Any advice on a microphone for an alto sax?

There seem to be two distinct requirements:

A single microphone near the bell for playing through an amp.
A stereo pair for recording.

I was thinking of using some of those Panasonic electret capsules:
http://www.linkwitzlab.com/sys_test.htm#Mic
and as the SPL at the business end is around 125dB I would need to
do the "source follower modification" to reduce distortion.

So, any advice from the professional recording engineers?

--
Eiron.

"Eiron" wrote in message
...
Any advice on a microphone for an alto sax?

There seem to be two distinct requirements:

A single microphone near the bell for playing through an amp.

So, any advice from the professional recording engineers?

--
Eiron.

If you have access to a large capsule Neumann condenser,
then the 87 is probably the best. Use it as a cardioid with
the built in level attenuator switched in. There is also a LF
filter. Try this also.

Otherwise Sony ECM77. I have discussed this with Dave, and
he suggested this to me for a seven saxophone session
coming up in February. The Sony is supplied with a bell clip and a
t-bar spacer.

Do you really mean to put the alto through an amp?

A stereo pair for recording.

Hmm. What other instruments are in the line-up.? You
may find that a stereo pair is a poor choice.

Iain

Iain M Churches wrote:

Any advice on a microphone for an alto sax?

There seem to be two distinct requirements:

A single microphone near the bell for playing through an amp.


So, any advice from the professional recording engineers?

--
Eiron.


If you have access to a large capsule Neumann condenser,
then the 87 is probably the best. Use it as a cardioid with
the built in level attenuator switched in. There is also a LF
filter. Try this also.

Otherwise Sony ECM77. I have discussed this with Dave, and
he suggested this to me for a seven saxophone session
coming up in February. The Sony is supplied with a bell clip and a
t-bar spacer.

Do you really mean to put the alto through an amp?

I found an old "Vox Venue Keyboard 100", unfortunately not a
tube amp, and wanted to do something with it. I have no neighbours.

A stereo pair for recording.


Hmm. What other instruments are in the line-up.? You
may find that a stereo pair is a poor choice.

I want to record my progress. No line-up at the moment
but if I can find some people learning the trumpet, clarinet,
banjo, double bass and drums....

--
Eiron.

"Eiron" wrote in message
...
Any advice on a microphone for an alto sax?

There seem to be two distinct requirements:

A single microphone near the bell for playing through an amp.
A stereo pair for recording.

I was thinking of using some of those Panasonic electret capsules:
http://www.linkwitzlab.com/sys_test.htm#Mic
and as the SPL at the business end is around 125dB I would need to
do the "source follower modification" to reduce distortion.

So, any advice from the professional recording engineers?

--
Eiron.

Hi Eiron,

I can give you some advice regarding a microphone using a bell clamp but
therein lies a tale...
A few year back I was presenting a jazz radio programme on local radio and I
used to get out and about to many jazz concerts. One was at Boath House in
Moray where the saxophonist Stanley Turrentine was playing tenor - I was a
great fan of his playing anyway (he's now sadly deceased) and always thought
he didn't get quite the fame he rightly deserved. Anyway the concert was
excellent and his sax sound just wonderful. After the concert I was invited
to have tea & sandwiches with Stanley, in the course of the conversation I
asked what microphone he was using, he said he'd tried many mics and finally
settled on a Shure WM98 & a radio pack. This impressed me so much I bought
the same for Mary (my wife) who teaches sax Sop. Alto and tenor and also
plays in a band. As I am the sound eng for their many performances I
frequently employ the '98 on both Alto and Tenor with excellent results. So
if you are looking for an SR mic for live gigs you can't go wrong with the
WM98 though there have been many succeeding models since then. However if
you are recording go with Iain's advice as the needs and results of SR and
recording are quite different.
Hope this helps,

Mike