I’ve been playing high and low whistle on stage for.. A great number of years… And I’ve recently taken up clarinet and it’s starting to get to the stage where it will be featuring in performances.
I use a mic on a boom stand, either an SM58 or a condenser, depending on what’s available or provided. I’d like to use the same mic on clarinet - but what’s the best position for the mic? Pointing up the end of the bell, or leave it in the same position as the whistles (pointing at the fipple windway), or, er, what?
The lack of a window for the sound to get out at the blowey-in end means you don’t want the microphone up there. I saw Cleo Laine on TV last night holding a microphone over her husband’s clarinet, keeping it over the higher open holes around the middle. (Saturday BBC2 at 9:10, near the end of the show - second last item, perhaps.) The distance between top open hole to microphone will vary, but the upper notes are likely louder, so the optimal mic position may be a bit further down, but not too close to the instrument.
I wouldn’t aim the mic straight into the bell — that can sound harsh. Try placing it a little off to the side, about 6–12 inches away. You’ll still pick up the tone but with less key noise. Same setup can usually work fine for both whistle and clarinet.
Most live musicians seem to go with a small condenser attached to the bell on clarinets and sax. I have also seen a small lavalier mic taped to the bell that sounded great.