BANJO!?!?!? LOL

[Gillihan]

I know I ask a lot of silly questions in here, but I get the best honest helpful answers here also. That said ... What's the best way to track a banjo? I tried the acoustic guitar approach but It is losing something in translation.(CLEARLY I AM NOT MIC'ING IT RIGHT ) It is just not as robust as all the ones I am hearing come outta Nashville. It's not awful, but If ya wanna get somewhere ya gotta have the best, aye? ps... the banjo is a MGB-1 Morgan Monroe not the best, but not the worst . lol

[AlanHall]

I have never recorded banjo. That said, since it has a membrane head like a snare drum, I'd think a mic placed shooting across the head, a few inches away and at a 30-45 degree angle, might be a starting point to get some of the richness you seek. Maybe a second mic at a distance to get the higher freqs.

[funsongs]

I know I ask a lot of silly questions in here, but I get the best honest helpful answers here also. That said ... What's the best way to track a banjo? I tried the acoustic guitar approach but It is losing something in translation.(CLEARLY I AM NOT MIC'ING IT RIGHT ) It is just not as robust as all the ones I am hearing come outta Nashville. It's not awful, but If ya wanna get somewhere ya gotta have the best, aye? ps... the banjo is a MGB-1 Morgan Monroe not the best, but not the worst . lol

Not an expert... try a small-diaphragm pencil mic, aimed at the edge of the resonator opening just below where the neck joints the body.
(provided you're not playing an open-back style)
and experiment with locations and distance until you find the sound you like best.
It's really gonna come down to what makes your own ears happy.
Close-mic'd, like a snare drum might be a good place to start.

[Telefunkin]

Lots of info about this via Google. I trust what this guy says though...
https://bobbyowsinskiblog.com/banjo-mic-techniques/

[Gillihan]

Thanks Guys!! All the info was great. I took it all in and let my ears guild me from there. Did a bit of experimenting and I GOT A GOOD BEAD ON IT NOW.