[SimonJazzSax]

First of all, I certainly hope everyone is ok or managing to do as well as possible in this unique time. Being a social person, it's been strange for me but helpful in many ways to be isolated a lot more than normal. It helped push me to do this project, setting up my own personal recording studio in my music room. I'll keep this as brief as possible, but feel free to chime in with recording / eq / reverb / nerding out info!

1) 1939 Selmer Balanced Action Tenor, 275xx - bought it about 6 months ago, just finished getting rebuilt and I've been playing it for a couple of weeks. LOVING it. Much different from my Mark VI, which I still love as well. The BA is a re-lacquer and has a tea kettle octave pip neck. Using a transitional Double Ring Link with a WT facing that is stamped on the table.

2) The recording rig and setup - This aspect is all completely new to me and I'm learning, but let me tell you, I now know why recording engineers are nuts I have a Neumann TLM 193 going to an Antelope Audio Discreet 4 (thunderbolt connection) to a MacBook pro running logic. I have treated as much of the room around me as possible and I'm using the sE Space reflexion shield as well. After 10's of hours of mic placement, different treatment options and a lot of cussing, I got this recording. It's dry with only a touch of EQ. Trying to learn about tasteful reverb and other effects to make it sound natural and in a room. Chime in if you have thoughts or ideas!

https://soundcloud.com/simonjazzsax%2Fno-name-melody-dry-track

 

[J-Moen]

Huge sound you've got here! Love this unnamed melody you made, definitely a lot of fun and a great recording.

I'm in the same boat as you, and am currently trying to extend my knowledge on tasteful effects possible from a recording, especially how to add reverb in a less intrusive way. I have done a few takes. I recommend Pete Thomas as a great resource for you - see Pete's conversation here: https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?371598-Mixing-tips-after-dry-recording . Although in my opinion, you sound phenomenal on this setup and don't need much if any effects to make a fantastic recording.

I am also working to treat and somewhat soundproof my recording room well. So far, I've set up some acoustic foam that fell off (waiting on adhesive spray, 3m strips aren't holding), some layering on the walls (cardboard and thicker acoustic panels with hard backings) , and some mass layered vinyl which I'm waiting on shipment of to put on the floor. Very excited to get this setup, and hoping to really put to work some recording effects very soon. Best of luck to your journey.

 

[Lambros]

Very nice Simon! Very Rollinesque I think. It sounds like you wanted no room ambience and just a hint of decay; very nice sound, detailed too. We added a bit more to the baroque flute thread when you have a chance. The Vivaldi concertos are a favorite of mine in particular. Take care and be well.

 

[milandro]

great sound nice horn

 

[SimonJazzSax]

Very nice Simon! Very Rollinesque I think. It sounds like you wanted no room ambience and just a hint of decay; very nice sound, detailed too. We added a bit more to the baroque flute thread when you have a chance. The Vivaldi concertos are a favorite of mine in particular. Take care and be well.

Thanks! Yes, Rollins is my dude. Always has been Nice that you can hear the influence. Makes me smile. I did revise the flute thread! Turned into a good thread

 

[mrpeebee]

Very nice and warm sound Simon, great recording quality too.

What is the exact tip size of the WT facing (close to a 6 if I remember well, with a shorter curve compared to a normal Link curve)?

 

[motteatoj]

Nice sound!
I struggle with mic and room placement in my music room and have not finished cussing enough to sit and sort it out.
Turns out the spot my chair and set up is in is quite possibly the worst spot in the room (which is also my home office, and I like my PC nearby while playing for obvious reasons).
I also decided to decorate the room with framed album covers that cover all the walls, every inch, so sound conditioning has taken a back seat to recording, something to sort out through other means I guess.
You are inspiring me though to suck it up and figure it out!

 

[SimonJazzSax]

Very nice and warm sound Simon, great recording quality too.

What is the exact tip size of the WT facing (close to a 6 if I remember well, with a shorter curve compared to a normal Link curve)?

Hey MrPeeBee! I have 2 WT Double Rings, one is a FL Double Ring (.087) and the other is this transitional NY (.089). Yes they have a shorter curve on them ... mine both break around 45 which is a 22.5mm facing length. I use Rigotti 2.5 Mediums on both pieces and they play really well with that lighter strength. I like the NY (transitional) on the BA and the FL on my MK VI. I'll have to do a shootout between my horns one day soon! Gotta get the VI fixed up to play as well as the BA first. I hope you are well!

 

[Lambros]

Thanks! Yes, Rollins is my dude. Always has been Nice that you can hear the influence. Makes me smile. I did revise the flute thread! Turned into a good thread

It was a pleasure to hear you, Simon! What did you think of the Vivaldi? Stephen Preston is quite a master on the baroque traverso flute I think.

 

[SimonJazzSax]

Nice sound!
I struggle with mic and room placement in my music room and have not finished cussing enough to sit and sort it out.
Turns out the spot my chair and set up is in is quite possibly the worst spot in the room (which is also my home office, and I like my PC nearby while playing for obvious reasons).
I also decided to decorate the room with framed album covers that cover all the walls, every inch, so sound conditioning has taken a back seat to recording, something to sort out through other means I guess.
You are inspiring me though to suck it up and figure it out!

I have found out that mic placement and room are the BIGGEST factors in your recording. It's crazy how both of these can completely make or break the recording quality.

To treat your area you'll have to spend some money unfortunately, but it's worth it ultimately if you want to get a good recording. There are some cool products out there and companies that can help you do this. I recommend GIK Acoustics for my sound treatment stuff. I used them before I got into recording for high end audio stuff and they are very knowledgable. Something like the GIK portable vocal booth is INCREDIBLE! You could start with one and expand to 2 or so. Mic placement can be more experimentation, but so far, I've found that my sax sounds best when I aim my mic slightly down in between the left hand stack and the bell and stand about 1.5 feet away. Setting the gain to get a good signal is the only thing left to make sure you are good.

The one heads up I have is that I have been in tons of recording studios and worked with tons of audio engineers over the years of being a professional musician. Doing all those studio sessions has paid off in some ways, but it's made me wish I picked those guys brains a lot more as well! Hindsight is 20/20

Get back into it

 

[10mfan]

ALWAYS a pleasure hearing you, my friend!
Thank you for posting this Simon, and I hope you and your family are staying safe.

All the best, Mark

 

[rzzzzz]

"Hello....Neumann!" Nice performance. Great sounding sax. (makes me think about the need to pay the piper for a really good mic.)

 

[mrpeebee]

Hey MrPeeBee! I have 2 WT Double Rings, one is a FL Double Ring (.087) and the other is this transitional NY (.089). Yes they have a shorter curve on them ... mine both break around 45 which is a 22.5mm facing length. I use Rigotti 2.5 Mediums on both pieces and they play really well with that lighter strength. I like the NY (transitional) on the BA and the FL on my MK VI. I'll have to do a shootout between my horns one day soon! Gotta get the VI fixed up to play as well as the BA first. I hope you are well!

Thanks for the details Simon, you sound terrific on that setting.

With me things are fine, except that my old died last week at age 94 (no Corona). So very busy to arrange all things. Hope you're well too.

 

[Humbardi]

Nice tone and good recording ... thanks for sharing with us

 

[Alex Nyman]

First of all, I certainly hope everyone is ok or managing to do as well as possible in this unique time. Being a social person, it's been strange for me but helpful in many ways to be isolated a lot more than normal. It helped push me to do this project, setting up my own personal recording studio in my music room. I'll keep this as brief as possible, but feel free to chime in with recording / eq / reverb / nerding out info!

1) 1939 Selmer Balanced Action Tenor, 275xx - bought it about 6 months ago, just finished getting rebuilt and I've been playing it for a couple of weeks. LOVING it. Much different from my Mark VI, which I still love as well. The BA is a re-lacquer and has a tea kettle octave pip neck. Using a transitional Double Ring Link with a WT facing that is stamped on the table.

2) The recording rig and setup - This aspect is all completely new to me and I'm learning, but let me tell you, I now know why recording engineers are nuts I have a Neumann TLM 193 going to an Antelope Audio Discreet 4 (thunderbolt connection) to a MacBook pro running logic. I have treated as much of the room around me as possible and I'm using the sE Space reflexion shield as well. After 10's of hours of mic placement, different treatment options and a lot of cussing, I got this recording. It's dry with only a touch of EQ. Trying to learn about tasteful reverb and other effects to make it sound natural and in a room. Chime in if you have thoughts or ideas!

https://soundcloud.com/simonjazzsax%2Fno-name-melody-dry-track

Great sound Simon.

So where abouts did you find the best position for the mic?