Professional French Horn Recording for $89

I'm Mel and I'm not just a horn player! Recording horn is my speciality because I am also an audio engineer and actually understand how to capture the beauty and power of the horn!

I’ve recorded with Australia's top pop artists, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the ABC and the RAAF band. In my time at the Royal Australian Air Force Band, I served as an audio engineer and performer for countless chamber, solo, and large ensemble projects.

FAQ:

Q: how much studio time does it take you to record a minute of average horn music?
A: from setting up the recording session to sending the final product to clients I'd say about 1.5 hours per minute of music

Q: How hardcore are you about gear?
A: I play a well-maintained, Alexander 103 horn. Most clients like the sound of my playing captured by my Royer SF-12 microphone, through my AEA TRP preamp, into my RME interface.

Best guess: I’ve spent about $15,000 on mics, preamps, and acoustic treatment. More importantly, though, I’ve spent countless hours learning and experimenting with how to get the most from my gear!

Q: Is the room you record in horrible?
A: No, I record in a large, high-ceilinged, purpose-built, home studio. The room is irregularly shaped, and thoughtfully treated with wall, corner, ceiling, and floor acoustic panels/traps, and strategically placed furniture/carpets. I live in an ultra-quiet gated community – as free from pesky noises as you can get!

Q: Do you (still) play well?
A: Yes, I practice a lot and maintain my horn fitness as a matter of professional pride. During the pandemic, I recorded and rehearsed almost every day at Alan Eaton Studios and the ABC Centre (Australia).

Q: Are you flexible about how you record yourself?
A: Yes, I play to serve the client! Some like the mic 15cm from the bell, while others want more room mic mixed in. If you want a certain mic in a certain place, I’ll put it there!

Q: Do you always need sheet music?
A: sheet music will save some studio time (and money), but I transcribe and learn music quickly, and can recreate horn lines from MIDI or audio recordings

Q: Can you film yourself playing?
A: Yes! I have a beautiful studio setup with pro cameras and lighting. It’s always set up, ready to film at the click of a button. My main camera is a Canon 90D.

Q: Stereo or mono?
A: Either, but I usually record in mono. I think the horn usually sounds best simply with one mic behind the bell :)