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Blowin' in the Wind
Recording the Flute in Your Home Studio
by David Summer
Recording the flute in a personal studio. Including selecting a location for the flute recording, as well as choosing the proper microphone and microphone positioning. Also included is advise for the flutist making a recording.
Hear more of David Summer's home studio recordings and some location recordings David has made while performing at church services throughout MA, RI and NH.
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Recording the Flute, page 1
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Author's Note
Many people have read this article and some have emailed me, explaining how they've been able to use what they learned here in their own recording projects. I used to include Google Ad Words on this page, but I've decided that Google has enough money, so I've removed them.
Instead, if you find this article useful, consider emailing an Amazon Gift Certificate. I use Amazon a lot and it would be a nice way of saying thanks for the information presented here. Use: author@summersong.net as the recipient email address. Thanks.
Recording the Flute, Sound Clips
These clips were recorded to highlight some of the points made in the article text.
All of these flute clips were recorded in a basement with no EQ or effects.

The first set of clips illustrates the effect of using different types of microphones when recording the flute.
  • Clip 1 is recorded using a ribbon microphone (a Royer 122).
  • Clip 2 is recorded using a dynamic microphone (an Electro-Voice 664A).
  • Clip 3 is recorded using a condenser microphone (a Neumann TLM-103).
The second set of clips demonstrates microphone positioning (recorded using a condenser microphone).
  • Clip 4 is recorded with the mic positioned half way down the body of the flute.
  • Clip 5 is recorded with the mic positioned close to the footjoint of the flute.
  • Clip 6 is recorded with the mic positioned close to the headjoint of the flute.
  • Clip 7 is recorded with the mic positioned behind the flutist.

These sound clips are also available on Recording Magazine website.
You may also be interested in David Summer's Selected Duets for Flute Podcast.
Recordings © Copyright 2006 by David Summer