Spot Mics, Ex. A, One Violinist

TOR / ODESSA Montreal / Subject 1 / Anatomy of a Mix / Spot Mics / Example A

Compared to the contact microphone, the spot mic captures a musically "useful" sound (at least for the purposes of mixing a classical recording). Notice that with a little distance we now hear the transients of the concertmaster's bow changes, and that her breathing, while still quite audible, becomes part of the performance. On balance, we are hearing less of the musician and more of the instrument. The tone color of the violin is still quite mid-heavy, as her instrument is rather dark to begin with but this effect is a further casualty of microphone positioning as, by design, the concertmaster faces out towards the audience, but her instrument projects up and out. The "up" is captured by the spot microphone (which, as it is shared by the front stand as a whole, is slightly behind her) but the "out" is a gift for the hall.