Alright guys I have been slowly saving up to piece together a little home recording studio just for fun and to play around and be able to listen and edit some music. I wanted to know what would be the best type of microphone to record the pipes, a ribbon,dynamic , or condenser mic??
Any particular mics you guys have a preference for?
I typically use a pair of condensors, one for the chanter, the other for the regs and drones. I have a AKG C3000 for the chanter, C1000S for the drones/regs. I’ve also used other combinations of matching Crown condensor mikes in a crossed stereo pair as well as a Crown SASS-P stereo microphone for live recordings of our tionols.
I find that some small membrane condenser mics make the pipes sound very squeaky. I used to play flemish bagpipes with a band, and I used a dynamic Sennheiser swanneck microphone for picking up the chanter. The sound was far better than with my (fairly old, I must admit) C1000, which I use for flute and whistles. When doing home recording, you might have better luck with a big membrane condenser microphone, which also would be quite universal regarding different recording jobs (vocal, woodwinds, pipes, strings…).
I use a Rode NT1 which is pretty good all round, and quite cheap, but perhaps if it has a fault it is to tend towards the over bright end of the spectrum. I’d record as a stereo pair if I could afford another one, and another Focusrite Trackmaster.
My own preference - that’s my own preference before anyone puts the boot in - with recording is to try and capture the sound of the instrument as it sounds in the room at that time, and not mic bits of it separately.
I use a Solaris condenser microphone that features cardiod, figure-8, and omni polar patterns. I find it is great for all-around recording, whistles, GHB, guitars and vocals.
Matt