User guide

the rest of the kit. Many times an overhead SF-24 is all that is

needed for tom-toms and cymbals.

For a single point stereo room mic, position the SF-24

vertically at four to eight feet in front of the kit. Compress to

taste for either a very natural drum sound (light compression)

or large rock drum sound (heavy compression).

For jazz recordings, EQ is generally not required. For more

aggressive drum tracks where cymbals need to sizzle, you can

brighten them by adding a few dB of 10 K to 12 K.

Brass

Brass records beautifully with ribbon microphones. For an

overall picture of a brass section within a larger recording

session, try placing the microphone two to three feet above the instrumentalists and angled down,

at a distance of three to eight feet from the section. For a solo brass section, position the SF-24

vertically at a height of four to eight feet and anywhere from ﬁve to 20 or more feet from the

section.

Close miking brass is a job for the Royer R-121 or R-122 - we do not recommend close-miking

with the SF-24.

Reed Instruments

Normal working distances are about a foot or two from a solo reed instrument. For multiple

instruments, try placing the microphone slightly above the instrumentalists and angled down, at a

distance of two to four feet.

Piano

There are several positions that will give excellent results with the piano. Start with a distance of

one foot to several feet from the knee of the piano. A more direct “up front” sound will be

achieved when the microphone is placed closer to the soundboard. If it is possible to remove the

piano lid, an SF-24 suspended horizontally over the soundboard will give outstanding results. If

the room sounds good, try positioning the mic 10 to 20 feet from the piano.

If you position the SF-24 somewhere between the soundboard and the open lid of the piano,

there will be some amount of reﬂected sound from the lid. Careful positioning can minimize or

accent lid reﬂections, depending on what sound you’re striving for.

Choir and Orchestra

An SF-24 can produce dramatically good recordings of an orchestra or choir. If possible, position

the SF-24 at a height of ten feet or so and a few feet behind the conductor. The wide stereo

pickup will reproduce the orchestra or choir with a stunning you-are-there realism. The rear lobes

of the ﬁgure-8 elements bring the ambient qualities of the recording environment into the

recording, adding to the natural feel of the recorded performance.

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