recording trumpet

[ebrutekim]

I've been struggling the past few days to really get a good trumpet tone in my recording. However, I feel like I have hit the best I can with what I have. I recorded a very short clip, the first part with drums, the second without. I used an SM57 and stood about 2.5 feet from the mic, with the mic a bit off axis. This isn't just a tell me what you think thread, but really, I'm looking for input on the all around strategy (if there is one) to recording trumpet.

The clip is part of a song called "Alright, Okay, You Win" by Sid Wyche and Mayme Watts and arranged by Michael Sweeney

Thanks,
Mike

Also, I really hope this is in the right part of the forum.

[paul999]

Yes this is the right part of the forum. I can't listen right now but I can tell you how my general strategy.

I would try a dynamic close much like you have and see. I would also try a condenser a bit further back to see if I could get a bit more natural sound of the instrument and the room.

[garageband]

While it's kinda lame to quote yourself (the 1st part doesn't apply), here's this:

Mutes on brass instruments effectively act as a HPFs, because they destroy the bell's ability to make longer wavelengths and accentuates other short ones in odd ways. Already this is at odds with the "soft" idea. That's way too far away to record any brass instrument. Thins it right out. Get it up there, engage a pad. Imagine the muzzle blast pattern of a pistol firing. This is where the meat of a brass instrument's sound is. No farther out than 14 inches or so. Look at pictures of jazz guys from the 50s and 60s. A little off-axis might be nice but you have to get in there. Record in a nice-sounding, large room, he'll play better. That'll fix your reverb problems.

When it comes to brass instruments, ask a brass player!

On that recording, probably there's one mic where it's supposed to be and run through a echo chamber. Kinda reminds me of an old BBC theme from the '60- early '70s a la "Are You Being Served?".

[ebrutekim]

For my recording, I double tracked the trumpet, and panned them both 60 to the left and 60 to the right. I added an effects bus and used a Hall reverb, because the dry sound was not very tasteful. I also added a low pass at 10k to get rid of some of the unnecessary fizz.

[Gold Sputtered]

Try a large diaphragm condenser mic. You will be pleased with the difference.

[ebrutekim]

I'll keep that in mind. Right now money's tight, so no buying new equipment.