Saxophones
Alto saxophone · Baritone saxophone · Soprano saxophone · Tenor saxophone
- Sources
- 107 independent: not from a mic maker
What it is
Soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone. Many sources write for 'sax' in general, so their advice is filed here and shows on each member's page.
Mics
- 23 setups from 10 sources, 7 of them independent of any mic maker.
- On top: the mics more than one source names for this instrument, in any role, the most named first. That is a count of sources, not our verdict.
- In the full list, each mic shows how many sources name it for that role, and how many of those come from a mic maker.
- Sennheiser MD 421 3 sourcesNamed, no placement given, close
- Coles 4038 3 sources, 1 from a mic makerRoom, close, named, no placement given
- Electro-Voice RE20 2 sourcesNamed, no placement given, close
- Neumann U 87 (U 87 i) 2 sourcesNamed, no placement given, close
All the mics sources name, by setting and role (13)
Studio
Room
- Coles 40381 source
Named, no placement given
- Coles 40381 source from a mic maker
- Electro-Voice RE201 source
- Neumann U 871 source
- Royer R-1211 source from its own maker
- Sennheiser MD 4211 source
Close
- Coles 40381 source
- Electro-Voice RE201 source
- Neumann U 871 source
- RODE NT11 source
- Sennheiser MD 4212 sources
- Shure SM581 source
The 15 setups behind this: placement and quotes
- Room Coles 4038room ambience must be good
Pete Thomas (saxophonist and producer): Coles 4038 is great for saxophones (paraphrase).
1 - Named, no placement given Neumann U 87studio, listed among suitable condensers
Pete Thomas lists U87 and U47 among studio condensers suitable for sax (paraphrase).
1 - Named, no placement given Sennheiser MD 421 or Electro-Voice RE20studio, listed as fine
Pete Thomas: RE20 and the Sennheiser 421 are fine for saxophone recording (paraphrase).
1 - Close Sennheiser MD 421studio, close
Praised for smooth tones by two posters (paraphrase).
2 - Close Neumann U 87 or Electro-Voice RE20 or Coles 4038 or RODE NT1 or Shure SM58distance, 12-18 in, aimed between the bell end and the player's left hand
A well-balanced portrait of the sax's whole range is usually attained 12 to 18 inches from the horn.
3 - Close Electro-Voice RE20 or Coles 4038 or Sennheiser MD 421close, 12-18 in
Personal favorites include the Neumann U 87 condenser, the Electro-Voice RE20 dynamic, and the Coles 4038 ribbon (saxophones in general). ... You can't go wrong with a Sennheiser MD 421 (saxophones in general).
3 - Close Shure SM58close
Some of my most cherished sax sounds were recorded with a Shure SM58 (saxophones in general).
3 - Close Neumann U 87 or Electro-Voice RE20 or Coles 4038 or Sennheiser MD 421 or Shure SM58close
Personal favorites include the Neumann U 87 condenser, the Electro-Voice RE20 dynamic, and the Coles 4038 ribbon (saxophones in general). ... You can't go wrong with a Sennheiser MD 421 (saxophones in general). ... Some of my most cherished sax sounds were recorded with a Shure SM58 (saxophones in general).
3 - Close large-diaphragm cardioid condenser (type only)distance, about 1 ft from the bell, 45 degrees up; or a second mic about 6 in below the bell
One foot from the bell at about 45 degrees up; or two mics, one above the keys and one below the bell (paraphrase).
4 - Named, no placement given Royer R-121comparison, Albini against the Coles 4038
Albini compared the R-121 and Coles 4038 on saxophone on a demo CD (page gives no verdict).
5 - Named, no placement given Coles 4038comparison, Albini against the R-121
Albini compared the R-121 and Coles 4038 on saxophone on a demo CD (page gives no verdict).
5 - Close large-diaphragm condenser, cardioid (type only)distance, 18 in, aimed just below the middle of the body
Large-diaphragm condenser about 18 inches away, aimed just below the midpoint (paraphrase).
6 - Close large dynamic (type only)distance, 18 in, aimed just below the middle of the body
Large dynamic microphones offer a fuller, softer alternative (paraphrase).
6 - Close close mic at the bell (type only)close, very close to the upturned bell, pop style
In pop music sax mics sit very close to the upturned bells, for a bright, raspy sound (paraphrase).
7 - Close condenser or ribbon (type only)distance, about 18 in, over the bell aimed at the middle of the keys
Both condenser and ribbon mics do a good job; aim over the bell at the middle of the keys (paraphrase).
8
Studio and stage
Named, no placement given
- Shure SM571 source
- Shure SM581 source
Close
- DPA 4006ES (variant of the DPA 4006A)1 source from its own maker
- Shure SM571 source
The 4 setups behind this: placement and quotes
- Named, no placement given Shure SM57
Pete Thomas calls the SM57/SM58 a great versatile mic that needs no phantom power (paraphrase).
1 - Close DPA 4006ES (variant of the DPA 4006A)close, beside the bell on the player's right
The spot slightly to the player's right-hand side, next to the bell, is a good starting position.
9 - Close Shure SM57budget, close
Most-mentioned mic in the thread (about 7 posters by my tally); aim more at the body of the sax for a warmer sound (paraphrase).
2 - Named, no placement given Shure SM58budget
Mentioned about 3 times by my tally as the dynamic alternative (paraphrase).
2
On stage
Clip-on
- DPA 4099 CORE+1 source from its own maker
- Shure PGA98H1 source from its own maker
Close
- DPA 4011ES (variant of the DPA 4011A)1 source from its own maker
- Shure SM1371 source from its own maker
The 4 setups behind this: placement and quotes
- Clip-on DPA 4099 CORE+clip-on, on the bell (saxophone clip STC4099)
4099 CORE+ with the STC4099 saxophone clip listed as the directional instrument option.
9 - Close DPA 4011ES (variant of the DPA 4011A)close, beside the bell, for isolation on a noisy stage
Directional (cardioid) mics isolate the sax from stage noise but bring proximity effect (paraphrase).
9 - Clip-on Shure PGA98Hclip-on, a few inches from the bell
A few inches from and aiming at the bell gives a bright sound with reduced feedback and leakage (paraphrase).
10 - Close Shure SM137close, a few inches from the bell
The sax is like the human voice, so a shaped-response (vocal) mic works well (paraphrase).
10
Sources
- Cafe Saxophone: Recording saxophones (Pete Thomas, 2025)
- HomeRecording.com forum: Which microphone to studio record a saxophone?
- Recording Magazine: Miking Brass and Winds
- Recording Magazine: Miking the Horn Section
- Royer Labs library: Steve Albini microphone comparisons
- Sound On Sound: Q. How do I mike up woodwind instruments? (Hugh Robjohns, Nov 2003)
- Sound On Sound: Q. How do I record brass in the home studio?
- Yamaha Hub: Recording Acoustic Instruments, Part 3
- DPA Mic University: How to mic a saxophone
- Shure: How to Choose the Best Mics for Brass, Wind, and String Instruments