 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2006-01-20 04:10
I need to record myself for some upcoming auditions on videotape and CD and need some advice. I am using a Shure SM-57 plugged into my computer (macintosh with garageband). Right now, however, I am having trouble with input levels. Whenever I record, the clarinet is always VERY quiet and faint when I play it back. I have turned the input volume on the computer as high as it will go, and the clarinet sound is still barely audible.
Might this be a problem with microphone placement? If I only have one mic, where should it be?
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-01-20 06:01
Although it is possible to use a SM57 for a clarinet, it is not the best option. If you have reasonable acoustics I'd consider a condenser microphone instead of your SM57. Since you don't need it for a long time I think maybe you should rent one. Even an inexpensive condenser will give pretty good results if you place it right.
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2006-01-20 07:34
How would a condenser mic be better?
Also, it seems unlikely that I'll be able to get my hands on one before these are due, so I think I'm going to have to use what I've got, equipment-wise.
I still need some advice regarding microphone placement.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2006-01-20 08:24
I've also frequently gotten the advice that condensers are much more effective for woodwind playing, and the bit of recording experience I have supports it.
In comes the problem with placement... for a condenser, about an arm's reach in front and upward (say 30 degrees upward) is usually ideal for a condenser recording a clarinet.
For the Shure, though, I don't know. Dynamic mics, iirc, tend to respond best to sound that's "pointed" directly toward them, and a sound source that is close to it. To get any decent volume, you'd likely have to put it quite close to the clarinet, either by the keys (and get a lot of key noise and uneven sound) or in the bell (and get a lot of key noise and uneven sound). For saxophone, by contrast, it's not nearly as problematic, as a mic in the bell can give a reasonable recording.
I tried recording with a nice condenser mic and a nice dynamic mic (unscientific comparison) for a bit of overdub on a film score last fall. Couldn't get nearly the quality from the dynamic that the condenser gave, and positioning the dynamic was much more troublesome.
The recording will be faint because you're using a dynamic mic. Hopefully you can use some audio software to boost it without making it sound awful. In essence, clarinet recording is not what the SM-57 is "for."
How long do you have before it's due?
(my apologies if any of this is total BS)
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2006-01-20 09:56
I would wonder if the Mic needs phantom power! Maybe trying it in a mixer to give it the phantom power would most likely boost the volume as much as you need.
Is that Mic self powered?
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Author: larryb
Date: 2006-01-20 11:20
I recorded myself on an iBook G4 using Garage Band with only the built in mic of the computer. It recorded and played back surprisingly well. Try it and compare. Did you check the volume control on your computer control panel? Maybe it's set too low.
By the way, I recorded myself on Garage Band playing a Mozart Divertimento (#3, minuet) for three basset horns. It's a three track recording, and I was shocked at how well in tune I am with myself and me ("Me, myself and I are all in love with you, we all think you're wonderful, we do," but I digress). Now, if only I could play in tune with others.
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Author: Tom Puwalski
Date: 2006-01-20 12:20
"I need to record myself for some upcoming auditions on videotape and CD"
I used to listen to audition tapes when I was in the Army and I'm going to give you one big piece of advice. Get someone else to make do the tape for you. I don't know just what you're recording for, but you're going to spend alot of time trying to get a sm57 into a computer to sound "competive" in todays market place. I'm not a big fan of mini-disks but a mini disk with one of those little (under $100) stereo mics, will sound much better. Pluging one of the little sonys into digital video camera will sound pretty damn good.
Any thing to do with "live" performance is shrinking. There really aren't any gigs anymore. Getting into a school is getting harder, and even getting a job with one of the special military bands is almost imposible these days. If you're really have your heart bent of doing this. You need the absolutely best promotional material you can send in. The kinds of stuff people use to send in for Field band auditions was scary, believe it or not, I recieved resumes, written in pencil and ripped out of a spiral notebook. Hell I didn't care if that person was Ricardo's twin seperated at birth, and the better clarinetist of the two, I wasn't going to listen to some one that didn't take the time to type his resume and lable his tape.
I know it sucks but sometime you have to spend some money to get in the game.
Tom Puwalski, former soloist with the US Army Field Band, Clarinetist with Lox&Vodka, and Author of "The Clarinetist's Guide to Klezmer"and most recently by the order of the wizard of Oz, for supreme intelligence, a Masters in Clarinet performance
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-01-20 13:56
I agree with Tom. Even if you have to pay someone for his/her "studio" time, you will be money ahead. You'll get a good recording and you'll do a favor to whomever is judging your performance. If you present yourself in a professional fashion, complete with professionally done CD/Video, you'll be ahead of the game. Now, of course, you'll have to play well.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-01-20 14:56
"Did you check the volume control on your computer control panel? Maybe it's set too low."
I have only used a Sony minidisk...good results. Re the volume thing: Sometimes when using the computer with Roxio's recording feature the volume level slider icon gets reset to Zero ...but still shows max...after recording and I get no playback sound. Just a nudge on the slider reactivates it.
Bob Draznik
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Author: msloss
Date: 2006-01-21 00:26
OK kids, enough speculation. You can't just jack an SM57 straight into the computer. It has to go through a microphone preamplifier first to bring the gain up. Even if there is a mic jack on the computer with sufficient gain, you would still have to put a matching transformer in line betwen the 57 and the computer to take the signal from balanced to unbalanced.
While the SM57 isn't ideal, it is a battle-tested mic that will do a more than competent job recording the clarinet for casual use. I wouldn't record an album with one, but I might use it on stage in an ensemble setting.
Condenser mics cover the map in terms of their sound characteristics, and the variability comes from the capsule, shape of the mic, the circuitry, and a dozen other things, including the mic preamps. They aren't necessarily better or worse than a good dynamic. A lot of engineers actually prefer ribbon mics with clarinet. They aren't terribly accurate and don't have the sparkling high end of a condenser, but they sure do a nice job.
Finally, and I'm not just saying this because I am one, I wholeheartedly endorse using a pro to make an important recording. Think of it this way -- you can give one of those nifty new $10K Backun clarinets to a stone-cold novice and it'll sound like crap, or give a BandNow plastic POS to Ricardo Morales and it'll sound fabulous. The beauty and artistry is in the player, or the engineer, not the gear. Experience and training counts for a lot in any field.
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Author: nes
Date: 2006-01-22 01:54
Hi,
I have a minidisc, and have the little mic that comes with it - it is okay.
What mic do you suggest that works well with a minidisc, good for recording our instrument?
Thanks
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Author: Avie
Date: 2006-01-22 14:09
I recently purchased a Sony IC recorder S# ICD-B120. Its digital, measures 1.25 x 4.25, holds up to 7.5 hours and is great for clarinet, flute, etc, very clear, simple to use, and fits nicely in my pocket for recording my grandaughters concerts, etc. Also good for many other uses and only $40.00.
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Author: blewis
Date: 2006-01-23 03:59
So is the Sony IC recorder a piece of equipment that stands alone and you use it by itself to record?
Thanks,blewis
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