Strings, Brass, and Reed Instruments
Because the N8 has equal treble and bass response from a far distance,
it can be placed almost anywhere without sounding thin. Feel free to
position the mic both closer and further away than you normally would
with a condenser.
When recording acoustic instruments, a good starting point is to walk
around the room while the musician is playing. When you find a spot
where you like the sound, try positioning the N8 there and move to taste.
For solo instruments, try placing the N8 a few feet away. This will give a
very up-close and personal sound. Set the microphone above or in front
of the instrument. The height of the mic in relation to the height of the
room can have a large impact on the sound.
When positioning the N8, try aiming the backside towards a complex
wall intersection. This can capture the reverberation of the room in an
interesting way.
For bass string instruments that are bowed and plucked, placing the N8
about a foot away will give you a very nice and defined low end. The
proximity effect of the N8 can be used to your advantage.
For instrument sections, a good starting point is to place the N8 a few
meters away where the musicians have a nice balanced sound. Blumlein
configuration positioned at a distance of 4 - 6 meters from a section can
capture the sound with a lot depth.
The N8s can also be used with great results to capture an entire orchestra.
Try positioning the mic in the same way that you would for sections, but
from a much further distance. Two N8s on a stereo bar facing outwards at
90 degrees can give you a realistic spacial image that will sound like you
are standing in front of the orchestra.
Piano
The N8 delivers a great sound as a close-up and distant mic on both
upright and grand pianos. On an grand piano we have found two
positions to be particularly useful.
1. Spaced pair of N8s looking at the hammers in the front. You will need
to remove the front cover of the grand piano. This position will yield a
very natural, hi-fi sound. It is common to pull the mics further out of the
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