Klarinet Archive - Posting 001163.txt from 1998/12

From: Oliver Seely <oliver@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: [kl] Recording clarinet
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 01:27:53 -0500

Except to say that I've been happy with my recording experiences in
my "studio" which is our family room about 25 feet diagonally with
lots of furniture, kitchen counters and the like here and there

(1) I record roughly on the diagonal to attenuate any tonal resonances,
(2) I use a Shure SM57 dynamic low impedance microphone placed 7-8 feet
distant and 4-6 feet in the air,
(3) mike input is fed through a low to high impedance transformer then
through a mixer,
(4) I use a separate computer to generate the accompaniment into the
mixer
(5) Microphone input stays on left channel, MIDI accompaniment in right
channel and I listen via headphones to the accompaniment -- the room
is silent except for my playing,
(6) All reverberation is set to zero -- that can be added later during
cut and paste on the WAV file, as can be the blending of right and left,
(7) Computer which generates WAV file is 166 MHz Gateway 2000. I use
a separate computer to synthesize the accompaniment because the Gateway
can't do both without hangups.
(8) I set aside a 2-hour period at least to do my recordings with everyone
out of the house and the telephone off the hook.

Other than that, I pass. There are folks on this list I'm sure who
who have far better systems in operation. Mine is a poor attempt at
the ultimate in narcissism. I put my recordings onto cassettes and listen
to them as I drive to and from work -- and laugh at myself a good part of
the way. Considering the road noise and the small speakers in automobiles,
it isn't surprising that I'm happy with the results; I might otherwise
be appalled.

Oliver

-------------------------------------------------------------------------