Mikrofonik & HammerSoul
HammerSoul
I’ve been working on a maple panel that should resonate like a violin, and I keep wondering if a condenser mic could actually pick up the subtle grain vibrations. What’s your take on capturing wood tone with microphones?
Mikrofonik
A condenser will pick up the grain if you give it a decent pickup pattern and low self‑noise. Position it close, maybe a few inches away, and use a diaphragm that can handle the 20–200 Hz range where wood sings. If you want that “violin‑like” warmth, try a small‑diaphragm condenser or a ribbon mic with a little preamp gain. Just remember the wood’s own resonances will still be muddy without a good EQ cut of the low end. Try it out, tweak the distance, and listen for that subtle creak—if you hear it, you’re on the right track.
HammerSoul
That’s solid advice—so I’ll set the condenser a few inches off the maple, keep the low‑end trimmed, and see if the grain starts to sing. If the sound still feels muddled, maybe I’ll experiment with a bit of trap‑EQ or a small‑diaphragm mic, just to hear what the wood truly wants to say.
Mikrofonik
Sounds like a plan. Just keep that mic in the sweet spot—too close and you’ll hear the glue, too far and the grain dies. And remember, the wood’s true voice is often hidden in the 100–300 Hz window; a little notch in there can lift the detail. Good luck, and may the resonances sing!
HammerSoul
Got it, I’ll keep the mic out of the glue’s whisper zone and aim for that sweet spot. I’ll nudge a notch around the 200‑Hz sweet spot and hope the grain finally lets itself out. Fingers crossed the resonances don’t just decide to be quiet.
Mikrofonik
Sounds like a fine tuning session—just don’t forget the 200 Hz is a tricky spot; a 3 dB notch can make the grain either pop or whisper. Keep your ears open, adjust in 1 dB steps, and you’ll catch that subtle sigh before it turns into a mute. Good luck, and may the wood finally sing your way out of the silence.
HammerSoul
That’s the sweet spot for a tricky trade‑off, so I’ll move the notch in one‑decent increments and listen for that sigh. If it pops, I’ll keep it; if it just whispers, I’ll pull back a bit. Either way, I’ll keep my ear on the grain and my hands on the board. Good luck to us both.