recording instruments

Recording instruments

Stringed instruments (general)

The sound of stringed instruments changes remarkably with the age of the strings in use. For recording, a new set of strings should always be used. Don’t forget to bring spare sets of strings to the recording session.

If you have a choice of string gauges, select the one best suited to the pieces you will be playing. If in doubt, you should generally use the heaviest gauge you feel comfortable playing.

Tune your instrument before each take. If you do not have a tuning aid with you please ask as we usually have an electronic tuner to hand.

Acoustic guitar

Obtaining the right sound from an acoustic guitar requires a lot of patience during set-up. Microphone position and orientation is critical as is the position of the instrument in the room. Sometimes, we may ask you to move or place wooden boards under your chair or around your playing position to improve the sound. If you will move around while playing, please tell the engineer before mics are put in place.

Electric instruments (general)

Electric instruments (bass, guitar, keyboards) can be recorded by placing microphones in front of the instrument’s speaker cabinet or using a technique known as ‘direct injection’ or DI. The instrument’s pickup (line out for a keyboard) is connected directly to the recording mixer via a box of electronics called a DI box. The DI box provides a suitable input for the instrument and converts its output to a level suitable for the mixer. A feed from the DI box can be taken to your normal amplifier so that you can hear what you are playing or – more commonly – you will be able to hear yourself via headphones.

If you wish to use an effects box this can usually be inserted between the instrument and the DI box. Sometimes, these devices – though perfectly suitable for stage use – contribute too much noise or buzzing for recording and we may have to work with you to find another way of obtaining the sound you desire.

Increasingly, electronic amplifier simulators (such as the POD or Behringer V-Amp) may be used to provide an amplified sound without the problems and difficulties of mic’ing a speaker cabinet.

If you will be monitoring via your normal speaker stack, it is probably going to be important that you keep its volume as low as possible to prevent its sound being picked up by other live mics – eg, those on the drum kit. Please don’t turn up your volume during recording once the setting has been established with the engineers.

Even where we mic up the speaker cabinet, you need nothing more than the smallest practise amp to achieve a sound on record as impressive as the mightiest kilowatt stage stack.

Electric bass

We most commonly record electric bass directly into the mixer using DI. This provides the cleanest possible sound for recording. It is also possible to mic the bass speaker cabinet.

Electric guitar

We may record your electric guitar using microphones placed close to its speaker or using DI (described above). If we mic up the speaker cabinet it is critically important that you do not alter any volume or tone settings without first discussing the change with an engineer.

Reed instruments

Most reed instruments will be recorded by placing a microphone quite close to the instrument’s bell. The distance and orientation of the microphone to the instrument is important in capturing a good sound so you should try not to sway or move while playing.

Drums and percussion

Good drum sound starts with a good, well maintained kit. The kit must also be tuned correctly. There is almost nothing that can be done to improve the sound of a drum kit that does not sound right to begin with.

Set-up time for drums is usually the longest of any instrument. If you don’t want your fellow performers to get bored it may be best to set up the drums the day before the planned recording session or at he very least arrive 2-3 hours earlier than everyone else to save them having to hang around.

We may use anything from three to nine microphones on a single kit according to the musical style required.

If you have spare or different heads or beaters, please bring them with you as it can be difficult to predict which combination will finally give the sound you are looking for.

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Last modified: 30 July, 2002