On woodwind instruments (sax, flute, oboe, bassoon, etc.) the sound comes from the keyholes in the instrument as well as the bell (or "foot", in the case of the flute).
Saxophone
Considerations:
- The sound of a saxophone comes from every hole and the body of the instrument but in totally different proportions for every note. The bell sounds you the honk on the highs and some -frequencies, with only the lowest note coming exclusively out of the bell.
- Notes near the top of the instrument's range come out of the upper body, left-hand side. Altissimo notes, typically high-pitched screams, come out of the front upper and middle tone holes and are usually much louder than most other notes.
- The bell sound is generally focused but edgy and harsh. The side pads produce a "woody" tone, which by itself can sound like the reed is soggy.
Sax Mic Placement:
Technique 1: Set the mic directly in front of the sax at a distance of 12-16 inches for an authentic sound.
Technique 2: Set the mic about 18-24 inches to the player's left side of the instrument, at a height about halfway up the keys, aimed slightly down at the bell. For a tighter sound, move the mic 6 inches closer to the sax, taking care not to pick up the valve clicking. Moving the mic further away from the sax captures more room ambiance.
Technique 3: Set the mic about neck or face high (of the player), aiming down at the horn.
Technique 4: Position the mic about 3 feet away, slightly above head height and about 30 degrees to the left of the player, aimed toward the middle of the horn.
Technique 5: For soprano sax, place the mic above the sax centered and aimed straight down.
Flute
For a good all-around sound, set the mic 2 feet in front of the player, positioning it halfway down the body of the instrument. Raise the mic so that it is about 6″ above the flute and angle it down so that it's pointing at the body of the flute. Then, twist the mic about 10 degrees to the right so that it's not aimed directly at the body of the flute but more at the foot of the instrument. Placing the mic halfway down the body of the flute, in this way, will give you a full flute sound with a natural, airy quality.
If you feel you are getting too much airy sound, try moving the microphone to the foot of the flute, resulting in a less full but smoother sound. You may also mitigate an airy sound by angling the microphone, relative to the flute, away from the instrument.
Placing the microphone near the head joint of the flute results in a harsher, airy sound. This may be good for a rock or R&B recording or as a special effect. For a more ethereal sound, place the microphone a couple of feet behind the player and raise the mic 1-2 feet above the player, aiming downward.