ORCHESTRA RECORDING - 3 Microphone Overview
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2024
- A brief primer on orchestra recording, featuring 3 pairs of condenser microphones - the AKG c480 with CK62 Small Diaphragm Omni-Directional Capsule, the AKG C414B-TL Large Diaphragm (used in Omni position) and Oktava MK-012 Small Diaphragm with Cardioid Capsule.
First I give a short description of each microphone and show where they were placed in the performance hall. Then I share 2 sound samples of each pair (demonstrating dynamic and legato playing) and mention how they contributed to the overall mix of all 14 microphones that were used.
Video Breakdown 0:45
AKG C480 B w/ CK62 ULS 2:01
AKG C414B TL 3:38
Oktava MK012 5:27
All mic samples back-to-back 7:08
Final mix sample 9:03
Thanks 9:45
Follow along in your own DAW by downloading all 3 stereo pairs and mix settings by signing up for my Patron Bonus Content at / jamesmeder
SPECIAL THANKS to the Peninsula Youth Orchestra peninsulayouthorchestra.org/P...
And Robin Wienands www.rmwrecording.com/
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Studio www.piquerecording.com
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Selected Discography bit.ly/2GreNk5
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AKG Micorphones www.akg.com/
Oktava Microphones www.oktavausa.com/mics/
RECORDING DETAILS
*Orchestra footage from rehearsals, Audio samples from actual performance
*Preamps used - Tonelux MP5A for both AKG pairs, SSL inspired custom pre built by Robin Wienands for the Oktava pair
*The roll off engaged on the preamp for the Oktava MK-012 was around 80Hz and is negligible to its sound. It was used to help limit sub frequency rumble which is undesirable.
*Audio Samples adjusted to optimal listening level in reference to 0dBFS - no clips or limiting!
*Audio Sample 1 - Walker: Concert Suite
*Audio Sample 2 - Borodin: Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
*Background Music - William Walton: Crown Imperial
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING:
Sonic Scoop - 'Curing Condenser Confusion: An Audio History of the AKG C 414' (Please note that the reference to the TL capsule is incorrect in this article. Multiple other sources confirm the TL in fact uses the same capsule as the B-ULS version.)
sonicscoop.com/2016/10/27/cur...
Saturn Sound - 'Story of the AKG C414'
www.saturn-sound.com/Curio's/s...
Music Tech - 'Ten Minute Master: Orchestral Recording'
www.musictech.net/tutorials/t...
DPA Microphones - 'Classical Orchestra, A-B Stereo'
www.dpamicrophones.com/mic-un...
All The World's A Stage - 'Sound by AKG'
www.micshop.com/AKG_History.pdf
Musician's Friend - 'AKG Microphones: The Evolution of the AKG C-Series'
thehub.musiciansfriend.com/be...
#Recording #OrchestraRecording #Microphones 
Видеоклипы
![If you can't hear this then you're not an audiophile [See description for link to followup video]](/img/1.gif)
Download the stereo microphone audio heard in the samples throughout this video by visiting www.patreon.com/jamesmeder and signing up for the Patreon Bonus Content. Thank you for the support! Please feel free to ask questions and offer comments below :)
Wow, those C480’s sound phenomenal and very natural. I use mainly Schoeps & Microtech Gefell for my on-location work, but I’ve always wanted try out these 480’s. This sample really makes me want to add a pair of these omnis as I feel they would give my Schoeps MK2s & MK2 a run for their money. Wonderful work and I really appreciate you putting this together. Bravo!
Just exemplary work in the presentation and professionalism. I've learned so much and will visit when the bell rings to learn more.
quigley 45-100 Thank you so much, I’m glad you found it informative! I hope to make more videos soon, stay tuned!! - James Meder
@@JamesMeder Thought I would mention - got the Oktava matched pair. Perfect for my needs.
Man, that was fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you very much!!! The full mix is superb!!
Fantastic work!
This was fantastic and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!
Amazing video, thanks for this! Love your work
You're welcome, thanks so much for checking it out! -James Meder
One of the best music related channels on RUclips! Thank you!! Oktava is now in my shopping cart 😜
Hi James, very useful video. Thanks for the work.
Very interesting! Thanks a lot, James!
SUPER helpful video. Thanks so much!!
Why can't everyone make videos like this? Great work pal!
Very nice presentation, James!
KenLentVideo thank you kindly Ken!
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Wow beautiful sounds indeed
awesome comparison. great
Thank you James!
Thank you so much for watching! -James Meder
hell yeah! Thanks for the tips!
Wonderful lesson in understanding your gear and how to apply them. I'd love to hear what you could do at Air Studios! You're amazing!
Superb bro
Thanks man
This is exactly what I am looking for. Thank you for the in-depth explanation! That AKG omni pair sounds amazing! What does your signal chain usually look like for recording an orchestra?
Nice video dude!! Exactly what I was looking for! Can you tell us how you panned it? Grettings from Brazil!
Loved this video! the in-depth nature of the explanation of both the microphones and how they were placed in contribution to your overall mix. So I'm currently doing an assignment on how to record an orchestra with only 7 microphones and I'm struggling to understand how to utilize the limited number of spot mics in the scenario, any tips James? or anyone
Hi! Great video! I’m trying to find a microphone brand to attach to a blackmagic 4K camera to record classical music(specifically small ensembles/chamber music). Do you have any recommendations?? Thanks so much!
Thanks for sharing. There are so many different approaches to recording large ensembles and micing techniques. I've always felt my first responsibility is to capture the performance without adding anything. Give the listener what the live audience heard so I never use spot mics. Jecklin disk, Decca Tree, or L-C-R spaced omnis are my favorites. BTW, for a budget mic, what do you think of RODE for large ensemble work?
If your on a budget, checkout the AKG SE300B Blueline series. I still have an omni pair and hypercardiod pair. They can be found from $150-$200 a piece and sound quite smooth and natural. MBHO are another reasonably priced German small diaphragm mix that sound fantastic.
this was very interesting. I'm getting into field recording and am looking for a mic to record a singing voice but reacting to the space. This was very helpful but would you recommend a particular kind of mic for that?
Hey, just out of curiousity. Akg c414b tl- which one is it closer to the modern models= xls or xlii?
Thought purchasing for classical recording the xls model, since it more neutral.
If you happen to know?
Thanks for the content 👍
Thanks, James. AB omni spaced pairs are usually in parallel. How does angling them outwards change the sound?
Omni's do have an on-axis presence peak. Then again, the high-end omni's with spherically-mounted capsules exaggerate that to generally good effect, hence; Decca Tree.
Do you still use the Oktavas? I'm considering them vs some Shure KSM141 / SM81. For guitars and drums.
which would you prefer?
what do you think of the octave mk-012 for vocals...I read somewhere that many singers like them....for example Enya uses a condenser microphone for recordings
Do you do allso time correction? Beacause the spot mikes are earlier than the main mike?
Joost Kist
What is the maximum distance from each tripod (between the ground and the top) and between the director's area and the central tripod?
I believe they have upgraded the Oktava's since this vid.
They made the changes that many did when modding these older MK-012. Significant improvements. Bargain but maybe not the best for Orchestra. Maybe rent some mics.
Once I can afford mics like this, I wanna record orchestras in the future!! Right now I'm giving my home studio some upgrades like RODE NT1 and a Mackie mixer. (I'm a horn player, so I'm just multitracking) Once I have more money, I'll be able to plan out which mics to get to put in my arsenal, to start with an XY pair and getting a stand for above the conductor then getting a preamp with a lot of inputs. My wallet is prepared to hurt lol
How do you avoid time and phase problems when the microphones are so far apart?
You don't.
That AKG C480 is discontinued. Any suggestions for alternative omni pair of similar quality/price? Thanks,
Sennheiser 8000 series is excellent.
@@janjarvlepp382 Thanks!
This Hair must be a James thing haha. 👊🏽
How old are you oktavas? are you familiar that they upgraded them a year or two back, and essentially are "modded" now out of the factory stock?
Has that improved the sound of them?
Compared to the CMC 6 Collette, which do you think is better?
The Schoeps are the reference standard for symphonic work, but I believe the C480 along with the Sennheiser MKH8000 series are all on the same level. Just phenomenal sdc’s that are at home with the finest orchestras/concert halls & film scoring studios throughout the world.
How many mics in total did u use?
480s are still available. I think the Octavas don’t belong in the mix. I would have preferred hypercardiod 480’s in the back if set on your mic placement. Cardiod there muddies the mix. The octave is adding crunched, flat and closed reproduction. You want space on the those instruments. Cardiods for the main pair at ORTF and Omnis on the out riggers. The only eww would be the omnis. Another option is a single center cardiod for the center, omni out riggers and hyper in the back. We all have our techniques. The final mix was muddy.
480s are available? Really? Only from AKG direct?
I am a stupid father who wants to record his son playing in an orchestra on an iPhone. I’m not rich, but would like to get a better sound than the phone. Suggestions?
Buy a zoom h1n or h4
Why does that make you stupid?
Too many microphones. Adding more and more microphones made this recording much worse ... smeared transients, muddy sound and fuzzy stereo imaging. i would have eliminated the spot mics on the strings and possibly the outriggers. Better results would have manifested with a single pair of carefully placed (and configured) Schoeps or DPA omni-directional microphones about .67 to 1.0 (or more) meters apart. All of the immediacy and slam are lost in the final mix. Any recording that depends on more than two microphones is a failure of one or more components: the hall, the engineer and/or the conductor.
Well said, Thomas.
I would add Earthworks to the short list
More mics means more options in post.
@@react1200Agreed. You don’t need to have all the mics turned on all at the same time. Turn them on as needed to convey the intent of the piece and to maintain the feel of the performance in the hall.