Do you want to record professional-quality handpan music at home? That might sound easy but the issue arises when you can’t be sure of what you need. You must have searched the internet for the best practices to record professional handpan music at home but might be feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information that is out there. You’re not alone, so don’t worry!
In reality, everything depends on your objective and your budget. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you set up your home studio and capture the enchanting sound of your handpan. These techniques will help you record at home without sacrificing quality or going over budget.
Equipment to Have
The handpan shines as an instrument in a quiet environment. You need to capture all overtones when trying to record the handpan, which becomes a bit difficult for artists.
For the soloists seeking the purest and cleanest sound from his or her own handpan, outside, inside, or at the studio, small diaphragm condensers and a kick mic would be the best option to catch the sound of the handpan while recording. This works well, even when playing alongside quieter acoustic instruments, such as a flute, violin, or acoustic guitar. However, wear in-ear monitors to avoid feedback.
How To Best Record Your Handpan
You must learn how to use your microphone when recording your song. Anything from the well-known conga to exotic drums like the North African tar can be used as a hang drum or handpan.
The type of drum and its acoustic properties determine the microphone selection. For instance, a large-diaphragm condenser microphone can effectively record the loud sound produced by conga drums, which are in the middle of the frequency range. You can utilize a dynamic microphone to get a drier, denser sound. A dynamic microphone will “color” your recording’s sound if you select one.
Microphones for Handpans and Other Accessories
Everybody’s favorite feature of the handpan is its amazing natural acoustics. The high-pitched harmonics tuned into each handpan note produce these enchanted sounds. Therefore, you want to ensure that your recordings reflect that.
The Rode NT4 stereo condenser microphone is a good XLR microphone choice. This vintage microphone, made in Australia, is frequently used in upscale recording studios. By recording the left and right channels from a single microphone body, the NT4 creates a flawless stereo image and can pick up even the smallest handpan sounds. Your recording feels three-dimensional as a result. You will feel as though you are there if you close your eyes.
An audio interface is required to convert the analog signal from an XLR microphone into a digital signal that can be sent to your computer. For this, we suggest the MixPre 6 II recorder from SoundDevices interface, which has all the features you require as a handpan artist, whether in the studio or on the fly, and great low-noise Kashmir preamps.
Lastly, the Sony MDR7506 headphones are the best for listening to your recordings. Because they are regarded as “flat,” these vintage headphones don’t improve the sound of your recordings, allowing you to mix them properly. Flat headphones are especially useful for seeing errors in recordings.
The Right Position For Your Microphone
On either side of the handpan, place two tiny diaphragm condenser microphones. To enhance the bass, you can also position a kick microphone, also known as a dynamic microphone, beneath the gu hole. The microphones should be positioned 40 to 50 cm from the instrument. Any slap sounds on the notes will be muffled by this. Both condenser microphones should be positioned at the same distance from the handpan. This will correct for any phase discrepancies and guarantee a well-balanced sound. This pertains to recordings you wish to create with the handpan during live performances.
We have already stated that in order to replicate the greatest sound in the studio, you should experiment with distances ranging from one to three meters.
Handpan Stands
Although some musicians usually prefer to play with the handpan directly on their lap, you might benefit from investing in a handpan stand for recording. You can maintain your handpan at the ideal height at all times. Sitting on a tall chair also keeps your handpan from sliding down. Additionally, it can let you move freely around your instrument and play handpans while standing.
You can use a typical snare stand or even an inexpensive tripod camping stool. Two firms have created handpan supports expressly for handpans. You may fold these for convenient transport or storage; they all function well for playing or storing handpans.
Pantam Stand is a metal structure that can be adjusted to play either sitting or standing. These are easy to use and have a polished appearance. When playing handpans while seated, a standard snare drum stand also works nicely.
A camping stool is a less expensive choice. Tripod camping stools are inexpensive ($20) and lightweight. At a quarter of the cost of comparable handpan stands, it’s a fantastic hack.
Space Setup for Recording
It is likewise of utmost importance to discuss the preparation wherein all this occurs since the recording environment enormously influences the sound. It is best to keep the place devoid of any outside distractions, such as selecting a room or place that is less noisy. Which, however, does not really have to be tiled bathrooms or huge empty rooms, also not the ones filled with echo and reverb. Here, Adaptive Acoustics works magnificently. The diffuser breaks up sound waves and diminishes reflection with absorption, employing foam panels and carpets in the room to reduce reverb, with bass traps in corners. Create further distance by incorporating heavy curtains, draft excluders, or soundproofing panels to keep external noise as little as possible.
Some Tips to Take Your Recordings to the Next Level
The equipment itself is only a tool. However, how you use the equipment matters. The secret is to experiment a lot and listen. Experiment with your instrument’s microphone placements, tunings, and styles when recording. It will take patience and practice for both you and your recordings to improve. Learn from the works of other artists as far as what techniques and styles they use. Work with someone else, be it a musician or a producer, to get an entirely different viewpoint and ways to enrich your recording experiences and results.
