The tonewheel organ cemented its place in history as one of the earliest electric instruments. The organ, along with the rotary speaker cabinet, has found its way into nearly every musical genre, from relaxed jazz to stereo thumping rock and roll. A truly versatile instrument, the organ can adapt to any style and we have some tips to help you capture the organ’s unique tone and spirit. Audio-Technica Basic Recording Techniques Here are a few techniques to capture this dynamic instrument in all of its glory:

Achieve Wide Stereo Image

Placing separate mics at the top and bottom rotors will allow you to capture the organ’s full range. To achieve a wide stereo image place two ATM650 dynamic instrument mics on the top rotor at a 90-degree angle. This ensures that one mic is directly on axis with the horn while the other is off axis, providing the maximum left-to-right swing. Be sure to take note of which side of the cabinet the rotor is on, as it tends to be off-center. how to record the organ

Locate and Mic the Bass Rotor

The back of the cabinet is usually open, allowing you to place an AT4047/SV large diaphragm condenser at the bass rotor. Miking the bass rotor requires some experimentation to find the sweet spot where air from the spinning rotor doesn’t get into your mic. A pop filter can also be used to reduce air noise. Organ Recording Techniques

Mic the Back End of the Cabinet

Moving your ATM650 mics to each end of the cabinet’s rear will help provide more top end as well as improve isolation. On the other hand this configuration can pick up more mechanical noise and moving air from the spinning rotor. As you did with the bass rotor, it’s best to experiment with mic placement to alleviate these noise factors. Increasing the organ’s volume can further reduce noise level. Recording Organ

Achieve Mono Sound

When recording in mono it is best to keep one microphone on each respective rotor. For this configuration place an AT2020 cardioid condenser microphone on the bass rotor and a PRO 63 dynamic instrument microphone on top. Organ Recording Tips Putting these four tips into practice will have you well on your way to recording the organ like a professional.