Klarinet Archive - Posting 000086.txt from 1994/11

From: Jeff Kruys <"GVHS::JKRUYS_OPER"@-----.CA>
Subj: Re: Recording clarinet
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 12:33:54 -0500

Elaine Thompson wrote:
>Have you tried recording with a stereo pair of mikes put next to your
>amp? I have never heard of miking a reed -- usually folks use a barrel
>with a hole drilled for a microphone or clip one to the bell. It seems
>that you would miss some of the resonances from the instrument by miking
>the reed, and that may lead to the "bagpipey" sound that you describe.

Actually, I didn't think of using two mics on the amp, I'll try that. When
I mic the bell of the clarinet, playing a low E (where all the air and sound
is coming out of the bell rather than any other holes) would tend to throw
the recording levels way out. Same with just playing into a vocal mic,
pointing the bell at it, on stage. And estimates I was getting of the price
of drilling pickups into the barrell were more than I'd pay for the clarinet
I have if it was new. (It's a lousy plastic Bundy student model.) The reed
mic I have gives a consistent volume level and a reasonably accurate clarinet
sound - on stage anyway. Well I'll try everything once we get into a studio,
and someday I'll have the cash required to get a clarinet worthy of drilling
its barrell for pickups.

Jeff Kruys (send to jkruys_oper@-----.ca - don't use the reply function)