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How I Record Steelpan and Why I Use this Technique - The evolution of my equipment over the years:

 

The evolution of my equipment over the years:

The equipment I use has changed drastically over the 20 plus years I have been recording pan.  Part of this is due to changed or more clearly recognized requirements, part of this is due to the rapid advancements in technology that have made it possible to improve the recordings at reduced costs, and finally, part of this is due to equipment becoming obsolete, as newer devices replaced older ones.

Initially, I used a pair of Shure SM81 cardioid microphones connected to a Tascam portable DAT recorder.  I soon added a pair of quality microphone preamplifiers to use in place of the mediocre ones in the Tascam.  The microphones were set up according to an orchestral recording technique called ORTF (for the French broadcasters who invented it.)  Most orchestral techniques require microphones with particular pickup patterns to be located at precise distances apart and at particular angles to each other, based on acoustic physics.  Some of these techniques are listed in my article on mike technique basics.  

I got a number of decent recordings with this setup, including one that is still available commercially in Trinidad.  There were, however, issues that pushed me to move to a different core set of equipment:  The equipment (including moderate length microphone cables) was somewhat bulky and heavy to transport, and with the airlines reducing baggage allowances, I'd be unable to take it to Trinidad.  It required a source of electricity for all but the shortest recordings, and for any recordings if I used the external mic preamps.  There was a definite lack of bass in the recordings, partly due to the response of the SM81 mikes, partly due to the physics of almost all directional mikes. (However, the weak bass could easily be corrected with a little discreet EQ during post-production.)  Finally, the ORTF setup required attention to detail in setting up the microphones at the correct spacing and angle, increasing setup time.