The KU5A is ideally equipped to capture the sound of string instruments whether live, in the studio, or in the middle of a full orchestra. With its supercardioid polar pattern, near-field design, balanced low-end, and extended top-end, the KU5A excels at capturing the sound of your instrument while limiting room reflections.
When recording solo violin or viola, try positioning the KU5A between 1 and 4 feet above the instrument. Within that range, moving the KU5A closer to the instrument increases low-end proximity effect, while pulling it back, or angling it away lessens potential low-end build up. The difference in tonality between 1 to 4 feet can be very drastic, but depending on the sound you are going for, both can sound great.
This same technique can be applied to recording a violin player or any instrument playing within an orchestra. In the past, this has been difficult due to the figure-of-8 polar pattern in most ribbons. The KU5A allows you to close-mic any important and primary players in any recording situation.
