Recording a jazz trombone

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:43 am

Hi, all...

Got a project coming up next month to record a jazz quartet featuring a trombonist.

I know from practical experience, that dynamics will be all over the place from a soft ballad to fff soloing on some tunes.

Also it's a trombone feature CD so I want to get the best sound I can with the bone. (He's also writing the check!)

Any mic placement (distance, angle) suggestions or type of mics?

(I've recorded horns many times, but usually as a section, or solo sax and flugelhorn)

I have 1 tube mic, a couple of mid-priced tube mic pres, but a number of other mics including 414's, Rode, etc.

I could even entertain the thought of renting something for this session.

Thanks!

Buzz

KarlSutton · Post by **KarlSutton** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:58 am

I have a trombone player that loves the sound he gets with his Royer Ribbon mic

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:09 pm

I second Royer for all Brass instruments.....and well, so does Quincy

bkshepard · Post by **bkshepard** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:25 pm

I third the suggestion of the Royer. Place it a couple of feet in front of the player and have them play slightly to the side of the mic (just a few degrees). Also experiment with distance to adjust the "in your face" quality. Good luck!

buzzsmith · Post by **buzzsmith** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:50 pm

BradLyons wrote:I second Royer for all Brass instruments.....and well, so does Quincy

THE Quincy?

bkshepard wrote:I third the suggestion of the Royer. Place it a couple of feet in front of the player and have them play slightly to the side of the mic (just a few degrees). Also experiment with distance to adjust the "in your face" quality. Good luck!

Thanks! I looked at Sweetwater's web site...which of the 6 or 7 mics would be the better choice?...and what other instruments (besides brass) might it excel at?...vocals, acoustic guitar, etc.?

Buzz

EDIT: Probably the R-121? ( and skip the 2nd part of the question above about other instruments unless you have some issues...I looked at the specs.)

chrispick · Post by **chrispick** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:24 pm

buzzsmith wrote:
BradLyons wrote:I second Royer for all Brass instruments.....and well, so does Quincy

THE Quincy?

He means Quincy, the guy who works the Wendy's drive-thru in Fort Wayne. Guy's got a great ear, and demanded they put a Royer in the ordering kiosk. Of course, he demanded it of me, and I couldn't help him (I had a mouth full of fries).

Okay, I don't know this to be a fact, but it sounds legit to me -- as I read it aloud.

Anyhoo --

Ribbon mics are good for brass. They can handle the SPL and they curb some of the bite and harshness off the sound

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:52 am

Quincy = Quincy Jones

As to other uses of Royer..... well, I am a big fan of Electric Guitar Cabinet use as are many engineers these days. In fact, Aerosmith used them live on-tour! I also use them live, they are wonderful for rejecting outside sound believe it or not. Here's a picture when I was in the studio with Ross Hogarth and Dusty Wakeman setting up on guitar cabs:

They also make an excellent vocal microphone, but it's not ideal on every voice however. They are excellent on the side of a snare drum and obviously, drum overheads. Heck, piano, percussion, you name it!

BradLyons · Post by **BradLyons** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:10 am

buzzsmith wrote:
BradLyons wrote:I second Royer for all Brass instruments.....and well, so does Quincy

THE Quincy?
bkshepard wrote:I third the suggestion of the Royer. Place it a couple of feet in front of the player and have them play slightly to the side of the mic (just a few degrees). Also experiment with distance to adjust the "in your face" quality. Good luck!
Thanks! I looked at Sweetwater's web site...which of the 6 or 7 mics would be the better choice?...and what other instruments (besides brass) might it excel at?...vocals, acoustic guitar, etc.?

Buzz

EDIT: Probably the R-121? ( and skip the 2nd part of the question above about other instruments unless you have some issues...I looked at the specs.)

Since you asked what other instruments it might be good at? Here's a few clips of the R121 used on electric guitar cabinets (through a Presonus ADL600 tube pre):

http://www.audioandmidi.com/media/audio ... 602_LP.wav

http://www.audioandmidi.com/media/audio ... P_Rock.wav

garryc · Post by **garryc** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:50 pm

Another use: The traveling soundman for Herbie Hancock/Wayne Shorter was using the R121 on Wayne's soprano saxophone in a live concert.

Garry