact 2 × Schoeps MK 4
    pair, stereo pair as overall woodwind pickup
    the woodwinds had a stereo pair of Schoeps MK4s as an overall pickup2

Studio and stage

Close

  • condenser (type only)
The 1 setup behind this: placement and quotes
  • Close condenser (type only)
    close, about 30 cm from the sound holes
    A mic placed about 1 foot from sound holes will produce a natural, well-balanced sound.3

Sources

  1. Mix: The Changing Landscape of Orchestral Recording (engineer Steve Smith, Music Works Studios)magazine · mixonline.com
  2. Sound On Sound: Jake Jackson: Recording The 2012 Olympic Anthemsmagazine · soundonsound.com
  3. Shure: How to Choose the Best Mics for Brass, Wind, and String Instrumentsmanufacturer · shure.com