I've recorded a lot of different bells in my time on tape where you have to=
be more accurate with levels, but the general advice I would give is to
record low. With 16 bit digital, set the peak down at -10dB or lower and yo=
u
will lose nothing, but avoid overload.
I mainly used MKH416's and never had a mic overload. So saying, a "clean"
mic overload would not necessarily be a disaster.
Now for the art. :-) Recording a church bell at a non-distorting level is
liable to make it sound puny. What you need is reverberation or ambience, s=
o
I would recommend a second mic at a different distance, If you can find a
local echo, all the better. Don't necessarily point the second mic at the
bell tower.
If all else fails, a space mic at a respectful distance like 15 metres or
more further away from the main mic will add a second source with a short
time delay and help to get an outdoors sound.
The main problem may be that the direct sound makes it difficult to monitor=
what you are picking up, or the balance of mics, but you may be able to tak=
e
refuge inside the building.
I would not use a highly directional mic like a parabola as I would be
looking for a good ambience effect to make it sound like bells in a tower.=
David Brinicombe
|