Recording Your Instrumental Ensemble
Three Things to Remember
When we record an instrumental ensemble, we consider three things: the sound of the room, the sound of the ensemble, and the sounds of the individual instruments. If you like the sound of a particular room, let us know. We'll help you decide if it will work well for a recording. Or we'll help you find a different one.
It's best to find a room with minimal background noise and some natural reverberation. If you want a more polished sound, a larger room with acoustic treatment works well, too. Wherever you record, it's best to check for sources of noise you may not notice at first, like street traffic and air conditioning systems.
The Ensemble and the Instruments
When recording an instrumental ensemble, some microphones will be used to capture the sound of the entire group, and some will be dedicated to individual instruments. Because we need both, please understand that it will take some time during the session to achieve a balance.
How Much Space?
Instrumental groups, especially smaller ones, prefer to sit or stand close to one another while performing. This is great for hearing, but we also need a little space between players to balance the sound of individual instruments. Let's plan how close you want or need to be, and how we can simultaneously record the best tracks for the ultimate sound of the recording.