Recording set up...

[MrMagoo]

What is the best type of microphone to use in recording one accordion player ?

And how far away from the accordion do you place that microphone ?

And can i post audio (mp3) files at this forum of some of my accordion recordings when i finally get setup to record based on the information i get about microphone and microphone placement ?

 

[fjsys]

Cannot really say on external mic placement. Most of the time i use the internal mic on my ipad for recording. When playing out the internal pickups through a mixing board works well.
As to placement, that is something you have to play with. I find it different for every accordion and every song. Depending on if the trebble or bass is what is needed in the song.

For mp3 i am using soundcloud and just posting links on this site.
Ben

 

[MrMagoo]

Ben[/color],

Thanks. I have a soundcloud account with a few of my compositions on there already albeit no accordion music , yet.

 

[Matt Butcher]

What name is your soundcloud account under? The Mr Magoo I found doesn't seem like he would be you, though apologies if I am wrong .

 

[MrMagoo]

<COLOR color=#0000FF>Matt Butcher,

Thank you for asking. You should be able to go there with this url ( ifi did this copy/paste url correctly ) .

I have not updated that site in several years mainly because i cant afford the fee for the pro account therefore many of my composing/arrangement efforts are scattered around the internet at freebe cloud sites. Or i upload my efforts at forums. Also i dont feel my efforts are all that great to share or rather i should say bore other musicians.

:ch

 

[smdc66]

Matt Butcher[/b],

Also i dont feel my efforts are all that great to share or rather i should say bore other musicians.

:ch[/quote]


id like to hear more

 

[Glenn]

Nice.
An eclectic introduction into your musical world MrMagoo.
You certainly have a nice collection of sound sources.
Which ones are in your current setup?

 

[MrMagoo]

id like to hear more

Thanks for asking:

Visit however they are not accordion recordings they are orchestral compositions.

 

[MrMagoo]

Which ones are in your current setup?

My scoring software are the current versions of Mac Sibelius and Mac Finale. Sibelius 7 sounds sample library has more than 38 GB of professional-quality sounds covering every instrument family—from a complete symphony orchestra to specialist sounds like handbells and a 27-stop church organ.

I also have the Garritan orchestral and Miroslav Philharmonik sound libraries.

My midi input is by using a Yamaha real time arranger keyboard.

 

[debra]

Microvox (microvox.co.uk) makes excellent accordion microphones. They come with velcro strips to attach the strip with (4) microphones on the keyboard side and there is a single mike attached with velcro to the base side. I use them differently: I made an aluminum bracket to keep the microphones about one inch away from the righthand side cover.
Distance of mike to instrument is constant which yields consistent results. Sound quality is excellent.

 

[dm]

I realise this is reviving a year-old thread, but in case debra or anyone else from this discussion sees this: can you tell us a bit more about Microvox microphones? It's not totally clear to me how they connect to the accordion grill. Do you stick on velcro stickers that then connect to the mic, or could you tie a velcro strap around the whole accordion, so that it's fully removable? I don't like the idea of sticking on anything semi-permanent to the grill, but if that's not necessary, this could be a good system... Thanks!
David

 

[Nuuksu]

I prefer professional microphones, these accordion ones dont sound actually very good. Accordion ones are lightweight and very easy to use but I prefer studio mics like this http://www.thomann.de/de/the_tbone_sct700_roehrenmikrofon.htm

Youtube sound quality isnt very good but I have one recording -

 

[JonathanC]

I dont like the idea of sticking on anything semi-permanent to the grill, but if thats not necessary, this could be a good system... Thanks!
David

The velocro strips didnt stick too well to my grill as the there wasnt enough metal for the sticky bit to take too, so I sewed the velcro on with strong thread through the grill. Seems to work well and has the advantage of being removeable too!

 

[dm]

I dont like the idea of sticking on anything semi-permanent to the grill, but if thats not necessary, this could be a good system... Thanks!
David

The velocro strips didnt stick too well to my grill as the there wasnt enough metal for the sticky bit to take too, so I sewed the velcro on with strong thread through the grill. Seems to work well and has the advantage of being removeable too![/quote]

Interesting. Im wondering if it might not be possible to wrap a giant velcro strap around the entire accordion, and attach the Microvox mics that way. Or perhaps tying them on with two long leather strings. Or is that insane? Accordions are expensive, it seems crazy to stick on velcro pads--there must be another way...

 

[BobM]

Myers Pickups are doing some Accordion friendly Mics. Don't know why they call them pickups, 'cos they ain't..

 

[debra]

I actually do not use the intended velcro setup with the Microvox microphones (on the treble side). What I do is use an aluminum bar in a U shape and two holes and I fix that to the accordion using the two screw for the treble side cover.
Here is a picture of this setup (not me, but made and mounted by me). Its a large image so you can see it clearly. The Microvox microphone (model 420) is attached to the bar using velcro). This setup creates a bit of extra distance between instrument and microphone which gives a more even spread of the sound. I use this setup also for my basson accordion for the most natural amplified sound.
left>

 

[dm]

I actually do not use the intended velcro setup with the Microvox microphones (on the treble side). What I do is use an aluminum bar in a U shape and two holes and I fix that to the accordion using the two screw for the treble side cover.
Here is a picture of this setup (not me, but made and mounted by me). Its a large image so you can see it clearly. The Microvox microphone (model 420) is attached to the bar using velcro). This setup creates a bit of extra distance between instrument and microphone which gives a more even spread of the sound. I use this setup also for my basson accordion for the most natural amplified sound.

Thats very clever, debra. I dont suppose theres any commercial version of this available? Maybe Ill try to make something similar that snaps onto the buttons that connect to the strap that holds the bellows closed.

 

[debra]

My setup is remarkably simple. I use a simple aluminum strip that is available in every hardware store in a 1m length which is more than enough. (shorten to desired length and round the ends a bit to avoid scratching. I wrapped the entire strip in black electricians tape and then tape the "soft" side of an adhesive velcro strip to the strip and the "hard" side of the strip on the microphone bar's back side. Then two 3mm holes and you are all set. It works very well on every accordion that has the screws to hold the cover on. (A Hohner Morino N series accordion does not have these screws but the Hohner Morino S series does and almost every modern accordion does too. I guess it could work with the buttons that connect to the strap that holds the bellows closed. There are many different versions of that, some of which will work and some which won't.