Application Examples
Your ears are obviously the best judge of microphone choice and
placement, but AEA has garnered a great deal of experience testing
the A840 in a variety of recording settings and talking to experienced
musicians and engineers. As a result we suggest the following
guidelines to help you to achieve optimum results when using the A840.
Watch the videos on our website (www.ribbonmics.com, www.
AEAsessions.com) and on our YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/
AEAribbonmics) for more tips and tricks for our microphones and
preamps.
Vocals
Our experience with the A840 is that it sounds best on vocals when
used at a distance of 6 to 24 inches (15-60 cm). However, you may find
that positioning the microphone closer or further away from the singer
yields better results depending on the voice, the room or the musical
style. When recording at 6 inches (15 cm) or closer, it is advisable to
have a pop filter handy. The ribbon is well protected from damaging
plosive blasts, but to avoid noises from wind blasts, we recommend
using a pop filter.
If you are recording a musician who sings and plays an instrument at the
same time, you can make use of the exceptional rejection offered by the
90º “null” planes of the bidirectional pickup pattern to reduce the pickup
of the instrument in the vocal microphone.
Acoustic Guitar
When recording a solo acoustic guitar a good starting point is to
position the A840 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm) away from the guitar
roughly pointing at the 12th fret or where the neck meets the body.
This placement will capture clear midrange and pick articulation with a
balanced low end.
Since the bass response of the A840 is sensitive to the miking distance,
try rotating the mic to use its excellent horizontal off-axis performance to
find the “sweet spot”. Try pulling the microphone away from the guitar in
increments of 1 to 2 inches (2-5 cm). Listen to the guitar up close and
when you find a spot that sounds good, try putting the A840 there. Let
your ears be your guide.
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