Recording Techniques - Samson C01UPRO Manuel Du Propriétaire

Recording Techniques

The C01U Pro is a great microphone choice for many instrument miking situations.
Below is a brief guide on using the C01U Pro in some typical applications:
Vocals
Position the microphone directly in front of the artist so that the microphone grille
is between 6 to 24 inches away. The closer the artist moves to the microphone, the
more the bass or low response increases; this is called proximity effect. To achieve
the fullest sound, the vocalist should aim the microphone center line towards their
mouth. If p-popping (turbulent bursts of air produced when uttering consonants)
is occurring, rotate the microphone a little bit away from the artist so that sound
arrives at the microphone slightly off-center. If space allows, it is preferable to pre-
vent p-popping through the use of an external pop filter like the Samson PS01. If
recording a group of singers, ensure that they position themselves around the front
of the microphone close to one another.
Acoustic Guitar
There are a variety of ways that the C01U Pro can be used to mike an acoustic
guitar. Optimal microphone placement will depend on the type of instrument, and
what kind of sound you're looking to capture. It may be necessary to experiment
with various positions to achieve full and balanced tone. When miking a standard
steel string acoustic, it is suggested that you begin with the microphone at a dis-
tance of 6–12 inches from the sound hole, positioned slightly off-axis, and pointing
towards the edge of the fingerboard. From this position, moving the microphone
towards the sound hole will cause the mic to capture more low frequencies. If,
instead, you wish to capture more high-end, or to remove any unwanted boominess,
move the microphone toward the fingerboard. Unlike a steel string acoustic guitar,
the sound of a nylon string acoustic guitar that is played by finger picking is usually
naturally warmer. To record an even, full tone, it is suggested that you begin by
positioning the microphone 3–6 inches above the center of the bridge. This will
help emphasize the higher frequencies and pick up the attack sound of the finger
picking. If the microphone is picking up too much low frequency from the sound
hole, move the microphone so that it is slightly off-axis from the guitar. If you have
a pair of C01U Pro microphones, try one positioned at the fingerboard and the sec-
ond over the bridge of the guitar, or have one microphone positioned close to the
guitar and the second a few feet away to pick up the sound of the room, blending
the two sources together.
Piano
The grand piano is a very challenging instrument to capture, and can be miked in
a variety of ways. For close miking the piano, position the C01U Pro just inside
the piano, centered between the soundboard and the open lid. The closer you move
the microphone toward the instrument the more low frequencies the microphone
will pick up. For an ambient recording like that used in a classical performance,
position the microphone outside the piano, facing into the open lid. For a more
contemporary ensemble sound, place two C01U Pros in the piano, positioning one
over the low strings and one over the high strings at a distance of 6–12 inches
apart. When miking an upright piano with a single microphone, position the mi-
crophone just above and in front of the piano with the top open, centered over the
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