Double Bass Recording an upright bass

[kolera]

Hello to a talkbass members. Is there any upright bassist that has had some expirience in recording his instrument? If so, can you share an advice what microphones are considered good for that job? Do you use 2 mics- one in front of bridge, second one higher, at the string octave or so. I am considering to start recording, so any advice on this matter is apriciated. If there is topic that already cover this, I would apriciate link to that post.
Thanks for the answers,
Boris

 

[BobDeRosa]

Hello to a talkbass members. Is there any upright bassist that has had some expirience in recording his instrument? If so, can you share an advice what microphones are considered good for that job? Do you use 2 mics- one in front of bridge, second one higher, at the string octave or so. I am considering to start recording, so any advice on this matter is apriciated. If there is topic that already cover this, I would apriciate link to that post.
Thanks for the answers,
Boris

There's lots of online info on this topic. Start with the "stringmatrix" YouTube channel, where Herve often tests strings, mics, positioning for recording, etc.

 

[Francois Blais]

=1"]Search Results for Query: recording | TalkBass.com
Not all threads are answering your question, but you'll find tons of info already.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

There is a great difference in isolated recording (one after the other or isolation rooms, maybe also isolation booths) where you want the best sound and can do snything to get there or live group recording where you want most of your bass and the less possible from the others in your mic and under this condition the best sound possible.

So it would help if you can clarify under which conditions you want to record and if it is a group which instruments and if you have a dead room and/or isolating booths available.

 

[LaFaro01]

Regardless of the question of Wasnex you could take a look to the following threads:
Mic Recommendation for Double Bass
Great studio mics for DB
I don't know, what you are willing to invest, but my "all-time-discovery" (also) for double bass is the in those threads already mentioned Sandhill Mic... unfortunately and unjustly not so well known, but for my ears and in my experience I never heard something better..
If you don't want to buy so expensive, the Line Audio CM4 is a mic with an excellent price/performance ratio... compared for example to a Schoeps you'll find differences, but these differences are not as great as the price difference would suggest

 

[Jason Sypher]

The best large diaphragm condenser mic you can afford about 18” in front of the bass slightly right of the end of the finger board. Make sure it’s pointing AT the bass. Start there and move it around until you find the best sound. If it’s bowed bass I’d place the mic directly in front of the bass, 24” out, right in front of the bridge.

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

Currently using a mix between a ribbon and a small condenser. No iso booth, but two large, heavy curtains in front of and in back of me when tracking URB.

This article on Sweetwater’s site helped me in understanding what mics are available for us. Hope this helps!

https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/choosing-the-best-mic-for-upright-bass-with-sound-samples/

 

[Jason Sypher]

Currently using a mix between a ribbon and a small condenser. No iso booth, but two large, heavy curtains in front of and in back of me when tracking URB.

This article on Sweetwater’s site helped me in understanding what mics are available for us. Hope this helps!

Choosing the Best Mic for Upright Bass – with Sound Samples - inSync

That Telefunken 47 does my head in everytime! Just glorious sound and the way it sits in the mix. To die for.

 

[LaFaro01]

Currently using a mix between a ribbon and a small condenser. No iso booth, but two large, heavy curtains in front of and in back of me when tracking URB.

This article on Sweetwater’s site helped me in understanding what mics are available for us. Hope this helps!

Choosing the Best Mic for Upright Bass – with Sound Samples - inSync

So do or did I... but I'm not sure, if adding the Schoeps to the Sandhill is really "better"... for my ears the Sandhill sounds simply overwhelming...also already used on its own

 

[slappahdabass]

Some less-used options I like are the Rode NT1 and AKG C-414. I have recorded chamber music with the AKG and all kinds of solo works/individual tracking projects with the Rode.