| Close and Distant Mic Placement
Small adjustments to a close microphone in front of the source change the sound drastically. A distant microphone is not as sensitive.
Close Miking
Placing the microphone between 2-12 inches away from the sound source.
Minimizes leakage from other instruments and the rooms echos
Placing the mic closer to the sound you're trying to record will cause it to overpower the unwanted sounds coming in from other angles. This could be other noises or instruments interfering, or even the echo's of what you're trying to record.
The sound is fuller and more forward
The frequencies that the microphone picks up at close range are much different that from further away. For example, getting very close to a mic with a directional pickup pattern (cardioid, figure-8 etc) will boost the bass frequencies.
Close miking will also cause whatever you're recording to sound very forward and upfront in the mix of the other instruments.
Distance Miking
When the microphone is placed a few feet or further away from the sound source.
Maximizes leakage from other instruments and the rooms echos
By placing the mic further away, the microphone picks up a lot more than just the instrument you're trying to record. It will also pick up the surrounding room you're recording in.
If you sing in your bathroom, the echos will be shorter than if you sing in a living room with 15 foot high ceilings.
The sound is thinner and further away
This is a good reason to record background vocals or instruments with the mic a little further away than the leads.
Easiest for large groups
Choirs and orchestras should be recorded with a few microphones that try and capture the overall group sound.
Why not use both Close and Distant mics?
Using two tracks for a close and distant microphone recording same sound gives you more options when you're mixing. You can blend these two microphones together to add just the right amount of depth and distance to the mic. This is a good fix to any instrument that is sounding too thin.
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