Flute Miking Techniques
Contents |
Flute Microphone Clinic
The purpose of this clinic was to listen how different microphone positions for the flute sounded. The microphone used for this clinic was a DPA 4011 with a cardiod pattern. The 4011 works well because of its flat frequency response that would give us the best natural recorded sound. The fundamental range of the flute is from B3 to C7 and the frequency range is from 247 Hz to 2.1 kHz.
Sound comes from both the mouthpiece as well as the first open finger hole on the flute. In most cases the microphone can be positioned midway between the mouthpiece and bell. This allows you to pick up the characteristic breath sound as well as the tone quality with equal intensity. Placement can also be determined by the type or style of music that is being played.
Traditional Microphone Positions
For this clinic, three most commonly microphone positions were used.
- Contemporary Pop Music
- Classical and Solo playing
- Microphone placed directly above the flute mouthplate
Contemporary Pop Music
 |
 |
- Generally, the distance from the flute can range from 1' – 2'.
- The sound produced comes across very clearly. Though the sound does not necessarily remain consistent throughout the entire range of the instrument. Since the placement is directly in the path of the player's breath, you hear a fair amount of the breath entering the sound.
- There is not a lot of room heard with this microphone position.
Classical and Solo playing
- The microphone is placed on axis and slightly above the player ranging from 3' – 8'. In this instance, the 4011 was placed approximately 5 feet from the player.
- As in the Pop position the sound is clear and clean. There is definitely a room presence since the microphone is backed farther away from the player than in the pop position.
- The sound has more smoothness to it than in the pop position. The breath is almost non-existent in this position. If the piece is more intense and you need some of the breath in the recording, you could move the microphone in closer towards the player.
Directly Above Mouthplate
- Microphone placed directly in front of the mouthpiece to reduce high-feedback, high-leakage environment.
- This placement accentuates breath noises
- To help minimize the breath noise, the microphone was positioned 2”-6” above the player, pointing it down towards the mouthpiece. In this demonstration the height was approximately 5”. The breath then passes beneath the microphone reducing the breath noises and blasts.
- You still can hear some of the breath. The attack of each phrase in this example is very noticeable along with the initial breath of the player.
- The tone is similar as in the pop position with a little more edge.
Additional Miking Positions
There are a few more mic positions that were tried in this demonstration. Some of them were positioned off-axis.
- Behind Player on-axis
- Off-axis - Left and Above Player
- Off-axis – Left and Higher
Behind Player on-axis
 |
 |
- The microphone is positioned directly behind the player. For this demonstration it was placed about 1’ away from the flute just as it is in the pop position but from behind player.
- Since the microphone is behind the player there is not a lot of breath in the sound.
- The tone sounds confined and stuffy from this position.
Off-axis - Left and Above Player
 |
 |
- Here the microphone is about 1' in front of player and placed off-axis and to the left and just above the player’s head. The mic is angled down towards the flute mouthplate.
- At this placement you get the most consistent tone throughout the entire range of the instrument. The breath in the sound is present but not distracting.
- There is a good mix between the direct and room sounds.
Off-axis - Left and Higher
 |
 |
- The microphone is positioned in the same location as the previous example but raised higher about 6” above the player.
- The tone sounds fine but is not as focused as it is when positioned lower.
- You also lose some of the direct sound and gain more of the room sound.
Room Analysis
The following samples utilize the microphone position where the mic is placed off-axis, left and above the player.
Band Room
- This room surprised me a little only because I thought that the room would be very dry. What I heard was a very clear and focused sound. It was the most natural sound of the flute of the rooms that this microphone placement was used.
McArdle Theatre
File:Flute McArdle Theatre.m4a
- As you can imagine, this room produces a much bigger sound than than other rooms. The most obvious reason is due to the large size of the theatre. Very spacious and reverbant sounding.
Practice Room
- I also thought that this room would more dry. But it seems that you mostly here the reflections coming off each of the walls. For the size of the room, the sound seems to be very distant.
