Recording Tablas

decrink wrote on 4/9/2002, 11:04 AM

Any suggestions for mike positions and choices for recording tablas? I have a session that is booked in a couple of days.

Here are my mike possibilities:
Audio Technica 4051 small con.
Beyer Dynamic M88 or M69
Rode NT1
Audix D2
Shure Pro series

Comments

stakeoutstudios wrote on 4/12/2002, 7:48 AM

Hey...

I'm v. fond of recording tablas in stereo - two overhead mic's best condensors you've got. depending on room acoustics, vary how close the mic's are. Usually a meter above spaced, and panned L + R. If the acustics are bad, or for a more poppy sound. Try close miking - C1000 or C451, panning much less extreme unless for deliberate effect.

If there are already drums in the tracks, try and find a beat that dances around the drums instead of on top of them.

If you use overhead mics close to the ceiling, the off axis frequency response can sound horrible... may sound stupid but try putting pillow's or acoustic foam on the celing directly above the back of the mic which will stop some nasty sounding reflections. Same applies to drum overhead mic's.

Of course, in nice studios with higher celings, these reflections aren't such a problem!