Recording Orchestra and Other Classical Music Ensembles

16

Recording Chamber Orchestra

Many chamber orchestras have no conductor—instead they are led by the concertmaster or the soloist (the Vivaldi Four Seasons concerto series is a common example). Smaller orchestral groups ranging in size from 18–30 musicians need to be recorded using a different approach than full orchestra. The technique of an “expanded tree” is suggested, which treats the ensemble like a large string quartet, providing excellent coverage of the ensemble with minimal use of microphones, allowing for a natural sound and balance.

16.1 Recording Chamber Orchestra Using a Low Channel Count

Quite often, chamber orchestra recordings are realized on small budgets, and it may be necessary to approach the project using very few microphones ...