Consider your budget, the best microphones for recording cellos, and the best microphone for the recording environment when selecting cello microphones. When money is no object, a combination of cardioid condensers and directional dynamic microphones is the best choice for a cello mic setup in a high-end studio to accurately record the fine properties of cello sound. The durability of less-expensive standard dynamic microphones, which deliver decent cello sound when properly placed at roughly arm’s length from the bridge of a cello, is often beneficial for lower-budget or outdoor recordings.
Although a professional studio microphone can cost more than 12 times as much as microphones used in a local performance or hobrecording studio, a budget constraint does not mean you have to settle for poor sound. When using a professional microphone and working under the supervision of a skilled sound engineer, achieving high-quality sound is usually easier. Many of the same companies that make high-end professional microphones for recording studios also make accessible and affordable microphones for aspiring recording artists.
Condenser microphones and dynamic microphones are the two main types of microphones. Though both types of microphones can be used to record cellos, there are some situations where one has an advantage over the other. Because dynamic microphones are more durable than condenser microphones, they’re a good choice for recording outside or on the road. The more delicate condenser microphone is usually reserved for use in a controlled studio setting.
Another consideration when selecting a cello microphone is the shape of the space that the microphone records, which is referred to as polar patterns. Omnidirectional, which records all around the microphone, and cardioid, which records in a heart-shaped pattern on one side of the microphone, are the best polar patterns for a cello mic. An omnidirectional microphone is the best choice when recording in a good acoustic space with desirable reverberation. A cardioid microphone can help you focus the recording on the cello sound if the recording space has poor acoustics or if you are recording in an area with crowd noise that you want to avoid.
It’s entirely up to you how detailed you want to record the sound of a cello. Studio recordings of cello soloists frequently use multiple cello mics positioned in different locations to capture a variety of perspectives on the instrument’s sound. Stereo microphone pairs are used to record some cellos, which are positioned to simulate hearing the cello through two ears. Other microphones can be placed in various locations near the cello to focus on different aspects of the sound, such as the vibration of the instrument’s body versus the squeaking strings.