Recording Alto Sax

I've posted this because there seems to be a shortage of visual demonstrations on how to record a sax in a (home) studio environment. This is Kirk Whalum's version of the beautiful song 'For You'. I don't play tenor sax so I did it on alto.I use a RME fireface 400 interface. Mics (studio projects C1 and behringer B1 -both very cheap)- straight into that using the internal preamps. You have to play around with the phasing of the mics. I use Sonar x1 as my DAW (recording software), it has an ap called channel tools. I'm pushing the further mic forward by 31 samples or 0.70 sec. Both mic channels sent to 1 bus where there's some gentle compression (waves RVox set at -4.2) very little eq. That bus is sent to a plate reverb on another bus. hope this helps?! Enjoy
update:
sax setup?
I'm playing a Yamaha custom ex (also have a selmer super action80 series2) - mouthpiece is an Oleg 7 - Fibracell reeds 2.5 -I'm Also using an oleg ligature...

why 2 mics?
My 'room' sucks bad... so I'm trying to record as little room as possible. If I had a quiet environment (proper sound proofed room) it would be a different story. For this case it's purely about trying to record a blend of what comes from the bell and what comes from that side of the sax... On another day it will sound a bit different I must confess...(close though)
Please read the comments, I have answered a lot of the questions there...
thanks

Category:

Music

Tags:

• sax
• microphone
• studio projects C1
• jazz
• smooth
• Brendan
• Ross
• Alto
• mic
• technique
• recording
• saxophone
• RME
• Fireface
• Yamaha

[lilbleezy777]

do you prefer the fibracell reeds over real ones?

[MrBrannas]

@lilbleezy777 Yeah, It gets extremely hot and dry here. I find when I put, say, my alto down to play the soprano for a while, my alto reed will warp - making it unplayable- for a while at least. Not the case with fibracell... they are pricey though and the are not as consistent as one might expect..... as in.. I'll buy 5 and maybe 2 are great and are the correct strength - BUT, for me a great fibracell will last much longer than a cane reed....

[kewlfroy2]

I'm unclear as to why you use 2 mics; 1) Close Range + 2) one away. What's your setup (sax/mouthpiece/reed_size_bran­d). I really like your sound man.

[MrBrannas]

@kewlfroy2 hey man, I'm playing a Yamaha custom ex (also have a selmer super action80 series2) - mouthpiece is an Oleg 7 - Fibracell reeds 2.5

[egormusic]

Very nice tone,man!!

[MrBrannas]

@egormusic -thank you!

[mulletchuck]

pretty interesting, dude. have you looked at some DIY room treatment options? I just treated my room, and it makes it so much easier to record. I posted a couple vids a few months ago before my room was treated, and you can hear the room's effect on the nicer mics i used in a mic shootout. but now, post treatment, the room sound is gone! DIY room treatment is super cheap, too! just pick the right locations for absorption...

[7robig]

how can i get/download the background music you use? can you point me in the right direction please?

[Jayzee1997]

what mouthpiece and sax are you using?

[brandonwrightmusic]

sex

[porge97]

how quitely are you playing because it sounds very good, i have sonar x1 can you tell me every effect you use and how much of it.

thanks. George

[chriscook212]

How did you create the backing track you have used in this video?

[jamaicanballer]

Do you have the mics connected to the computer/video recording device through the interface. I am curious on how you recorded yourself and still got a good sound. Also how close is the sound from the mics to your actual sound (I play sax as well so I would like to find something that allows me to here what the audience would hear)?

[papotecolon]

@MrBrannas I'm also a fan of fibracell reeds, I got mine from saxplus.com around $12 each, I'm completly agree with you that maybe 3 or 2 out of 5 are great and last longer than any other ready for play right out of the box, but is a shame that not everyone of them are good considering the price...but that the thing we do for a good setup. I'm playing my medium soft or medium with a Dukoff D7, now looking foward for a beechler metal bellite #7 and La Voz reeds. Let see how it goes.

[iamandrebarton]

Very nice job!!! can you tell us what the 2 mics are ? model number please. Im a sax player as well, and Kirk is on of my favs and you have nailed the tone and feeling!!! Well Done!!!

[DIEGUITO239]

beautiful sound! Can tell me which equalizer mode do you use?