Strings – Condenser

The intimate and dynamic nature of stringed instruments like fiddle and cello make them pair very well with a condenser Mic.

Start by placing the mic about a foot away facing into the body of the instruments, for violin this means an overhead mic.

This will ensure a good amount of room sound is present in the recorded signal to give the strings the space they need to feel natural.

Here’s a useful recording trick for making one player sound like an Orchestra:

– Set up several chairs like you would for a string ensemble, with a stereo out of condensers in front.

-Record the performer playing from the first chair, then move the player to the next chair and repeat the recording as many times as required.

This will give you the impression that there is more than one performer playing at once. If your performer can also play the other strings you can easily record a string quartet will a single musician.