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I record my SATB saxophones, in a small-ish room, using a decent Electro Voice RE 27 N/D dynamic mic, going through a Focusrite Scarlett interface and into Audacity. The mic is slightly above the instrument bell, pointing horizontally at the LH keys and about 50-80 cm from the instrument.
On listening back to recordings, I find that higher notes on the tenor (say G2 upwards) and alto (same sort of range for written notes) sound quite harsh compared with how I hear them playing into a wall or corner.
I suppose this could be caused by the mic's characteristics, the room, the way the mic is positioned and pointed. Or it could be me and how I play when I'm feeling the pressure of recording. Or maybe the reflections from playing against a wall are flattering the sound and I really do sound harsh higher up the range.
I have tried some significant equalisation on the recordings to reduce the gain for higher frequencies, but so far that either doesn't do very much or it makes the whole thing sound muddy and muffled.
Any suggestions for what is causing this and what I can do about it ?
Rhys
On listening back to recordings, I find that higher notes on the tenor (say G2 upwards) and alto (same sort of range for written notes) sound quite harsh compared with how I hear them playing into a wall or corner.
I suppose this could be caused by the mic's characteristics, the room, the way the mic is positioned and pointed. Or it could be me and how I play when I'm feeling the pressure of recording. Or maybe the reflections from playing against a wall are flattering the sound and I really do sound harsh higher up the range.
I have tried some significant equalisation on the recordings to reduce the gain for higher frequencies, but so far that either doesn't do very much or it makes the whole thing sound muddy and muffled.
Any suggestions for what is causing this and what I can do about it ?
Rhys