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Application notes, English – Samson G Track User Manual

Page 18

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ENGLISH

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The G Track is a great microphone choice for many instrument miking situations. Below

is a brief guide on using the G Track in some typical applications:
Vocals

When using the G Track on vocals, use of an external pop filter like the Samson PS01 is

strongly recommended. Position the microphone directly in front of the artist so that

the microphone grill is approximately 4 to 10 inches away. You can record a group of

vocalists by positioning them around the front of the microphone. Just remember that

the extreme sides of the microphone pick up less with less high frequency response, so

have them stand together tight, and/or move the microphone from one to two feet away

from the group.
Acoustic Guitar

There are a variety of ways that the G Track can be used to mic an acoustic guitar. The

microphone placement will depend on the type of instrument and what kind of sound

you’re looking to capture, for example the tonal quality you want to focus on, and how

much finger slide or pick noise you may or may not want. When miking a standard

steel string acoustic, a good place to start is with the microphone positioned pointing

towards the end of the fingerboard at a distance of about 6 inches to 2 feet away from

the instrument. You can experiment by moving the microphone slightly in the direction

of the sound hole, which will produce more low frequencies, or move it in the direction

of the fingerboard to capture more high-end or to remove any unwanted boominess.

For nylon string acoustic, try positioning the microphone above the bridge to emphasize

more of the attack from the sound of the finger picking, or for less, move the mic closer

to the sound hole. If you have a pair of G Tracks, try one positioned at the fingerboard

and the second over the sound hole.
Piano

You can achieve outstanding results using the G Track on acoustic piano. Several

placement approaches can be used depending on the size of the piano, and the type

of sound you are looking to record. When miking a Grand Piano, (for an ambient sound

like that used in a classical recital), a G Track can be positioned directly in front of the

instrument. Open the lid to the full position and place the microphone five to twenty feet

in front of the instrument. For a more contemporary ensemble sound, place two G Tracks

in the piano, positioning one over the low strings and the other over the high strings.
Overhead Drum Kit

Because of its extended high frequency response and fast transient response, the G

Track performs outstandingly when used as an overhead cymbal microphone. You can

position one G Track on a boom mic stand directly above the kit pointing from front to

back. For stereo miking, use two G Track’s placed over the drum set at a distance of three

to five feet. You can experiment with the exact placement depending on the size of the

room and whether you’re looking for an ambient or close-miked sound. In general, when

miking a drum kit, it’s a good idea to start with the overhead mics. Even though you use

the overhead mics mostly for the cymbals, try to get the entire kit to sound great in the

overheads. Then it will be easier to just bring up your individual mics for more attack and

thickness in the overall sound.

Application Notes