How to mic a saxophone

February 22, 2018 2:48 AM

I’m recording a song on my phone and I just hired a saxophone player. I’ve just been recording in my apartment, and I have an iRig vocal mic. What’s the best way to record a saxophone?
posted by pxe2000 to Technology (4 answers total)

Best answer: Mogurlittle (who plays sax) suggests "The mic should be positioned in the middle of the length of the mouthpiece to the bell". You can also ask the player you've hired if they have any preferences.
posted by Mogur at 5:05 AM on February 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Seconding Mogurlittle. Also, saxes can get pretty loud, do a test run of the loudest part to make sure you're not overloading (which will produce distortion) some part of the signal chain. You might actually wind up overloading the mic diaphragm itself, in which case pull the mic back a couple inches and try again.
posted by soundguy99 at 5:55 AM on February 22, 2018 [2 favorites]

The SPL on that mic will not be enough to handle a sax, start with it farther away than you might think.
posted by aspersioncast at 11:42 AM on February 22, 2018

I've had pretty good results clipping a ATR-3350 to the bell + portable recorder, but I'm just a hobbyist. Previously had a Heil PR 31 which was doooope.
posted by TrinsicWS at 12:38 PM on February 22, 2018