A Neve VR in a Glasgow studio demonstrating a fader test. The CRAS has two of these consoles on campus.

photo caption: Blue Microphone employee and CRAS grad Ben Widmer at the Blue booth at the recent TapeOp Con in Tucson

Blue Microphones is respected industry-wide and makes a full line of microphones for a variety of applications. CRAS students sample these products in various classes including the Mouse in Post classes and the Woodpecker and the Blue Bottle in session classes. At the recent TapeOp Con in Tucson, CRAS grad Ben Widmer manned the Blue booth along with Eric Boyer, another CRAS grad who is Blue’s VP of manufacturing.

photo caption: Holophone H3-D set up on a Leslie speaker cabinet with the Blue Woodpecker Ribbon mic picking at the bottom

The Canadian company Holophone makes cutting-edge surround recording microphones. Their H3-D microphone was recently on campus for a variety of sessions where students and faculty used the mic to record both in surround and in stereo. The egg-shaped mic is a mere 6 x 8 inches and has 6 microphones onboard. L, C, R, LS and RS mics pickup direct and room ambience, while a dedicated LFE mic that rolls off at 100 Hz picks up nothing but low frequency info. The mic is light, portable and gives the user an easy and phase coherent way to record in either surround or stereo.

photo caption: The Holophone H3-D being used during a percussion recording session in CRAS’ Studio D

Surround recording is coming on strong, especially as the deadline for full HDTV implementation for US broadcasters approaches in January of 2009. The increased bandwidth and stellar picture associated with HDTV calls for more realistic audio coverage of sporting events, concerts, Live news feeds and sound for picture. The Conservatory teaches each student a number of different surround disciplines from a basic ITU array of mics to the Grado Vectored Array. 8th Cycle students recently used the revolutionary Holophone 6-channel mic during their surround recording clinic. The 3 lb. mic is only 6 x 8 inches and offers an easy way to capture the ambience of the surrounding space.

This array of microphones, introduced by 4th Cycler Alicia Torres is just a small sample of the transducers available to students for classes and projects. The newest in our collection are the two large diaphragm dynamic mics from Bob Heil, the PR30 and PR40. The guitar and drum clinics get early cycle students experience in studio etiquette, gear setup and tear down, signal flow and placement techniques.

photo caption: 8th cycle student Ryan Arakaki setting up mics in his advanced drum clinic

If you’re recording drums, the overhead mics you choose are critical when seeking the best possible rendition of the kit. The mics above the kit pictured here are the latest from Korby Audio and Mojave Audio. The KAT RED mic in the center of the kit is fashioned after a vintage C12 and the Mojave MA-100s placed as a spaced stereo pair are small capsule tube microphones. Quality counts, and CRAS students are exposed to the latest gear from a range of manufacturers.

photo caption: Korby KAT RED and KAT BLUE microphones

Conservatory students and instructors recently got to hear the latest tube mics from Korby Audio in Nashville. Each of the mics is lit from the inside with either a Blue or Red LED. Korby’s facility is located at Blackbird studios in Berry Hill, one of the hottest new recording studios in Music City. Korby’s mics are tuned using Blackbird’s extensive and impressive mic collection as a bellweather. The KAT BLUE is modeled after a U67 while the KAT RED is styled after a C12.

photo caption: Cycle 3 student Joshua Brooks setting up a yet-to-be-named mic in his drum clinic

Recently, the Conservatory opened a connection with Alctron, a Chinese audio manufacturer that makes mics for some of the biggest names in audio. The Conservatory’s Jeff Thomas imported a number of mics for use in a Mic Modification Clinic open to all students and the company now sends him samples of new products. These mics are used in classes at the Conservatory giving students a chance to hear the latest transducers coming across the Pacific. This is supplemental to the mics always available to students from the CRAS’ substantial mic locker featuring products from Blue, Shure, Audio Technica, Sennheiser, AKG, Neumann, Oktava, SE Electronics and more.

photo caption: Four shiny Neumann mics awaiting placement in the Conservatory’s A Room

In audio, having the right gear for the right application is critical in the recording process. That’s why the Conservatory’s mic locker reads like a who’s who in the transducer world. Students use mics from Neumann, Blue, Sennheiser, Shure, Oktava, Royer, Yamaha, Audio-Technica, beyerdynamic, Electro-Voice, Røde, SE Electronic and AKG in their projects and session classes, learning all about precise placement and picking the right mic for the job along the way.

photo caption: 7th Cycle student Joseph Maggelet attaching one of three Blue Mouse microphones to the Conservatory’s Decca Tree

Holiday trees are standard for the winter season, but the Conservatory’s Decca tree is used year round. Our “tree” is a tried and true mic placement developed by the Decca Record Company back in the early days of recording where three omni microphones are placed in a very specific triangular array in front of an orchestra. Every three weeks, the Cycle 7 Post Production class captures an orchestral ensemble using this technique along with spot mics to record the orchestra into a Pro Tools HD rig locked to video. Our AEA, one meter Decca tree positioner flown from a Latch Lake MicKing stand allows the students to accurately place the mics in the room, making sure the orchestra is well represented in the mix.