[LAU] OT: Microphone choice for pipe organ

[Jonathan Gazeley]

On 06/23/2010 11:26 PM, fons at kokkinizita.net wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 11:11:55PM +0200, Jörn Nettingsmeier wrote:
>
>    
>> * direct sound ok'ish but a little unpleasant in the mid range and lack
>> of "air", i.e. treble reproduction.
>>      
> Absolutely. It sounds as if everything above 5 kHz was
> cut off somehow. A higher mic position could help, but
> I've got the impression that the mics are lacking HF
> anyway.
>
>    
Yes - these are Behringer XM1800 dynamic mics, presumably for PA use. I 
shan't be using them on the organ again. (But it was worth a try!)
>
> Well, this isn't a German organ. It also needs some
> maintenance, and the registration doesn't help.
>    

This organ is in Bristol, UK and has a collection of stops typical of an 
English organ of its size - lots of flutes, hardly any reeds, hardly any 
mixtures. I think it's about a hundred years old. The console has been 
restored/updated and the pneumatic mechanism has been replaced with 
electric, but the ranks of pipes are the same.

You are correct that some maintenance is required. One or two of the 
stops are badly out of tune and are temporarily out of use. Some of the 
other stops are slightly out of tune, and still used. There are several 
air leaks (but fortunately the poor HF response of the mics has cut that 
out ;) It's just a case of money!

I personally think the registration choice is suitable in all of these 
recordings, but of course this is a matter of opinion. The organist 
playing here is an experienced professional. This church has a smaller 
organ than he is used to - he previously was the resident organist at 
Crediton[1] and has also played at cathedrals across Europe. I consider 
myself fortunate to work with someone so knowledgeable, talented and 
experienced.

I realise we are now well and truly OT :)

[1] http://www.holycrosschoir.com/theorgan.html
> I don't fully agree on the benefits of using omnis.
> A *good* cardioid will reproduce the bass as well,
> even if maybe you need to EQ a few dB. And spaced omnis
> on organs or anything that produces long sustained notes
> can be a disaster for mono compatibility, unless they are
> spaced much more than a meter. And in that case you risk
> the 'hole in the middle' or you need at least three mics.
>
>
>    

Thanks too for your advice. How important is mono compatibility, given 
that these recordings are burnt to CD as stereo, and handed out to 
people who listen to them on their stereos at home?

Cheers,
Jonathan