David Silberberg Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 We are filming a polka dance in August, in Colorado and I need suggestions for micing the accordion player's right side - the keyboard /melody side - of the accordion. Problem I ran into the last time I did this was that the acc. player's right hand is in constant motion, squeezing and drawing the instrument, while the left side is more stable since he rests it on his left knee. So I was able to get a good track of the left/bass side using a mic on stand, but the right side was not so good. Its going to require a mic mounted to the accordion. This particular accordion does have an internal stereo mic system that I can split off of , but I had problems getting a clean feed from it last time. The other problem I had was the trombone player stands next to where the accordion player sits , and then he tends to turn toward the accordion player and blow trombone lines into the accordion mic. But that's a different problem. Thanks people . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 (edited) problem solving is the biggest part of the gig... I'd say it depends on a number of factors, some of which you have already mentioned, and others as well, including what is available and/or budgeted... get the instrument in advance and figure out the internal mic..? Edited June 26, 2014 by studiomprd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Gilbert Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 DPA lav, they even do the right mounts, if you don't want to use Joes or a Stickie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 I tried various lavs on Pauline Oliveros' accordions, but the best was a stereo Schoeps pair in front of her and the feed from her built in mics. Maybe work on the guy's built-ins--with the band all on top of each other that's your best shot at a clean feed. Worth recording if you can even if it's a little buzzy etc--could be cleaned up in post. philp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winter Posted June 26, 2014 Report Share Posted June 26, 2014 I tried various lavs on Pauline Oliveros' accordions, but the best was a stereo Schoeps pair in front of her and the feed from her built in mics. +1 on this topic, even if I'm not that lucky to have to deal with Pauline Oliveros accordions....a nice stereo pair worked best for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadoStefanov Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 You can not put a lav on an accordion. No place to put the Mic. Too much mechanical noise from the keys. But if you really have to place it on the side of the circle keys not the piano keys. Piano keys make more noise then circle once. You can try on the harness... Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 A stereo mike aimed at it Yes if you are too close action noise, keys and bellow noise are problem mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Silberberg Posted June 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 Thanks people for input. I think a phone conversation with the accordionist is my next move... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berniebeaudry Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 If you use a stereo mic keeping it low and pointing up at an angle will keep the mic out of the shot and give you a little bit more isolation from the other instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewFreedAudio Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 I agree with Bernie and Rado. Placing a lav on the accordion itself will only yield a lot of mechanical noise. Place a mic low, pointing up so it's out of the shot. I would use a cardioid rather than a lav because they are typically omni. Production Sound Mixing for Television, Film, and Commercials. www.matthewfreed.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studiomprd Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 DS: " I think a phone conversation with the accordionist is my next move... " that might have been a good first move... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beartrax Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 once i used a wireless lav on a strap and fed the internal to a wireless tx as well to blend in post, all worked ok … set up wasn't friendly to having mic stands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Flores Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 I had to record a Mexican Ranchero Band once and because they were wearing cowboy hats, we placed DPA's under the brim of the hats and ran the wires either around the ear down the back of the neck or up the inside of the hat down the back of the neck, all down to the packs on their backs. Something about the head area with a mic pointed down works well with dialog and many strapped instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 You can not put a lav on an accordion. No place to put the Mic. Too much mechanical noise from the keys. But if you really have to place it on the side of the circle keys not the piano keys. Piano keys make more noise then circle once. You can try on the harness... Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk Not true, amigo, lavs worked pretty well for me on occasion, esp when the instrument had no built-in mics and the player was in the middle of a loud band (so stereo mic didn't help much). philp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Rainey Posted July 9, 2014 Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 Also try a baffle of some sort to block the trombone a bit from bleeding into the accordion mics. Clear plexi would be ideal, (low profile and no line of sight blockage for players) unless you want some absorption. Then try foam, like sonex type studio panels, which would also look presentable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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