Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Recording straight soprano saxophone is tricky because the sound doesn’t just come out of the bell—it’s coming from the entire instrument. If you’ve ever ended up with a thin, nasal, or uneven soprano sound, this will save you a lot of trial and error.
In this video, I walk you through exactly how I recorded soprano saxophone on a recent session, including:
– Why one microphone usually isn’t enough
– Where I place two microphones (and why)
– What happens when you mic only the bell vs only the body
– Real audio examples of each mic alone and both together
– How I balance the two mics in the mix (no EQ tricks)
– A quiet-monitoring + mono mix tip I still use from my Berklee days
This isn’t about right vs wrong or expensive gear. It’s about getting an honest, musical picture of the soprano sound—whether you’re recording at home or working with an engineer who doesn’t really know saxophones.
If you play soprano sax—or record sax players—this approach will help you capture a sound that actually feels like the instrument in the room.
Chapters:
00:00 Why soprano is hard to record
01:00 One mic vs two mics
02:30 Mic placement explained
03:45 Inside the Logic session
05:30 Hearing each mic separately
06:20 Mixing quietly in mono
08:55 Final comparison + takeaway
🎷 Looking for help on your saxophone journey? I created my online Saxophone Studio in 2010 to help players who've played a long time but feel stuck with their (lack of) progress. Come take a look → lessons.bobreynoldsmusic.com
Microphones mentioned:
AEA KU5A amzn.to/3NC8nDm
Neumann MCM 114 Set Miniature Clip Mic amzn.to/465rfB1
🎵 Sheet Music – Play along with Bob’s original songs
bobreynoldsmusic.com/playalong
🏕 Summer Saxophone Week –
insideoutsideretreat.com
📘 Saxophone Practice Book – 3 octaves · 12 keys · 60-minute routine
saxophonepowerhour.com
🎤 Bob on Tour – See dates & tickets
bobreynoldsmusic.com/#tour
About Bob Reynolds
Bob Reynolds is a jazz saxophonist and 3x Grammy Award-winning member of Snarky Puppy. He’s toured and recorded with John Mayer, Larry Carlton, Jeff Lorber, Chris Botti, Anthony Wilson and many others, and released 12 solo albums—4 of which hit Billboard’s Jazz Top 10. A pioneering online educator, Bob has coached thousands of musicians worldwide through his Virtual Teaching Studio: lessons.bobreynoldsmusic.com
Bob is a Selmer and D’Addario Woodwinds artist and USC Jazz Studies professor. He lives in Los Angeles, CA, with his wife and kids.
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/bob_reynolds
#saxophone #recording
Recording straight soprano saxophone is tricky because the sound doesn’t just come out of the bell—it’s coming from the entire instrument. If you’ve ever ended up with a thin, nasal, or uneven soprano sound, this will save you a lot of trial and error.
In this video, I walk you through exactly how I recorded soprano saxophone on a recent session, including:
– Why one microphone usually isn’t enough
– Where I place two microphones (and why)
– What happens when you mic only the bell vs only the body
– Real audio examples of each mic alone and both together
– How I balance the two mics in the mix (no EQ tricks)
– A quiet-monitoring + mono mix tip I still use from my Berklee days
This isn’t about right vs wrong or expensive gear. It’s about getting an honest, musical picture of the soprano sound—whether you’re recording at home or working with an engineer who doesn’t really know saxophones.
If you play soprano sax—or record sax players—this approach will help you capture a sound that actually feels like the instrument in the room.
Chapters:
00:00 Why soprano is hard to record
01:00 One mic vs two mics
02:30 Mic placement explained
03:45 Inside the Logic session
05:30 Hearing each mic separately
06:20 Mixing quietly in mono
08:55 Final comparison + takeaway
🎷 Looking for help on your saxophone journey? I created my online Saxophone Studio in 2010 to help players who've played a long time but feel stuck with their (lack of) progress. Come take a look → lessons.bobreynoldsmusic.com
Microphones mentioned:
AEA KU5A amzn.to/3NC8nDm
Neumann MCM 114 Set Miniature Clip Mic amzn.to/465rfB1
🎵 Sheet Music – Play along with Bob’s original songs
bobreynoldsmusic.com/playalong
🏕 Summer Saxophone Week –
insideoutsideretreat.com
📘 Saxophone Practice Book – 3 octaves · 12 keys · 60-minute routine
saxophonepowerhour.com
🎤 Bob on Tour – See dates & tickets
bobreynoldsmusic.com/#tour
About Bob Reynolds
Bob Reynolds is a jazz saxophonist and 3x Grammy Award-winning member of Snarky Puppy. He’s toured and recorded with John Mayer, Larry Carlton, Jeff Lorber, Chris Botti, Anthony Wilson and many others, and released 12 solo albums—4 of which hit Billboard’s Jazz Top 10. A pioneering online educator, Bob has coached thousands of musicians worldwide through his Virtual Teaching Studio: lessons.bobreynoldsmusic.com
Bob is a Selmer and D’Addario Woodwinds artist and USC Jazz Studies professor. He lives in Los Angeles, CA, with his wife and kids.
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/bob_reynolds
#saxophone #recording
