Good talk, Michael! You've probably mentioned it before in your other videos but I want to remind folks that the instruments being recorded, the surrounding acoustic environment, mic placement, and especially how the instruments are being played are all just as important and typically more important than the mic, preamp, and recording interface/device used so . . . if you aren't happy with your recordings don't just throw money at the problem, do some research and/or get some expert advice on getting the most out of the gear you do have, experiment, and practice. 😎👍
UA-cam & Google are your friends. There are a LOT of great resources for 'How to Record' info out there. The one caveat is, 99% of them are aimed a how to record pop and rock music. This is a totally different thing than recording acoustic gongs, bowls, etc, but much of the techniques and ideas are the same. Good resources are 'How to Record Stings,' or other sort of orchestral instruments. Even 'How to Record Acoustic Guitar' can help. Look for any and all resources on recording acoustic instruments without any effects. Then jump in and start recording. That's what I did.
What a great series, thank Michael. For a home recording 1st setup, for singing bowls and gongs, would your first recommendation to start with 2 large diaphragm mics or 2 small diaphragm "pencil" mics (each mic being about $100-120 each)? Thanks.
I would (and did) start with 2 SDC 'pencil' mics in a cardioid pattern.They can be more versatile in a lot of ways (close up, far away, different stereo pair set ups). I later added LDC mics when I had a better understanding of what I was doing and also what I wanted to do. These were multi-pattern mics that I use for specific things here in the studio. I rarely bring them out, preferring the SDC mics for location and field recording.
This is a marvelous channel to discover as I am about to begin recording Gongs and a set of Crystal bowls. Thank you for your time and insight! Would you recommend SE8 Omni or SE8 Cardioid pair? I am recording a 32” Chau Gong and a 8”-14” set of 7 Crystal bowls. Thanks!
I almost always use cardioid, as it's focused towards the sounds in front of the mic, and doesn't pick up sounds behind the mic. Omni works well in a big room where you want the room sound.
@@Gongtopia thank you for your response! I watched your video on mic placement and I wanted to know if the pair of SE8s would be enough capture the Gong and the Bowls in tandem. Using them like Overhead mics for the bowls but facing the Gong to capture them as well.
Question -- You touched on USB mics at the end and then talked about using recorders like the Zoom with plug-in mics. Can you use a mixture of USB and traditionally-connected mics together? I have a Rode NT-USB mic and it comes with a 6m USB cable in the box. I would love a video on using either just the USB-format mics -- without pre-amp, I assume -- and/or a video talking about how to integrate USB and traditionally-connected mics in a recording setup. Another question: Can the Zoom handhelds be connected to regular mic stands? Thanks again!
"Can you use a mixture of USB and traditionally-connected mics together?" I don't have any USB mics, so I can't test that out. I would think it all depends on 2 factors: 1) Enough free inputs to plug both a USB mic and an interface into your computer, and 2) Whether your audio software will recognize each as an input. "Can the Zoom handhelds be connected to regular mic stands?" Yes they can (ZOOM, TASCAM, etc) and I do that all the time. All digital recorders have a ¼" thread mount on the bottom. This is a standard camera size mount, so you can put it on a camera tripod or similar. But you need an adaptor of some type for a mic stand. I usually use the ZOOM MA-2 ($7.99USD), which screws into the bottom and fits into a standard mic clip on a stand: zoomcorp.com/en/us/accessories/mounts-stands-and-brackets/MA-2/ This also makes a great handle for field recording. For more versatility, you can get a mount with a ball joint for varied positioning, like the On-Stage Stands CM01 ($14.95USD): www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CameraAdapt--on-stage-stands-cm01-video-camera-digital-recorder-adapter?mrkgadid=3303549066&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=gpla&mrkgbflag=0&mrkgcat=studio&recording&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=92700046938539752&lid=92700046938539752&ds_s_kwgid=58700005285191523&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000007215323&dsproductgroupid=477218967321&product_id=CameraAdapt&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=9018839&creative=285689015184&targetid=pla-477218967321&campaignid=1465808290&awsearchcpc=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjJOQBhCkARIsAEKMtO2eEJB4UIb9RObRZR15lkS5sQEDJlalVO95zwwmm_yoRfiw2rTi7DMaAtw-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Hey Michael thanks for this! It is a great helpful guide to get started. I have a question re: your piece State Of Being; how do you get the mics set up to record the softer articulations yet not clip during the louder gong buildups and washes?
This is an interesting question, as my methods have kept evolving. ‘State of Being’ was a live recording from June 2021 done on my ZOOM H6 in a familiar room. I can’t remember exactly how it was recorded: just using the H6 XY mics, or also using an external pair. And I couldn’t find the Logic Pro mix/edit session (I might have not saved it). But here are 2 ways I record and edit, especially live recordings:
Would love some tips on on mic setups for live playing on Zoom. I struggle with the volume, people mostly say it is either too quiet or too loud, even though I tested it out with my wife before hand in another part of the house on her phone.
ZOOM is a tricky beast, as it was never designed for music. Then the lockdown came and everybody in the world started using it for any sort of video get together. With ZOOM the mic set up isn't as important as having some sort of controllable hardware or software mixer between the mics and ZOOM. Maybe I'll put together a short video on my ZOOM set up.
@@Gongtopia Our 2 cents : last year we got into online gong baths on Zoom because of you-know-what - bought 2 x sennheiser cardioid bass mics to plug into the Zoom8 and our planet gongs just overwhelmed them completely but with just the XY on the H8 were just about perfect. Brilliant recordings and great for the audience on Zoom. Then tried all the same set up a few weeks ago and a complete washout - way too much resonance over zoom. Tried twice now and a complete fail after 4/5 really good events. Did Zoom (online vid) tweak anything on their end do you think? Or is there something on the H8 to look at? (bit of a sound engineering newb).Many thanks, Phil.
Can I possibly mic seven singing bowls with one high end dynamic mic (Shure 58)..I can't afford seven mics and a big interface. Thanks. I'm looking at a Soundcraft notepad 12fx which is both a mixing board and interface with a 4x4 usb port for recording.
First, you wouldn't want or need 7 mics. That would be overkill. Second, yes, you can use 1 SM58 to record the whole set of bowls and get a fairly decent recording, but it will be mono. But if all you have is the SM58 and no budget to buy anything else, it will work. I've done a lot of recording with similar mics and got good results. If you add a 2nd SM58 then you can have stereo. Third, for better results, and stereo, I would invest in a pair of SDC mics (small diaphragm condenser). This is what I use for my newer videos and you can hear the results. You can start off with a pair for a bit over $200 and go up from there (I started out with a $200 pair and bought better mics as I went along). The Soundcraft notepad 12fx should work out well.
@@Gongtopia would a Shure 57 be a better option for recording bowls? I've heard they need to be within 30 cm or up close to record which may present limits in recording seven bowls. Perhaps the Shure 58 would be better all round. Thanks for any thoughts.
This dropped just as I was about to record a gong bath session.... Wonderful timing! Thank you as always.
As always thank you Very much
You answered a bunch of my questions
I'm glad that I could help.
Good talk, Michael! You've probably mentioned it before in your other videos but I want to remind folks that the instruments being recorded, the surrounding acoustic environment, mic placement, and especially how the instruments are being played are all just as important and typically more important than the mic, preamp, and recording interface/device used so . . . if you aren't happy with your recordings don't just throw money at the problem, do some research and/or get some expert advice on getting the most out of the gear you do have, experiment, and practice. 😎👍
UA-cam & Google are your friends. There are a LOT of great resources for 'How to Record' info out there. The one caveat is, 99% of them are aimed a how to record pop and rock music. This is a totally different thing than recording acoustic gongs, bowls, etc, but much of the techniques and ideas are the same. Good resources are 'How to Record Stings,' or other sort of orchestral instruments. Even 'How to Record Acoustic Guitar' can help. Look for any and all resources on recording acoustic instruments without any effects. Then jump in and start recording. That's what I did.
What a great series, thank Michael. For a home recording 1st setup, for singing bowls and gongs, would your first recommendation to start with 2 large diaphragm mics or 2 small diaphragm "pencil" mics (each mic being about $100-120 each)? Thanks.
I would (and did) start with 2 SDC 'pencil' mics in a cardioid pattern.They can be more versatile in a lot of ways (close up, far away, different stereo pair set ups). I later added LDC mics when I had a better understanding of what I was doing and also what I wanted to do. These were multi-pattern mics that I use for specific things here in the studio. I rarely bring them out, preferring the SDC mics for location and field recording.
This is a marvelous channel to discover as I am about to begin recording Gongs and a set of Crystal bowls. Thank you for your time and insight!
Would you recommend SE8 Omni or SE8 Cardioid pair? I am recording a 32” Chau Gong and a 8”-14” set of 7 Crystal bowls.
Thanks!
I almost always use cardioid, as it's focused towards the sounds in front of the mic, and doesn't pick up sounds behind the mic. Omni works well in a big room where you want the room sound.
@@Gongtopia thank you for your response!
I watched your video on mic placement and I wanted to know if the pair of SE8s would be enough capture the Gong and the Bowls in tandem. Using them like Overhead mics for the bowls but facing the Gong to capture them as well.
Question -- You touched on USB mics at the end and then talked about using recorders like the Zoom with plug-in mics. Can you use a mixture of USB and traditionally-connected mics together?
I have a Rode NT-USB mic and it comes with a 6m USB cable in the box.
I would love a video on using either just the USB-format mics -- without pre-amp, I assume -- and/or a video talking about how to integrate USB and traditionally-connected mics in a recording setup.
Another question: Can the Zoom handhelds be connected to regular mic stands?
Thanks again!
"Can you use a mixture of USB and traditionally-connected mics together?"
I don't have any USB mics, so I can't test that out. I would think it all depends on 2 factors: 1) Enough free inputs to plug both a USB mic and an interface into your computer, and 2) Whether your audio software will recognize each as an input.
"Can the Zoom handhelds be connected to regular mic stands?"
Yes they can (ZOOM, TASCAM, etc) and I do that all the time. All digital recorders have a ¼" thread mount on the bottom. This is a standard camera size mount, so you can put it on a camera tripod or similar. But you need an adaptor of some type for a mic stand. I usually use the ZOOM MA-2 ($7.99USD), which screws into the bottom and fits into a standard mic clip on a stand: zoomcorp.com/en/us/accessories/mounts-stands-and-brackets/MA-2/ This also makes a great handle for field recording.
For more versatility, you can get a mount with a ball joint for varied positioning, like the On-Stage Stands CM01 ($14.95USD): www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CameraAdapt--on-stage-stands-cm01-video-camera-digital-recorder-adapter?mrkgadid=3303549066&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=gpla&mrkgbflag=0&mrkgcat=studio&recording&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=92700046938539752&lid=92700046938539752&ds_s_kwgid=58700005285191523&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000007215323&dsproductgroupid=477218967321&product_id=CameraAdapt&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=9018839&creative=285689015184&targetid=pla-477218967321&campaignid=1465808290&awsearchcpc=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAjJOQBhCkARIsAEKMtO2eEJB4UIb9RObRZR15lkS5sQEDJlalVO95zwwmm_yoRfiw2rTi7DMaAtw-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Hey Michael thanks for this! It is a great helpful guide to get started. I have a question re: your piece State Of Being; how do you get the mics set up to record the softer articulations yet not clip during the louder gong buildups and washes?
This is an interesting question, as my methods have kept evolving. ‘State of Being’ was a live recording from June 2021 done on my ZOOM H6 in a familiar room. I can’t remember exactly how it was recorded: just using the H6 XY mics, or also using an external pair. And I couldn’t find the Logic Pro mix/edit session (I might have not saved it). But here are 2 ways I record and edit, especially live recordings:
Would love some tips on on mic setups for live playing on Zoom. I struggle with the volume, people mostly say it is either too quiet or too loud, even though I tested it out with my wife before hand in another part of the house on her phone.
ZOOM is a tricky beast, as it was never designed for music. Then the lockdown came and everybody in the world started using it for any sort of video get together. With ZOOM the mic set up isn't as important as having some sort of controllable hardware or software mixer between the mics and ZOOM. Maybe I'll put together a short video on my ZOOM set up.
@@Gongtopia Our 2 cents : last year we got into online gong baths on Zoom because of you-know-what - bought 2 x sennheiser cardioid bass mics to plug into the Zoom8 and our planet gongs just overwhelmed them completely but with just the XY on the H8 were just about perfect. Brilliant recordings and great for the audience on Zoom. Then tried all the same set up a few weeks ago and a complete washout - way too much resonance over zoom. Tried twice now and a complete fail after 4/5 really good events. Did Zoom (online vid) tweak anything on their end do you think? Or is there something on the H8 to look at? (bit of a sound engineering newb).Many thanks, Phil.
Can I possibly mic seven singing bowls with one high end dynamic mic (Shure 58)..I can't afford seven mics and a big interface. Thanks. I'm looking at a Soundcraft notepad 12fx which is both a mixing board and interface with a 4x4 usb port for recording.
First, you wouldn't want or need 7 mics. That would be overkill.
Second, yes, you can use 1 SM58 to record the whole set of bowls and get a fairly decent recording, but it will be mono. But if all you have is the SM58 and no budget to buy anything else, it will work. I've done a lot of recording with similar mics and got good results. If you add a 2nd SM58 then you can have stereo.
Third, for better results, and stereo, I would invest in a pair of SDC mics (small diaphragm condenser). This is what I use for my newer videos and you can hear the results. You can start off with a pair for a bit over $200 and go up from there (I started out with a $200 pair and bought better mics as I went along). The Soundcraft notepad 12fx should work out well.
@@Gongtopia would a Shure 57 be a better option for recording bowls? I've heard they need to be within 30 cm or up close to record which may present limits in recording seven bowls. Perhaps the Shure 58 would be better all round. Thanks for any thoughts.