Setup to record viola-piano videos

[Altgeiger]

I'm getting ready to record a couple videos to put on my website, so prospective students can hear how I play. I have one of those little Tascam portable recorders, but I'm not happy with the mics I have. I hope one of the more experienced recorders can suggest some low cost mic combinations that will give a good representation of the sound of viola and piano?

[______]

Hope it helps a bit.

https://reverb.com/news/how-to-mic-violin-viola-and-cello-at-home-or-in-the-studio

https://violinlounge.com/article/how-to-get-a-pro-recording-of-your-acoustic-violin-from-home/

[Altgeiger]

Thank you for those; they're good general guides to miking string instruments, but I'm looking for more specifics.  Do you have any particular mics that you've used that are both affordable and reasonably good for recording strings?  For piano?

[Blank face]

After having tested a lot of low and high cost mics of all construction types, in different combinations, settings, distances etc. I found myself making recordings now mostly with the (very affordable) Blue Yeti in stereo mode, which is already standing at my computer desk.

[matesic]

My Blue Yeti lives on the windowsill alongside my desk where I've used it to record myself on violin and viola for more than 10 years. I haven't performed any comparisons but it works fine at close range with artificial reverb added to taste. Couldn't tell you about piano.

[Altgeiger]

That's good to know. Thanks!

[Stephen Fine]

Years ago someone with recording engineering experience wrote down a hierarchy of recording considerations for us here on Maestronet that I liked.  I think #1 was microphone placement.  I've been trying to get the microphone 3.5'-4' above and away from my f-holes, but I experiment depending on the room (which might've been #2 on the list).  The microphone itself is less important.

Check out these old posts:

and this one

 

[Altgeiger]

I'll read those over to make sure my approach is good. Thanks!

[La Folia]

On 2/27/2025 at 10:15 PM, Altgeiger said:

I'm getting ready to record a couple videos to put on my website, so prospective students can hear how I play. I have one of those little Tascam portable recorders, but I'm not happy with the mics I have. I hope one of the more experienced recorders can suggest some low cost mic combinations that will give a good representation of the sound of viola and piano?

In the thread quoted by Stephen Fine, a Tascam hand recorder beat out some more sophisticated economy alternatives.  A happy ending, I thought.

On 3/4/2025 at 12:31 PM, Stephen Fine said:

Years ago someone with recording engineering experience wrote down a hierarchy of recording considerations for us here on Maestronet that I liked.  I think #1 was microphone placement.  I've been trying to get the microphone 3.5'-4' above and away from my f-holes, but I experiment depending on the room (which might've been #2 on the list).  The microphone itself is less important.

Check out these old posts:

and this one

 

Stephen Fine, thanks for reposting that thread.  I had assumed it disappeared into the ether, and I had actually forgotten the results.

[MANFIO]

I got this mike that I connect to my SONY Camera. I like it very much. https://www.sennheiser.com/en-us/catalog/products/microphones/mke-400/mke-400-508898