Things You'll Need:
- Shotgun microphone
- Mixer
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Step 1
Find something you want to record. Shotgun microphones are highly focused to the range right in front of the, as opposed to an omni-directional microphone, which picks up sounds from all sides. A highly-directional shotgun mike is good for trying to single out one sound in a mess of others. For example, it could pick up just the sound of the snare while the entire kit is being played. In fact, shotgun mikes are usually used with percussion.
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Step 2
Place the microphone. Make sure the head of the microphone is pointing right at the place where sound is coming out of your instrument. Distance is also a factor. Placing a shotgun mike closer to the instrument will give it more bass. Placing it too close will cause the levels to peak. Place it about a few inches away from the sound.
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Step 3
Plug the microphone into your mixer. Since this microphone is bound to be one of many in your mix, you want to label the channels according to what instrument is plugged into them. This will help cut down on confusion if you have to adjust a microphone or when you will be mixing.
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Step 4
Test the mike. See if the level and placement is right. You want your levels to be registering but not overmodulating.
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Step 5
Adjust the levels or the microphone position. This is where an assistant comes in handy. If you have to do it by yourself, the process takes forever and the results may not be great. Shotgun microphones will only need to be adjusted slightly, but that slight adjustment can make a ton of difference. If the sound is coming across distorted or overmodulated, turn the levels down on the shotgun mike or move it further away from the subject. If the sound isn't loud enough, place the shotgun mike closer to the subject or turn up the levels.
