Recording a shakuhachi

[Jacob]

I have a friend coming over this week who plays the Shakuhachi (Bamboo flute). I was wondering if anyone has any good starting points on recording this type of instrument. I will of course be trying all sorts of mic and preamp combinations, I am just looking for some good reference points as I have never recorded an instrument like this.

[Halfway Competent]

I've never recorded one, either. But, based on recording methods of other wind instruments, I could speculate:

A quick glance at Wikipedia shows that the shakuhachi is played like a woodwind, with the whistle bevel at the mouth end of the instrument. One might be tempted to point a mic at the whistle bevel... But as with any instrument, the body of the instrument itself also shapes the overal tonality, so pull the mic back and point it at the body of the flute... about 3' or so away, I'd guess. Maybe a little farther if your room acoustics are good enough. Pointing the mic at the mouth end would probably get you a sharper whistle sound from that portion of the sound being on-axis to the mic (assuming a directional mic). If you want that whistle, and also to capture the full tonality, point the mic more head-on at the player's mouth, with the mic past the end of the flute.

I'm just guessing, here... Ultimately, what might be best is to hand-hold a mic and listen thru headphones while the person plays and you move the mic around, finding the best-sounding spot.

Good luck, and I'd love to hear what you get!

[Mixwell]

Try an OMNI microphone if you want more "space" on the instrument, and more "environment" which I usually like in recordings. I find very natural recordings with omni directional microphones.

You could try a Small Diaphragm Condenser in Cardioid [because they have good off-axis rejection] if you want a closer, tighter and deader sound from the instrument with less ambience and more directional character.

Then move the microphone around until it sounds cool in the space your in.

[Sandyrb]

I was wondering if anyone has any good starting points on recording this type of instrument.
A while back I recorded a thing called a 'Tylynka' which is an eastern european version of what you're talking about. As I recall I used a C414 about two feet back. I can't remember what pattern I had it set to but it sounded too close when everything else was in there so I'd certainly go with Adam's suggestion to use an omni.

Hope this helps. :)

Cheers,

[Mixwell]

Context?

Is this solo performance, rock flute with dense arrangement, tribal style, or sparse arrangement for a spoken word book on tape? I suppose it could go a bunch of different ways towards many different results.

Context should play a large role in how you record this instrument/performance.

[Jacob]

THanks for the suggestions guys. I still haven't got a chance to record it yet, as you can probably gather by the fact he plays the shakuhachi, he's a damn free spirited flakey hippie :D Unfortunately I don't yet have any omni mics (I really need to get some) The context would be solo recording just for the experience, but may also work it into some progressive hiphop if we get a cool sound.

[Mixwell]

THanks for the suggestions guys. I still haven't got a chance to record it yet, as you can probably gather by the fact he plays the shakuhachi, he's a damn free spirited flakey hippie :D Unfortunately I don't yet have any omni mics (I really need to get some) The context would be solo recording just for the experience, but may also work it into some progressive hiphop if we get a cool sound.

If its just solo work, I do like stereo placements, [X/Y, BLUMLEIN, ORTF M/S, NOS, "new old stock"] but this seems laid back enough to experiment and try different things with simple set ups. I think one microphone [whatever you have] will be cool as hell for sampling, looping clever performances. But using different stereo placements dependent on the goal at hand [measure/degree of ambient to direct sound] will help define the recording and performance to far greater effect. Microphone position is THE MOST CRUCIAL DECIDER IN RESPONSE, probably above any and all equipment character and response.

[Scodiddly]

Guess I'm a little late... but I do play shakuhachi and I've recorded it.

Ended up using an old ribbon (Shure 333) by one of my ears. Every condensor I tried gave a very bright, harsh sound to the breathiness. Being in front of the instrument was pretty annoying, too. So a dynamic of some sort should work reasonably well. If it's a solo instrument then maybe a stereo pair from a distance would work too.

[Mixwell]

Guess I'm a little late... but I do play shakuhachi and I've recorded it.

Ended up using an old ribbon (Shure 333) by one of my ears. Every condensor I tried gave a very bright, harsh sound to the breathiness. Being in front of the instrument was pretty annoying, too. So a dynamic of some sort should work reasonably well. If it's a solo instrument then maybe a stereo pair from a distance would work too.

Welcome to MTM Scodiddly!