Strange Recording

[Saxlicker]

All in a bit of a rush, I find myself in a studio without much time to discuss the recording tecnique with the engineers who appear very proficient by what is already laid down.

Suddenly I'm in there with the bell of my Tenor about 4 inches from a pair of royer mics. Slightly offset as they don't stand air pressure.

I have never recorded this way before and although no mixing and EQ'ing has been done, I am disappointed with the sound.
I was blowing hard 'as requested' heading for strained and this is obvious . Yet the overall sound is like its heard from behind a closed door.
Any suggestions?
I can go back on Thursday and talk about it during the mixing down. I doubt I'll get the chance to play it again.

 

[Pete Thomas]

A pair of Royers could well be ribbon mics, which pick up from behind as well as in front. If the room itself doesn't have a good sound, then unfortunately they will be picking up some unwanted ambience. However 4 inches is quite close so I would have thought this isn't too much of an issue.

I do sometimes use a stereo pair of mics on a saxophone, but from further away and my aim in that case is definitely to record some room ambience, so I'm very careful that the recording goes down as I like it, as the ambience cannot be removed in the mix.

They will of course be able to EQ a bit for a less muffled sound I would think, but if it has some dodgy ambience, that is probably going to stay I'm afraid.