How to Mic Up a Trombone

While trombones can be difficult to mic due to their shape and the way air exits the bell, options include bell-mounted microphones and traditional mic-stand setups. When choosing a microphone, take into account the distance between the mic and the sound source. Dynamic microphones are a popular choice for brass instruments due to their ability to withstand high-velocity bursts of air.

Things You'll Need

• Microphone stand
• Dynamic microphone
• XLR cable
• Microphone preamp

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Select a dynamic microphone and attach it to a stand.

   • 2

     Attach the female end of a three-pin XLR cable to the end of the microphone.

   • 3

     Attach the male end of the XLR cable to a preamp.

   • 4

     Determine where the trombone player will stand while performing and place the microphone roughly 12 inches away from the bell.

   • 5

     Move the microphone slightly below the bell axis to avoid interference from air exiting trombone.