Microphone for Flute Recording

[Ashley_Flute]

I am looking for a good microphone to record my flute playing while keeping the flute sound in tact. any suggestions?

[kmart57]

I have recorded and my best recordings were with the studio mic above me rather than in front of me because my movement did not fluctuate as much. That is just my experience and I am a novice at flute recording.

[Chris Carr]

I believe I may have addressed this in a previous post, but I get the best results from a pair of Rode NT5 small diaphragm condenser mics in X/Y stereo. When I'm feeling too lazy to pull those out of my mic cabinet and set them up (most of the time!), I'll use the Rode NT1a large diaphragm condenser that's always on my mic stand. When I'm recording something for an album, I use a Mojave MA300 tube condenser AND the Rode NT5's and blend the two sources in the mix.

[Marsyas]

The X-Y configuration you mention is an industry standard, and I love Rode mics. They’re very quiet for the money. I do understand what you mean about the set up times, if you’re feeling lazy. To stay with stereo rather than going down the mono / mixing path, I’ve been experimenting with a mid-side rig recently. My microphones of choice are the Sennheiser MKH40 / MKH-30 combo which is very easy to setup as it’s a coincident technique, and it captures the range of the flute beautifully.

I know some folks think the mid-side combo is some form of voodoo art, but it really is quite simple, once you get used to it. There are m-s mics that would work just as well in my opinion, such as the Audio Technica BP4029, and it gets away from the hassles associated with the X-Y configuration, you mention.