Microphones For Recording A String Quartet, Any ideas? Options

[hutch263]

I have only recorded classical chamber groups in the past, in warm acoustic rooms with a stereo pair of cheap condensor mics: I am wanting to get a set of mics that I will be able to use with a range of acoustic instruments (strings, wind & brass), but firstly to individually mic a string quartet.

Any suggestions at all? Ideally, I would like to keep my budget under £600 (eBay if necessary!!) for 4.

Cheers

John

[TKO]

I have only recorded classical chamber groups in the past, in warm acoustic rooms with a stereo pair of cheap condensor mics: I am wanting to get a set of mics that I will be able to use with a range of acoustic instruments (strings, wind & brass), but firstly to individually mic a string quartet.

Any suggestions at all? Ideally, I would like to keep my budget under £600 (eBay if necessary!!) for 4.

Cheers

John

I can wholeheartedly recommend Rode NT5´s, especially for the price. The bleed sound is not as crisp as, say, KM184 but as you´re going to semi-close mic the quartet it´s not going to be a problem. Get them as matched pairs, you can buy room mics on your budget as well ! You should also check the new models from DPA, the 4090 series, they are very good microphones and while I´m at it the miniature DPAs are also worth trying.