Recording Orchestra and Other Classical Music Ensembles

17

Recording String Quartet

This can be one of the most politically charged recording experiences in an engineer’s career. Sometimes the key is to perfectly match the group’s natural timbre and balance with the most transparent microphone technique possible, although the acoustic balance as heard on stage by the artists may be interpreted differently once it is translated through the microphones and loudspeakers in the control room. Refining the microphone placement and balance or adjusting the stage positions of the musicians may be required to achieve the best results. Advice is offered in this chapter for best capture and for accommodating the personalities of the group.

17.1 Overview

Understanding the “dynamics” of a chamber group is critical ...